Hi POMAHOB2,
We were there for a week from the 23rd of October - the same week in 2005. It was a little disapointing that there was no snow this year but still fantastic to be there. As you said, I enjoyed just going around the places that I know of from all my Romanov books and in a strange way it's an easy city to navigate simply from reading Romanov literature. The Embankment was a real find as we just stumbled across it. I personally, appreciating it sounds a little sad, really got a buzz/connection from being in certain places - the White Dining Room in the Winter Palace was special. You can so easily picture the IF enjoying a relatively informal meal in its intimate (for the WP) surroundings - and it appears to have survived so completely intact. Obviously the SS Peter & Paul, specifically the Cathedral, although it would be great to see it without so many school groups/tourist groups etc. As with everything its sometimes difficult not to be selfish with what I'd really like, when the money gained for preservationa nd restoration is so vital.
I'm not a huge fan of all the restoration personally, I'd rather enjoy an atmospheric ruin than a mock-up. The grounds of the Alexander Park are by far the best part of any trip from my perspective. The Sobor, Gorodok, the little lake, the children's island etc just blow me away, I could happily sit there for hours (my poor fiance allowing). This year we spent a whole day just walking around the Alexander and Catherine Parks and thought it was brilliant. Obviously the Alexander Palace itself - although it makes me sad to think about how badly the place has been damaged. As I've said previously it's more about being there in the same 'space' rather than being in a replica - I'd be happy walking through the AP if it was totally empty, but equally I understand the need to provide something readily 'consumable' for tourists not as passionate about the IF specifically. I think that if the palace is completely restored it will be far less attractive to the sort of people who frequent this site - people who want the connection not the theme park experience (obviously that's only my opinion). Also if it is fully restored, the current joy of it always being quiet and uncrowded will doubtless come to an end!
All in all, I just adore being in St Petersburg - this year I started thinking that it was ironic the IF have always been quoted as saying they hated the city, or certainly the general malaise of its court circles, and yet it's now the place synonomous with them and provides the best link to the world they knew.
Sorry to waffle and thanks for your message - if you can, get some photos from your trip up!
Petrushka
