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Friday, September 9, 2011

Reflections are what this room's about

Mea culpa, perhaps.
Sorry, unfittie fans, I might have misunderstood. My intrepid photographer told me he wouldn't be able to take photographs in the Amber Room. However, I don't remember him telling me he'd been able to take them of the room from one door as he went in, and the other door as he went out. So here we are, the most famous room in Russia, rebuilt following its destruction in World War II, the Amber Room in the Catherine Palace, St. Petersburg, photographed during our holiday with Viking River Cruises last month.




© Photos by Richard Schear
Posted for Weekend Reflections
hosted by James in California.
Thanks, James!
To see what made other bloggers reflect this week, please click HERE!

19 comments:

S K Ditta said...

Had there been some kind of prohibition on entering the room, or taking photographs, that would have been understandable. So glad, that's not the case. Excellent pictures. Thanks Richard and Kay!

Powell River Books said...

What an extravagant display. It must have been an interesting life while it lasted. - Margy

Martha Z said...

I'm catching up on your Russia posts. There is certainly a lot of artistic craftsmanship reflected in your husband's photos. I'm glad that in their revolutionary zeal, the soviets didn't destroy all of this.
I would love to visit the Hermitage. I wasn't sure from your post if you were able to accompany Dick on his visit, I know it would be a lot of walking.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

That's just amazing! I'm glad Richard was able to take these. (So, you didn't know he had taken these huh? Wow, you guys must have other things to talk about besides your blog and photos! ;>))))).

On a serious vein -- were you not able to walk through this place? If so, did you stay on the boat?

Kay L. Davies said...

@ Martha and Sallie — I often stayed on the ship while Dick took optional tours. Viking River had the tours rated 1-2-3, with #3 most difficult, so I never tried those.
The whole idea behind An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel is that I'll regret it if I stay home, but I haven't yet regretted going. I just have to accept being unable to do everything. Staying on a comfortable ship is a whole lot better than staying home, LOL.
— K

this is Belgium said...

unbelievably impressive treasures.. so good you were able to get the photographs and show them

Gattina said...

I don't know if it is a legend or the truth, but apparently the whole room had been hidden by Hitler's men and burried somewhere. There are still scientifists or whatever who are looking for the real room. Sometimes I hear they had found it, but then it was a false alert.
Anyway even the replica is stunning !

jabblog said...

That is extreme opulence. Clever Richard to obey the prohibition to the very letter:-)

Leslie said...

what an amazing place! i'm glad your intrepid photographer was "creative" in his interpretation of the rules ;)

'Tsuki said...

You did it ! You took pictures of the amber room ! This is one of the place I'm dying to visit (well in fact I would like to see it before actually dying ;D )... Thank you so much for that rare sharing !

Simon said...

You did well to capture this with so many people milling about. The ornate gold is nearly overwhelming to take in. Reminds me a bit of the room in the Sound of Music film.
Appreciate all your visits to my blog Kay. Have a great weekend.

Ebie said...

Such intricate art and very attention to details.

Beautiful lighting!

Francisca said...

Oh me, oh my, oh my! I can't begin to fathom the ego that commissioned (and lived!) in such a room! :-)

Carola Bartz said...

Amazing!!!

Jenny Woolf said...

What a mind blowing room! almost worth going to Russia just to see that!

Fran said...

I too thought that the Amber Room had been hidden, though not by Hitler's men as Gattina says, but by the Russians saving it from Hitler's invading army. These men then perished in the war and to this day the hiding place has never been found.

SquirrelQueen said...

I am glad Richard found a way around the no photos 'in' the room. The room is amazing and it does have some interesting reflections.

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy said...

Oh, my gosh! Way cool. Glad you guys were able to get these.

Thanks so much for visiting me this weekend, Kay. Hope next week is a great one for you.

Kathy M.

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

are they pure gold?