Online Video of the Alexander Palace from Helen Azar

[BobAtchison]

http://www.alexanderpalace.org/palace/movie5.html

Helen Azar took this video and I just put it up on the site at the link above.  She was walking when she took this - she will tell us the full stolry in her own words.  Next I'll put up video of the back of the palace and the Children's Island.  After that another of the Feodorovski.  All of these wwere taken by Helen - Thank you, Helen!

If YOU have any video of the palace - or of Tsarskoe Selo please contact me so we can put it up...

Bob

[helenazar]

Thank you, Bob, for splicing this, adding the soundtrack and putting it up .

Apologies for the jerky quality of the videos, this is because - as Bob mentioned - I was walking when I recorded these, and walking rather fast (even though it doesn’t look like it on the video). I had borrowed someone’s digital camera for a couple of hours the day before I left Russia - my own camera broke only about a week after I got to Pushkin (to my endless chagrin!). I still wanted to somehow capture these images so that I could share them with those who have never been to Pushkin and never saw the AP. I know that still photos tell only half the story…. I purposely recorded this in a manner that the viewer would see through my eyes, as if you were walking along with me.

As Bob mentioned, there are more videos: the rear of the AP, Children’s House, Feodorovsky Gorodok (including Maria's and Anastasia's hospital), Feodorovsky Cathedral, Anna Vyrubova's cottage and Catherine Palace. They will be up soon.

Feel free to post questions and/or comments!

Helen

[Sarushka]

That's great fun to see, Helen, thank you! I especially loved the shot of the statue -- when you started at his foot and swung the camera up under his chin.

Two questions:
1. What is the music Bob added in? Something Russian, I hope!

2. On the eve of the revolution, when Alix and Maria went outside to request the guards to remain loyal -- where would that have been? Anyplace visible on your walking tour?

[helenazar]

On the eve of the revolution, when Alix and Maria went outside to request the guards to remain loyal -- where would that have been? Anyplace visible on your walking tour?

I don't know for sure, but I think it may have been near the main gate, which is the very first thing you see on the video. I think they were guarding the gate at the time. Does anyone know for sure? There is more of that same main gate area on another video, when I am leaving the park, which Bob will post later on.

Along the same lines, on another video (which will also be posted a little later) you will be able to see the area near AP where the IF planted their vegetable garden while under arrest.

What is the music Bob added in? Something Russian, I hope!

I was wondering that myself, but I think it fits well.! Bob, what is it?

[Forum Admin]

The music is "Karelia Suite" by Sibelius (Op. 11, 1893). So its Finnish, but close!!

[BobAtchison]

If I am correct Alix and Maria went down to the guards rooms in the basement and then out in front.  The big arc lights were on top of the colonade and the troops in front.  They expected the rioters to come from the city via the main road.  Anyone feel free to correct me...

[Elocin]

I am just curious, but would the laneway always have been paved in some fashion? Towards the end of the video it seemed like there were some wheel tracks leading up towards the palace past where the pavement ended and it made me think of how the drive would have looked originally.

[M_Breheny]

Helen:

Your video of the Alexander Palace is wonderful.  I felt as if I were there again, although you showed us far more than I had been  able to see during my visit last year.  Thank you.  After being away for the past three months, I was delighted that your video was the first thing I found when I logged back on to the Alexander Palace Time Machine.  It is good to be back!  Now I have to do more exploring and see what else is new.

Mary

[helenazar]

Helen:

Your video of the Alexander Palace is wonderful.  I felt as if I were there again, although you showed us far more than I had been  able to see during my visit last year.  Thank you.  After being away for the past three months, I was delighted that your video was the first thing I found when I logged back on to the Alexander Palace Time Machine.  It is good to be back!  Now I have to do more exploring and see what else is new.

Mary

Hi Mary, welcome back. I am glad you liked the video, this was exactly my intention when I recorded these: to let others see what I saw and experience a little of what I experienced. I know that many people, even if they come to Pushkin, have limited time there and don't really get to see that much, particularly of the area around the Alexander Palace and Feodorovsky Gorodok. I got the opportunity to go to these places almost daily for over a month, and got to know the area rather well, and now I am glad for the opportunity to share what I saw with others. There are more videos coming in the near future, as soon as Bob gets the chance to put them together, so check back soon.

[helenazar]

I am just curious, but would the laneway always have been paved in some fashion? Towards the end of the video it seemed like there were some wheel tracks leading up towards the palace past where the pavement ended and it made me think of how the drive would have looked originally.

Elocin, are you talking about this?

[Jim_Wilhelm]

That was wonderful Helen. This kind of thing is why I keep coming back to the forum. I can't get enough of this kind of stuff. You're indeed fortunate to have been there and seen the place yourself.  Great work, Bob! Thanks to you too.

Jim Wilhelm
Albuquerque, NM USA

[Elocin]

Hi Helen,

That's exactly the bit I am talking about.   I am kind of like a magpie, distracted by the minutiae.

Nicole

[helenazar]

Hi Helen,

That's exactly the bit I am talking about.   I am kind of like a magpie, distracted by the minutiae.

Nicole

Nicole, I was thinking about this myself when I was looking at it, this why I recorded that area. It looked to me like that area was paved some time ago, and the grass just pushed right through the pavement after many years. But it also could have been paved by the Soviets some time before, or even after, WWII...

But here is a painting of the AP circa early or mid- 1800's, it actually looks like the entire area in front of the AP was (possibly) paved, although you can't see the exact area we see in the video.

[koloagirl]

 

Thank you so much for the video Helen and Bob!

I don't know when (or if) I will ever get a chance to visit this wonderful place - but your video really puts you there -- "in your shoes" -- gives you a feeling of walking alongside you with the camera -- this is one of the wonderful things about this forum -- once again --thank you!!   

Janet R.

[helenazar]

You are very welcome, Jim and Janet!