St Petersburg, Russia Day 2 (Trip Pics)

On our second day in St. Petersburg (June 11,  2011) we chose a tour that went to Catherine & Peterhof Palaces.    The first palace we went to was Catherine's.  According to the brochure, it was designed by Rastrelli, and was built as a summer residence for Catherine I.  The Palace also includes over 1400 acres of manicured gardens.

Catherine's Palace

The gates leading to the palace

section of the gate surrounding the palace

This band played outside the entrance to the palace.  They were pretty entertaining while we waited in line.

Of course they even had CD's to sell after their performance.

The booties we had to wear over our shoes to protect the floors.

They were kind of fun, made everything slippery.

A ceiling

the ceiling/wall in one of the stairwells

Some unique wall treatments.

One of my favorite walls in the palace. 

They really seemed to like using gold in their decor.

Another Ceiling

A few of the many dinner settings on display in the palace

One of the dresses worn by Catherine the Great

interesting fireplace in the background behind the dress.

A few pictures from the palace grounds

I think it would be fun to wondering around in these gardens for a while. We were hurried along with our tour group but what we saw of them was nice.

I think this looks like a good spot to sit with a book on a nice day.

The second palace on our tour was Peterhof Palace. 

From the brochure "Built to rival Versailles and sits atop a hill overlooking the Gulf of Finland"

Peter the Great drafted the layout for the awe-inspiring 300-acre park and supervised the design of the palace fountains.  Including the Grand Cascade my favorite on the grounds.

Peterhof's Palace

They are slowly restoring all the gold trim on the palace. 

This is a picture of some of the restored gold.

It's really shiny compared to the older tarnished sections

Once again - people in costume asking for money to have your picture taken with them.

Seems to be a popular thing in the tourist areas

Grounds at Peterhof Palace

They didn't allow cameras in this palace so I just got some pictures of the grounds

Amazing fountains

The grand cascade features Samson prying open the lion's jaws.

One of my favorite pictures from this trip.

The palace and fountain

Our lunch and entertainment

Once again lunch started with Vodka and Cavier.  (Yuck!)

They really liked to push Vodka there

Random buildings around St. Petersberg

one of several bridges connecting the city

Not sure I'd want to travel on these trains regularly

Seemed a bit run down and not well maintained.  They were definately crowded though.

Working for a billboard company and ruined me.

I notice billboards now whereever I go.

Thought I'd throw a few pictures in.

It was so weird to have it this light after 10pm

On deck after 10 pm

After 10 pm on deck

Hunting for Worms

I was clearing off some pictures on my phone and found these.  I thought I'd share them.

My grandpa had these rods that he used to collect worms.  He would water the lawn good then come out in the evening and use these rods to "encourage" the worms to surface.  The rods produce an electrical current that basically shocks the worms into surfacing.  Jake and Zoe thought this was real fun. 

Helping grandpa spot worms

Found one

waiting for it to surface

attempting to make Jake wait for it to surface more

grabbing a surfaced worm

nice catch

playing with "baby" worm

Zoe finally got a keeper

Halloween 2011

This year Zoe insisted on being Princess Leia for Halloween.  I was surprised when I went to the fabric store to find a pattern for her costume and found out that the patterns had been discontinued.  I guess Princess Leia is not as popular at Halloween as I thought she would be.  We hit several Halloween stores and had no luck either.  Finally after searching we came up with our own design that I think looked cute.  I think she was more excited over the hair than anything else. Jake ended up seeing this storm trooper costume while out shopping with his mom.  He just had to have it.  It was a good deal so they got it.  They really looked cute together. I wonder what they will come up with for next year?

Jake if full costume.  The helmet didn't last long while out Trick or Treating.  It was difficult for him to see through.

Hawk?

I not really sure what kind of bird this is but it lives in my mom's neighborhood.

We were watching it from their porch yesterday. 

Anybody have any idea what kind of bird it is?

Dad's B-day present to himself

After several weeks of searching, my dad finally found a fishing boat that he liked on KSL.com.

He bought it a day or two before his birthday so I guess you could say he bought himself a b-day present.

The kids love to play in it, especially Jake.

Happily Ever After - at Kenley Amphitheater

Last night I took Zoe to see "Happily Ever After" at the Kenley Amphitheater in Layton.

It was described as a "musical review for fairy tale lovers of all ages".  It was actually kind of cute.

They performed songs from assorted Disney films and other fairy tale themed shows.

I will admit I would have loved a fast forward button during a few of the slow songs,

 but all in all it wasn't too bad.

Princes singing about agony.

Gaston trying to woo Belle

Z loved his fake Elvis style wig

I really wish I had brought my camera and not just used my phone.

These guys/girls were a hit singing there song

Glenda from Wicked

Elphaba

Shrek

Ray "the Cajun firefly from Princess and the Frog"

I loved the firefly light

We weren't really sure who the monk costume was suppose to be.

Broadway version of Cinderella's fairy godmother

Cinderella's fairy godmother based on cartoon version

Rapunzel

We didn't get any pictures after Rapunzel started singing.  It started to sprinkle a few songs before but the cloud burst started about the time Rapunzel got on stage.  We were getting absolutely soaked so we left to head for the car.  By the time we made it to the car it was a total cloud burst.  It made for a fun trek to the car and a fun end to the evening.

Flooding on 800 South

Today Andrea and I went to lunch at Moochies on 800 South in Salt Lake City.  It has been down pouring rain all day.  Starting around the Moochies area (200 E - 300 E) the street was flooded. 

Water was actually spraying out of the manhole covers.

Sorry picture isn't the best. 

It was taken with my phone, through the car windshield, while we were driving in the rain.

Flooded intersection

another flooded intersection

it was fun seeing the spray as cars tried to drive through the flood.

The spray as we drove through went higher than our car.