Just to put this out there...Romanov style!

[Tasia]

Interesting!!

[obsessedwiththeromanovs]

Lol! The girls love to sunbathe. Alexandra noticed this and wondered to Nicholas in a letter,  " where did they pick up that craze?"

That's very interesting, considering how shielded they were from the mainstream social trends.

Really and when did sunbathing and being tanned become popular? They were indeed shielded...however they met other young women at the hospital and so were exposed to new ideas about things...and I believe Alexandra's letter and the courtier's remark came during the war years.   

I think being tanned didn't get popular until the early 1920s... I think Coco Chanel started that trend for women and Douglas Fairbanks Sr. for men.

And yes, that photo of OTMA is definitely my least favorite photo of them... Well, maybe they just had a day or something like that. The stress of the war-time did indeed slightly change their looks, but not THAT much.

[Tasia]

OTMA liked to get sun bath! In Robert Massie's book says that Alexandra wrote a letter to Nicholas telling that the girls stayed for hours getting sun bath, and she didn't know from who they get this mania... Sth like that!

Anastasia's hair is so long there! ^^

[clockworkgirl21]

Anyone know how you can tell photos of the IF on the Standart apart from photos taken on the Polar Star?

[aleksandr pavlovich]

In response to Reply # 618:  I believe "Tsar" Douglas has commented here on the differences several times, especially in regards to the spaces under the railings on deck.  You might search for his comments, outside and inside the two vessels.  He is usually "right on the money."    AP

[clockworkgirl21]

Thanks!

Also, in FOTR, chapter 12, about the murder, is called Gotterdammerung. What does this mean?

[TimM]

According to Wikipeida.


The term Götterdämmerung is occasionally used in English, referring to a disastrous conclusion of events.

[aleksandr pavlovich]

In response to Reply # 620:  Though you have left out the umlauts in the spelling, it is generally translated from the German as "Twilight of the Gods."  AP

[Naslednik Norvezhskiy]

Similar concepts: Doomsday, armageddon, apocalypse and ragnarok, the latter the original Old Norse term (meaning Final Destiny of the Gods) for Wagner's Götterdämmerung.

[Katya90]

Just a random question for all of you geniuses out there... I was going through my home movies from a cruise I took a few years ago, and these portraits caught my eye. They were hanging above an unnamed bar on the cruise ship... I've taken a screencap with the hopes that you all may know who they are. The man looks like Nicholas, but the woman is definitely not Alexandra. Could they perhaps be King George and Queen Mary, seeing as George and Nicky looked so similar? Or is it just a random juxtaposition of formal-looking portraits and no one realizes that they have the likeness of the last Tsar on their ship? Thanks for your help!

[aleksandr pavlovich]

Re: Posting # 624:  IMO, not HM George V.....the decorations are wrong:  the color and placement of the ribband and star of St. Andrew are in the Russian fashion.  I likewise feel that it is not George V in Russian uniform.  I DO feel that it seems to be an ATTEMPT to depict Nicholas II, though IMO the lower facial features bear some covert resemblance to his paternal uncle, the GD Vladimir Alexandrovich - without the fuller "mutton-chop" whiskers.  As to the female, I haven't an immediate reaction, other than she seems to be dressed (and hair done) in a much earlier fashion than the NII portrait.  The same "misty," somewhat bland execution of the works could be by the same painter?  But then again, it  may be the angle of photography.  Perhaps these were simply "decorators' items" (same size, matching frames, etc. to achieve "balance") to give the "unnamed" bar a bit of "classy" ambiance?  Analagous to people now who purchase older unidentified portraits of seemingly well-off personages in order to have "instant ancestors" for their walls!  I wish you good luck in finding your answer.     Best regards,  AP.

[Nicola De Valeron]

Re: Posting # 624:  IMO, not HM George V.....the decorations are wrong:  the color and placement of the ribband and star of St. Andrew are in the Russian fashion.

AP, it seems to me that the Order of St. Andrew and it's star - your favourite decoration;).

Anyway, this man (judging by his appearance, uniform and medals) is with no doubt Nicholas II, although at the first time he doesn't look like himself. And of course, again reversed picture.

[aleksandr pavlovich]

Attention Nicola and Reply # 626:   Ah, Nicola, I ALWAYS appreciate your humor!  Yes, I have a tendenaccy to "grind" on the "Order of Saint Andrew, the First Called."  People seem to eternally get it confused with the British Order of the Garter.  The ribbands are of a diferent hue of blue and the stars are different.  Again, the ribband of St. Andrew is worn over the RIGHT shoulder, thus THIS painting IS NOT reversed.  Occasionally people will see a portrait of Nicholas II in BRITISH uniform with the Garter ribband over the LEFT shoulder (which is proper for the GARTER) and confuse the two. By the way, I DO think that this portrait about which we write here, IS the Emperor Nicholas II, if nothing else but for the frontal hair style.  Good to hear from you again!  Best regards,  AP.

[blessOTMA]

Anyone know how you can tell photos of the IF on the Standart apart from photos taken on the Polar Star?

You mean besides the difference in the deck  railings?? Polar Star were open, often with a canvas cover, the Standart's were solid .

[Gorseheart]

I was in the World Market today when I saw this! (Sorry for the quality, token by my phone):