I don’t think anyone will be surprised to learn that interiors are much easier to photograph than prairie dogs. I took and sorted nearly 200 photos of prairie dogs yesterday and I’m sorry to say that I have very little to show for it. I’m afraid those dogs are going to have to get accustomed to me before they’ll give me some decent photos, so I’m doing another post on Catherine Palace.
Catherine I originally built the palace and Elizabeth, her daughter, expanded and gilded it. Catherine the Great, or Catherine II, redecorated one wing in the Neo-Palladium style.
This dining room is the first Neo-Palladium room I’ve ever been in; it’s done in pistachio and pink. It’s like being inside a jewel box.
The original palace interior featured countless gilded bare-breasted babes and babies. When Catherine the Great redecorated, she included scantily draped youths.
This is bas-relief for an empress. You might say the whole thing is a tad overdone, but the room next door is
perfection. It’s rose, antique white, and mahogany.
It’s one of the loveliest rooms I’ve ever seen. It’s bold and restful in the same breath.
And finally, this grand staircase was redecorated in the 1800s; the original mahogany banisters were replaced with white marble. (Most people paint when they want to lighten an interior, but not the Tsars.)
(This is not my photograph.) And here in the heart of the Russian empire you have the solution to the problem of what to do with those big Imari vases, plates and jars.
You’d probably need two high stepladders and some planks to dust them, but if you’re a Tsar, well… that’d be the very least of your worries.
I am really enjoying your trip! Thanks so much for all the history.
Great photo’s.
Завораживающе!
Theresa, are you saying something, or just using the Cyrillic alphabet? (You speak Russian???) (Wait ’til Steve hears!!)
Fascinating is the English word I was trying to translate and used Babblefish to find my result. As for me speaking Russian, Нет. But I am working on it. How is Steve and his tomatoes?
Enjoying your trip also. How was the weather over there?
Pat, the weather in Russia early October was 40F to 55F, overcast. Cool, Theresa. I learned a couple of tricky sentences and can say da da da or nyet nyet nyet like a pro, but that’s it. Steve’s tomatoes came out pretty well in the end. The frost date was weeks late, and he was getting tomatoes until recently. He wasn’t a tomato king, but definitely a tomato prince. He says he learned a lot and plans to do it again next year… but better.
Keeping with the Russian theme I think your friend Steve should be Tomato Czar!
Your photos are fascinating and since I imagine they are as close to Russia as I’ll ever get I am enjoying them immensely.
Thanks and looking forward to more!
король томат Стив. (Tomato King Steve)
Should he need an extra set of hands, I’ll come to help him next year for a free stay in his tree house and small portion of the harvest.