Peterhof and Humpf

Today, we've had a fascinating trip out to Peterhof with our guide, Luba. She's a mine of information and brought history alive as we walked around the palace. She also took us into the underground sluice and pipe systems because I was so amazed that all these fountains on my blip, as well as the ones in the gardens, are driven by gravity alone.  

We've been really lucky with the weather so far as this week was forecast to be rainy yet we've had twenty four hours of blue sky and fluffy clouds. 

It was only after our second coffee shop after arriving back in St Petersburg that the spits of rain began. It was in there where everything was too much trouble and we spent a humorous 40 minutes attempting to warm up the waiter. I think we hit it off in the end but not before he openly humpfed at us with the hugest of facial expressions when we asked for milk for Rich's tea. 

I grinned and thanked him in my second word of Russian and found us well on the way to becoming good friends. (OK, perhaps a little exaggeration!)

Having a bit of feet up time and hoping to see the downpipes flooding with water in the rain. You've got to see them to believe them; they're massive!



...So, lucky really - no rain. No down pipes in flood but no testing out of the cornstarch emergency poncho either!

Dinner was amazing. We found a divine Russian restaurant with lovely service. Caviar and pancakes followed by beef strogonov hit the spot completely. 

On the way home, we bartered for a Russian doll (well, a Christmas version) after practising yesterday and are mighty pleased with our purchase. Our guide warned us about some street seller tactics to pickpocket so we had that sussed too.

My feet are up. Rich has gone for a wander.