The palatial city of Saint Petersburg is now on the other side of the border as we are on the high speed train in Finland, soon to be in Helsinki. We enjoyed our wonderful stay in Saint Petersburg and were fortunate to have a beautiful mostly sunny stay while we were there.
The obvious opulence of the Russians Tzars and aristocrats in this city is doubly impressive when we realize that most of it has been reconstructed after destruction by the Nazis in WWII. One can cerainly understand the revolution against the ostentatious wealth and the source now of Russian pride in salvaged and reconstructed treasures tha now belong to the people.
We have been in many fine palaces, but the collective grandure numeerous palaces, the insides, gardens, and fountains supercedes anything we have seen elsewhere. While in Saint Petersburg we visited the Hermitage and Peter's first summer home and gardens. In Pushkin, we viisited Catherine Summer Palace, and yesterday we visited Peterhof to view the magnificent fountains and gardens of Peter's Summer Palace.
Photos of the WWII destruction leaves one incredulous that there would be the will, perseverance, patience, and funding to reconstruct these beautiful grounds, almost 250 acres built on the gulf of Finland.
The fountains are fed by water pressurized as it heads downhill to the sea. No pumps are involved and the flow is neaarly constant. Some of the fountains are currently being reconstructed. Fountains are for beauty and water play. We enjoyed the day in Peterhof away from the city, just as Peter the Great must have enjoyed his summers here.
Tonight we will spend the night not far from the train station in Helsinki. Tomorrow we will be staying with a SERVAS host a new miles from the city center.
All is well with the Worrall Travel R's now in Finland
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