New pics AP & Park Oct '05

[Laura Mabee]

Oh Petrushka~
You didn't digress at all. I absolutely loved your description and how you described your emotions while there. I know I would feel the same. I have to admit, you're description of your visit is a wonderfully welcome and refreshing to hear.
If you wish to elaborate more, I invite you!

[Russian_Duchess_#5]

  Beautiful pictures of the AP, Petrushka!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Even thought it might be a bit chilly during that season, I think that wintertime is the perfect time of the year to visit. Exactly how cold may it get?
I also wanted to point out (I do not know if it is you in the picture, Petrushka, or your girlfriend) that in one of the photographs of the semi-circular window, I can see a face from inside, looking out at the photo and smiling, showing her teeth.
It is OBVIOUSLY a young woman, but what struck me is that she looks exactly like Maria Romanova!! Though, the figure is faint, so maybe it was just my wild imagination.
I would post the picture, but I do not know if Petrushka would let me.  
Anyways, It just sort of gave me a fright! I thought it was Maria's ghost!!
Though, I am speculating that thought.. I am not a true believer in phantoms, but one never knows..

Sofi

[Margarita Markovna]

Hello - I've been enjoying this site for ages without ever joining - many of you are invaluable sources of info and new pics.  I've always felt a little jealous that other people share the same interests as I suppose I've wanted to keep it as my little escape for so long.

Anyway, I've finally made it to Russia - St Petersburg is better than I dreamt and Tsarskoe is simply beautiful.  I have to disagree with some and say that I prefer the AP in its present state, for me personally the restoration of palaces such as the Catherine Palace breaks the link with the past - anyway ignore my dribble.

I cannot for the life of me work out how to link this up so I wanted to make my pics available - loads of the AP, the Park, and various others. I'm sure I can trust people not to abuse so here goes:

www.photobucket.com

My username - Petrushka3
My password - nigeljemson

There are a lot in there!

Hope these are useful and enjoyable

x to all

Petrushka, when I got to your photo album the account has no photos in it. I don't know why...did you delete the photos?

EDIT: Hehe.. Never mind...the wireless connection at my school was just going all funky. I can see them now.

[Petrushka]

Hello again - annoying that we are in different time zones but never mind!
Thanks for all your comments I'm glad some people enjoyed the pics - I will stick the rest of mine on the same photobucket site so you can see them if you wish - mainly the Winter Palace and various St Petersburg scenes - the Church on the Spilled Blood is sublime!  

Sofi - I must admit I haven't noticed the face - you'll have to let me know which picture number it is - there's one which it could be but if it is then the person would need to be about seven foot high??? Help yourself to any of the pics that's why I wanted to make them available.  I've had a couple of them put on canvas and framed and they actually look superb.

Laura - thank you for being so sweet x I do tend to waffle rather.  I really did have the whole 'coming home' sensation whilst at the AP - obviously that's mainly due to having spent 15 odd years reading and researching about it - but it was one of those 'must do before you die' things - I just hope I can do it several more times!!!! I'm trying desperately to persuade the powers that be (girlfriend) that the Crimea is the perfect beach holiday resort.........whilst I slip away to Livadia........bit of a tough sell to be honest - whilst I'm sure it is beautiful, it doesn't feature highly on the average person's places to visit!  But I'll win in the end!!!!  

I also have around two hundred period postcards of the imperial family which have cost me an arm and a leg over the last few years - I'm one of those people who make ebay very very rich.  As soon as I can, I'll post a link to them all - some are quite rare and unusual.

Anyway - Laura you're a little star!

HAVE POSTED ANOTHER 60 OR SO PICS ON THE PHOTOBUCKET SITE SO HAVE A LOOK IF YOU WISH

[Sarushka]

Have you seen this website, Patrushka?

http://krym.sarov.info/dvorets_livadija.html

It's all in Russian, but the pictures are very pretty. Maybe they will help convince your girlfriend??

[Robert_Hall]

Petrushka, you were there in October  of this year ? So was I, the first week. I had beautiful weather, sunny, warm and colourful. It sure changed  in a very short while ! I was also there in Jan. of this year, when it was like your pictures- snow and  rather cold but still beautiful. I am next hoping for a springtime visit.
Really enjoyed your pictures.

[Petrushka]

Thanks Robert - it's been a long time coming  but I'm so pleased I finally made it there and after all the fears it isn't as complex as I was led to believe.  And despite everyone's eagerness to portray Russians as thieves and robbers we had no problems at all.
Think I'll have to make a summer/spring trip next time but Livadia is the next target.
I've noticed this point is made in other areas - so I'll keep it brief - I was really shocked how close the family wing is to the street - I'd assumed the gates (which I'd obviously seen in numerous pics) led to a side road or lane but not the main road itself.

What are your thoughts on the restoration - are you in favour of 'recreating' as was or like me do you like the rather decadent state?

[Robert_Hall]

Well, I disagree about restorations. I am all for them in the case of the major palaces. It was more than just re-creating the palaces as they were for historical reasons. It was an act of faith by the Russian State and people to not loose what they had created originally.  The palaces were gutted, litteraly, so to see what is there now is a tribute to the talents & efforts of a great deal of people. The Amber Room itself is a work of  unique art, even though it is a re-creation of the lost original.
As for the AP. Well,  I am a distinct minority with my personal opinion. But, as a minor palace with little historical or artistic value I do not feel it merits the resources to re-create the last imperial residence of the last imperial family.  Also, I see no real "link" with the past- the rooms are stripped of all original vestiges [except for Nicholas' study]. I found it cold, barren and unemotional. Having said all that, I freely admit that I am not a Romanov Romantic.
I would like to see Livadia, however, for all the reasons I derided the AP. And, I would love to see the family rooms at the Hermitage restored. I was told that is not impossible, but whatever will come of it is  a mystery to me.

[Petrushka]

Rob - I think we'd argue this topic!!!!  But I see your point.  Although the AP restoration is potentially one of the biggest untapped revenue streams Russia can exploit so there is a strong commercial arguement to continue.
I do agree the current state of the Palace is rather stale but as I mentioned previously for me (and I'd imagine most of the people in this forum) its the being there that matters.  In many ways a maintained ruin has all the atmosphere of a restored palace.  I just hate to see places so dear to my own heart become almost theatrical just to appeal to the tourist.
I have to9 say the gardens are absolutely amazing as well and despite the fact they are clearly far removed from their state in the early part of the 20th century - they seem less 'staged' than the palaces themselves.
Sorry to jump topics a bit but Egypt is a good illustration of when restoration goes too far - many monuments (the Sphinx in particular) are essentially rebuilt or encased in modern materials.  Whilst this creates a more immediately attractive tourist site - in my opinion it removes the very reason for being there - to connect with the past.
A final note though - you are absolutely right to say that the restorations are a superb testimony to the quality of modern Russian artistry.  Undoubtedly they are masterpieces of construction and unrivalled abroad.

[isabel]

Absolutly beautiful all your pictures Petrushka ¡

Really enjoy them.

I was in St.Petersburg in summer 2004, but i think that is very charming to see it in winter, the light is different, and it is BEAUTIFUL.

I would like to know, what is the picture number 128, please.

Thank´s again.

[londo954]

I should add that the Alexander Palace DOES have some historical value. It is the finest example of neoclassical Palace archtiecture lef tin the World (according to the World Monuments FUnd) as well as being the only example of Quarenghi's work left relatively intact. It is also hme to some of the most pivitoal events in russian History as well as the world!!! As well as it has the potential to be a huge tourist draw as the home of the tragic last tsar and his family!!!

[Robert_Hall]

"Pivotal events in Russian history"?  I stand by my stated opinion, however, I agree with Petrushka on several of his points: the gardens are fascinating. THAT is where I felt/found the ghosts of history.  They were immensly interesting in both winter and fall. Also, restoration, re-creation  for tourist dollars is a necessary evil I am afraid. In many cases it is the only way to save  certain places. The palace  works in Russia, however, were carried out largely under Soviet rule, when tourism and it's $$s were not an incentive.

[londo954]

Perhaps pivotal is a bit over dramatic but the fact remains that Nicholas II lived and worked there. It was here that he met with hsi ministers, it was here that he recieved reports on the war, it was here that he dealt with such issues as Bloody Sunday, the war with Japan, and it was here that Alexandra first recieved news of the revolution. Not pivitiol events for sure but important none the less. I think its importance as a architectural wonder cannot be overlooked.

[londo954]

It is perhaps fortunate and unfortunate, depending upon ones persepctive, however its greatest "historical value" as well as commercial value is as the home of the last tsar. Ask any layman about Imperial Russia and three names come to mind immediately. Ivan the Terrible, Catherine the Great and Nicholas II . Something to ponder??? Laymans make GREAT tourists

[londo954]

Some people also tend to  skirt over the issue of it being one the finest examples of neoclassical architecture in Russia and indeed in high rankign around the world???