OMG again.....
Peterhof is about 40km from St Petersburg, So that meant I had to take the metro to the end and get a bus. Usually I get to a busstation and buy a ticket and walk around waving the ticket til someone tells me where to go. This time I had to sort out a Mushrutka and work out which ones go past where I want to go. It didnt take long by asking around and showing my book with Petrodvorets written in it in Russian.
Peterhof is the old name and the new name is Petrodvorets (Peter's Palace) was built by Peter the Great so he could oversee the building of Kronshtadt Naval base. The gardens are all set out European style and are supposed to be modeled on Versailles. The Fountains are all gilded and said to be engineered by Peter himself. The centre is supposed to be Samson tearing open the lions jaws to celebrate Peters victory over the Swede's.
Nothing prepares you for the sight. I was there early so I got to have a pretty good look around before the tourists. They turn on the fountains at 11am so every tourist in the world is here at 11. They have a music fanfare and the fountains progressively start up. I had a prime pozzie cos I was early. The battery on my camera was low so you are lucky , there would have been heaps more pics .
Just near the entry was all the souvineer sellers. I got out with 2 shirts, a hat, 3 Fabergee eggs and a hoodie. Not bad for me.
Across the road was the SS Peter & Paul Cathedral (another one) and I managed to squeeze another pic out of the battery. I went inside and there was a sign to go up the bell tower and "see over Peterhof". I paid the 50rubles and went to the top but all you get to see is the tree tops. When I came down I told them it was a disgrace to take peoples money like that under false pretences.
Camera is still playing up and wont charge properly so hopefully the pics will loadup.