10:00-10:30 am Travel to Peterhof by hydrofoil
Once inside we moved to the aft cabin.
Between the two cabins was an open space where we could get a look outside of the hydrofoil as it went to the Peterhof Palace. Here are the views looking forward and and aft from this viewing place.
We passed building works in preparation for the World Cup as well as other building under construction and a first sight of P&O Aurora at its dock.
Once at the Palace we left the hydrofoil.
10:30-12:00 pm guided tour of the Fountain Park. Walk in the Peterhof Lower Fountain Park and the Upper Gardens
We waited briefly for our tickets to be purchased and then we made our way into the Palace grounds. We followed the crowds listening to our commentary about the history of the fountains that we were about to see. They would start at 11 am.
The crowds were all gathering around the front of the Palace….
… and then the fountains sprung into life.
We watched the fountains and the water pouting down the waterfalls before we moved away and began our walk around the gardens. We passed summer houses and houses built in the grounds where the Czar’s family would go to get away from court. The fountains had symbolic meaning with references to the defeat of Sweden around the Baltic.
There were long avenues that lead to other houses as well as to the river.
After walking along the avenues we went out to a car park behind the Palace to board our mini-bus.