There is absolutely no evidence of Alexandra's balcony. What once was the cultivated garden beneath the balcony is rough terrain, contained behind fences and not accessible. Paths, which local residents use as shortcuts, will take you to the 'Garden' side of the palace, i.e. to the Semi-Circular Hall. The balcony, ballustrade and steps are still there. You can see them, from behind a tall barbed wire fence, but cannot access them. Every oak tree you see was there when the last Imperial Family was in residence. You will see some very old oak trees whose branches are supported by metal struts. They would have been well developed during the reign of the last Emperor. I think you will also be able to find the oak tree you might recall seeing in the photograph of Anastasia smoking. This is situated beside the path which runs alongside the Children's Pond. Because of the soil and the latitude, oaks grow very, very slowly. I am always acutely aware that the oak trees I see in the park were in those precise spots when the family walked and played in the park. Inevitably a number will have died or been destroyed during the nazi invasion/retreat.
If you stand with your back to the Semicircular Hall and look down the alley to the twin bridges, the bridge on the left side is where the photographs were taken. This was the eastern - and northern - boundary beyond which the family were not allowed to walk during their period of house arrest.
I hope you manage to go to Pushkin in the summer. I'm sure you will enjoy every second.
ChristineM
