Semi-Circular Hall Photos - restoration

[CenTexKev]

I meant to post these photos several months ago but got distracted.  I was in St. Petersburg for the entire month of January 2010 and froze my butt off.  Average temperature was -20c most of the month.  I visited the Palace on January 27th and was thrilled to see about 20 workmen and a few supervisors who were on the exterior scaffolding repairing the stucco.  Doing this type of work in -20 degrees must be incredibly difficult but it does show the priority that the administrator is putting on this project.  The A.P. museum was closed that day but I got some shots of the Semi-Circular Hall through the windows.  In January, this historic hall was not open to the public yet.  Hopefully they are open for this summer of 2010.

http://s149.photobucket.com/albums/s46/centexkev/AlexPalace/

[blessOTMA]

Your pictures are wonderful. I particularly love the one of children's island . Very evocative...dream like 

[mek]

I was there in June 2004 when it was still impossible to go around the side where the balcony was located or the back of the palace.  Great to see the progress on the Semi Circular Hall.

[Alan]

CenTexKev,
How deep was the snow?
I looked for the memorial with the 1913 group photo last month but could not find it. Workmen were still working between the middle of the facade and the Alexander III wing. It certainly was not on the grass opposite then.

[Alan]

CenTex kev,
How did you manage to get to the terrace and look through the windows? I was there last month and the mesh fence across the south front was still in place and I did not see any gaps. I would have liked to have taken photos close up in that area. The only way I could take mine was from the steps that lead out to the Terrace from the Semi-circular Hall but I was not allowed to stand on the Terrace only on the step in the doorway leading to it.