Russia > Visit to the Catherine Palace

That the sun rises early again this morning, I don’t experience today. I wake up at 8:30 to the sound of the alarm clock. It’s the last day of the holiday.

Russia - Tsarskoye Selo better known as Catherine Palace from 1752 just outside Saint Petersburg

I sort my main and hand luggage and pack everything. After breakfast, we leave Saint Petersburg. On our way to the airport, we visit the Catherine Palace, the summer residence located about twenty kilometers outside the city center. Anna is our guide for this excursion—a young blonde Russian woman who seems a bit nervous. As we leave the city, she talks continuously about Saint Petersburg and the buildings we pass. Anna speaks fairly good English and is easy to follow. At the Catherine Palace, it turns out we are not the only visitors. Many buses are dropping off passengers. As we approach the palace, I see its beautiful light-blue façade shining in the sunlight. The gilded domes of the chapel glisten in the sun. Inside, we join the line of visitors. Via the State Staircase, we reach the Great Hall. Mirrors, gold, and an enormous ceiling painting make this room truly special. We follow the west wing of the palace, while other groups are guided through the east wing. We visit several rooms, and the organization ensures that all groups move through in an orderly sequence. The sheer number of visitors is a bit unfortunate. The halls are magnificent, and the Amber Room is especially a gem. During the Second World War, the palace was used as quarters by the Germans and suffered heavy damage. The treasures from the Amber Room were taken away for safekeeping, but no one knows where they ended up. The current Amber Room has been meticulously restored to its original state with replicas. After the guided tour, we take a walk through the palace gardens. At the bus, we say goodbye to Pieter and Jenny, who are staying a few more days in Saint Petersburg. We continue by bus to the airport. In the airport bar, we spend our last rubles. Just before 5:30, our plane takes off in the direction of Munich.