The Peterhoff Palace
Once at the Peterhoff we waited in the shade for Svetlana to pick up our tickets. This car park was full of both cars and people. While we waited a blacked out Mercedes-Benz S class pulled up followed by an equally blacked out four-wheel-drive Mercedes-Benz. They parked side-by-side. I watched to see if anyone famous left the cars but I can only guess that they were waiting for someone inside already.
Inside the grounds we walked down to the fountains. We were strongly reminded by Svetlana to watch out for pickpockets as we wandered around the grounds.
One of the famous fountains inside the gardens – very busy.
Peter the Great and had a wicked sense of humour and he had installed fountains that sprayed unsuspecting visitors as they walked around.
We watched children running round and round as someone hidden in the bushes was switching the fountains on and off. Aswe walked we were ‘stalked’ by the squirrels looking for food.
We walked back along the paths to the front of the Palace past other buildings and fountains. We learnt that the palace had been systematically destroyed during WW2 by the Nazis. Unlike other building only a few rooms are survived and had been restored. From the outside we could the restored shell with a roof and walls.
At the main fountains I tried several places to stand and take a picture along with with all of the hundreds of other tourists all doing the same.
While I waited I was roped in to take pictures of a group of Chinese visitors before I was able to get a place back on the steps for a better view.
On our previous visit to St Petersburg the visit to the Peterhof had been timed so we arrived just as the main fountains were all switched on. Today we we were able to enjoy the views with arguably less crowds.
As the wind blew, the spray from all the fountain slowly came over to where I was stood and covered everyone with a fine mist. This was very welcome as the day was still hot.