Of Winds and Whispers.

[drron29]

..

.

 

 

The room full of portraits of the military heroes of 1812.Those that died in battle that had not had a portrait done appear as blanks-

..

.

[drron29]

..

..

..

[drron29]

..

..

..

[drron29]

..

..

..

[drron29]

..

..

..

[drron29]

And a room full of Rembrandts-

..

.

..

.

[drron29]

..

..

..

[drron29]

And who doesn't have the odd Da Vinci on their wall?

..

..

..

[drron29]

..

..

..

[drron29]

...

...

[drron29]

...

 

Lifelike because they are stuffed horses-

..

.

[drron29]

...

..

.

[drron29]

..

..

..

[drron29]

...

 

Much older things now-

..

.

[drron29]

There was a special exhibition by a Russian designer of Royal Fashion.Extra to go in-

.

..

..

[57 varieties]

Love it drron, thanks for wonderful photos!

[drron29]

The first instalment of our sensory overload was over and we exited at the back of the Winter Palace.The line wasn't too long-

..

..

.

.

[drron29]

..

..

 

This is the square behind the Winter Palace.We will be visiting it later-

..

[drron29]

This is our guide Elza and driver Paul.A fantastic team and very flexible.Couldn't have asked for better.Through SPB tours.Elza also works with Silverseas.A fantastic guide with very good English and great knowledge.Thoroughlt recommended-

.

 

Passed a bridal party-

.

 

Then our second major stop-the Church of the Spilled blood-where Czar Alexander 11 was assassinated in 1881.

..

..

[drron29]

So to the inside of the church and the canopy over the spot where the Czar was mortally wounded-

...

.

..

[duct tape]

As part of my Michelangelo Quest, I went there to see this boy!M

[drron29]

...

..

.

[drron29]

...

..

.

[drron29]

..

 

Photos of the damage from WW2.However the church was lucky to survive until then.looted after 1917 and it's destruction was considered.It was used as a garbage dump post revolution.

..

..

[drron29]

..

..

 

The restoration of the church began in 1970 and was expensive due to the amount of mosaics here.Opened in 1997.

Public convenience outside the church.0.2 roubles to enter-

.