Day 9-10: Peterhof Palace and the Peter and Paul Fortress

So today began much like yesterday with the rain setting in early. We were out and ready to head to Peterhof, on the Gulf of Finland. Wanted to do our own thing, so didn't opt for a day tour. A bit of research and deduced we could take  the metro, then a suburban train and then a local bus. Downloaded a few maps and we were set. Metro a piece of cake, suburban ticket easy....then which train??? Not so clear...and all had been going well. After approaching a few people to read our Russian ticket and point to a train we boarded it hopeful. We figured if a few people independently had pointed to the same train then it must be right. And it was...45 minutes later we got of and headed for the bus stop. We had read which numbered buses we could catch and we waited...not for long. A few minutes later we arrived at the palace. The lower gardens are a must, cost $15.00 to visit the lower gardens and that I think is well worth it. There are gold statues and fountains of all shapes, sizes, degrees of opulence and indulgence everywhere. You wander through magnificent tree lined lanes and suddenly a new amazing fountain appears. This is a truly magnificent palace...many compare it to Versailles in France...I think this is more opulent and beautiful...maybe more ostentatious than Versailles.....certainly the grounds. This palace is down the road (about 20kms) from Putin's summer holiday home and before he became President he looked after renovations etc and this palace was a fav of his so it is restored perfectly. After nourishing ourselves with coffee and a Russian pancake each we set of to explore and walk many kms through the grounds. For a bit we walked along the waters edge (Gulf of Finland). It was blowing a gale and at times an annoying rain..constant but not heavy...but near the water it was freezing...and I had on 3/4 cargo pants and BR shorts. When we came up to the palace, the main fountain was huge and had gold statues everywhere. It was over the top on its own, but with the palace in the background I guess it worked.
We decided that we wanted to go into the palace to have a look. This was easier said than done. We walked up and own the same 100 meter strip about 50 times looking for the ticket office. Each time we asked security they pointed in a direction we had just come from. With BR about to loose his marbles and me looking like I was so confused a guard came over and led us to the door. The interesting thing is that you have to enter the palace, museum etc to buy a ticket, but they guard the doors  won't let you in. Hence our confusion and frustration. The lady on the door (I know where the term door bitch came from) wasn't going to let us in, but the security guard gestured to her and she did. I really wanted to find the Russian translation for "suck on that" woman, but I smiled and walked through. The palace as expected was decorated by the Shayna Blaze of the day. Each room had its own theme and was colour coordinated. The large, well really massively grand, dining room was especially spectacular, done out in creams with a hint (a significant one) of subtle Wedgewood crockery and chandelier scale candles etc. I could have served a nice crumbed chicken to the family there. It's a shame you couldn't take photos, but there is always Google.
A return train home and a quick rest before dinner. Having been out walking from 9-6 I got to say my knee...really my leg muscles were killing me.

Last day in SP today. Have booked a taxi to take us to the train station to head to Helsinki Finland. So to finish our tour of SP we checked out and while the hotel minded our luggage we walked over the Hermitage Bridge and around to the Peter and Paul fortress. A lazy 6 km round trip saw us enter, buy tickets to the Cathedral and other museums in the complex. In the past this has been used as a fort, though not for long, a prison for political prisoners (saw Trotsky's cell) and a place to conduct scientific experiments....don't know what that means???? The cathedral was one of the first in SP and has the tombs of the Romanovs and others there.

We again had dinner at the same place...we are regulars now...we get a smile as we enter. You walk done stairs and I guess it is underground...but it is decorated like a little cottage. The food however has been amazing...and so cheap. We have dined on smoked chicken, the most amazing lamb shishkababs (lamb fillet on the coals) and a pork dish. Always ordered with a serve of cauliflower and beans and a large local beer. The food has been perfect....about $30.00 - $40.00 all up. Last night we farewelled St Petersburg with a shot of vodka...though we sipped ours. BR has also become a regular at an underground coffee shop around the corner...he gets a wave whenever he enters.