August 3

The previous day we visited beautiful gardens; on this day, on our own, we would visit beautiful toilets . . . 

[You recognize this as the beginning to every day . . . ]

[Today was a road trip.  With six of us partaking, we took Reetz’s mini-RV.  I guess the Super volunteered to be the pilot; Anne the co-pilot . . . ]

[Our destination, the Kohler Design Center, in Kohler of all places (just outside Sheboygan) . . . ]

[Where it’s all about bathrooms.  We have been here before, but it’s always worth another visit . . . ]

[Such abounds – too cool!]

[Bathtub guy . . . ]

[Reetz reprises her bathtub role from the previous day . . . ]

[Never pass up a selfie op . . . ]

[Why yes, I do believe in a 16-bathroom house with one bed is all one needs . . . ]

[You’re flush with possibilities here . . . ]

[“Intelligent toilets” sound scary – like what would they do if they took over?]

[Let’s try level 2 . . . ]

[It really is like touring an art gallery . . . ]

[Foot massage? Please!]

[And thank you!  Bubbly?  Why not . . . ]

[I’ll take it!]

[Can you install it by next week?]

[Cordial?  Sure . . . ]

[Another selfie, but we lost the Super . . . ]

[OK, got her . . . ]

[Is the chauffeur back yet?]

[Would you please ask the butler to bring my nonsmoking jacket . . . ]

[Reetz thinks this would look just fine in her log home . . . ]

[“The Thinker”?]

[Or just a man alone with his thoughts and bunions?]

[Our “favorite” bathroom just keeps coming . . . ]

[“The Biddies” have discovered nirvana . . . ]

[Bill thinks, “What the . . . ?”]

[No bathroom would be complete without one . . . ]

[Peel me a grape . . . ]

[Would someone please draw my bath? Then a brandy and a Cuban cigar would be nice too.]

[Northwest motif?  Why not . . . ]

[The Kohler history is in the lowest level . . . ]

[And Whistling Straits is now part of their legacy . . . ]

[It must be lunch time . . . ]

[Untitled, but it appears the informal name of the following sculpture is still available?]

[The nickname for this guy in Bamberg, Germany, is “The Headache.”]

[The American Club – not a bad choice.  Welcome to The American Club®, a five-star, five-diamond hotel that has stood as an icon of gracious hospitality for 100 years. Set in the quaint Village of Kohler, Wisconsin, the full-service resort hotel offers elegant accommodations and unparalleled service. The adjacent Carriage House, home to Kohler Waters Spa, offers the same renowned service with a more contemporary ambience. (From its website.)]

[Just across the street, Kohler Company General Office Building . . . ]

[Entrez . . . ]

[Lunch destination is . . . ]

[Here . . . ]

[Is this another selfie?]

[Back in the RV, heading back to camp . . . ]

[In camp – Cindy was Rita’s best friend, and good friend to all of us . . . ]

[This tree was planted in her memory . . . ]

[The last supper on the patio. Local high school kids work in the dining hall.  This is Carli, her 3rd year doing such.  She said Elkhart Lake schools start on September 4.  She didn’t recall, unsurprisingly, that that is also my birthday . . . ]

[The DOM, in all his glory . . . ]

[The counselors charges are all reintroduced at the end of the week.  Lena was first.]

[A DOM camera duel . . . ]

[Let’s line dance . . . ]

[The last night with Phyllis, and John and Rosalba . . . ]

[I no longer play, of course.  But if I did, this is a bit out of my league.  Thanks to John and Rosalba, though, for the memento!]

[Sundae fixin’s in background tent always the highlight of the last night . . . ]

[Jami’s secret concoction . . . ]

[Lena having a chat with her folks, Kent and Jenny, and Katie . . . ]

[The last night and last camp fire . . . ]

[The oldest “kids” – Katie and Cassie’s group – with a humerous final skit about their counselors . . . ]

[Anne, Kathy, and Reetz frame the final fire.  And now, goodnight.]

How is it that one match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box of matches to start a campfire?  ~  Christy Whitehead

Up Next:  Camp ends.

August 2 (still)

Continuing our guided tour of the spectacular Christopher Farm & Gardens on Lake Michigan . . .

[On to the food gardens . . . ]

[The grape, oft crushed ‘neath naked feet . . . ]

[Likely less edible plant material . . . ]

[Here’s looking at you, kid . . . ]

[It’s time for a rest . . . ]

[Again, John and Rosalba, the camp couple of the year . . . ]

[Monarchs among the coneflowers . . . ]

[Maybe a monarch?]

[Sorry, didn’t get the tree label . . . ]

[Readying for a venture to some newer gardens . . . ]

[“The Biddies” waitin’ for the Robert E. Lee (it was never there on time).]

[Showing tremendous ease around a rodent whose relative in D.C. once nipped her finger . . . ]

[Yes, try to find a garden, park, or golf course steel bridge that isn’t from Alex!]

[We’ve been here twice now but have yet to see an operating train . . . ]

[Could that be Babe, to blue ox?]

[A multiple train station garden . . . ]

[How often do you come across a silver baby elephant?]

[Toga party?]

[The Super points out the Alex bridge . . . ]

[And bridge builder . . . ]

[Nope, didn’t try it.  The can was too big . . . ]

[We believe this is where Reetz lost her glasses.  A week later, CFG found them in a bed and mailed them back to her . . . ]

[Appears to be prairie blazing star . . . ]

[Took a photography class.  Gotta ‘B.’]

[“Jayrassic” Park, ultimately a full hosta garden – with dinosaurs!]

[Watch out, Kathy!]

[A pterodactyl and T. Rex . . . ]

[Kathy and a raptor . . . ]

[A dino-owl?]

[Now on the tee . . . ]

[While searching for Reetz’s glasses, “The Biddies” came back with a guy and a dog and a golf cart?]

[And a final passing “thought” about CFG from the Super . . . ]

[Meanwhile, back at camp, the first pontoon ride of the evening returns to port . . . ]

[And we’re next!]

[Pulling out into the shipping lanes, that’s our dining hall . . . ]

[That’s the Sputh Round House, morning coffee, muffin, and newspaper . . . ]

[Waterfront (duh!) . . . ]

[And outside dining area (chipmunks and squirrels would “police” the area every night) . . . ]

[The swimming area with Annex above (Anne & Bill were on the lower level) . . . ]

[The “haunted” boat house . . . ]

[Our pilot Sam reported that the leaf area along the shoreline is eaten back to a uniform level by deer feeding from the iced over lake in winter . . . ]

[Our “sister” pontoon with a smaller number of passengers . . . ]

[The house in the background was allegedly rented by Tom Cruise when he raced at Road America . . . ]

[Allegedly Paul Newman’s place when he raced at Road America . . . ]

[As darkness settles in , we realize we were not going to have a sunset . . . ]

[These birds circled in in swarms like I’ve never seen on a lake before – like the Quelea in Africa.  It was so dark already I couldn’t tell what they were – not water fowl, nor gulls.  Finally figured they had to be . . . ]

[The Common Tern (borrowed photo)]

[Heading back into what would have been a sunset on a clear night, Sam steers us home . . . ]

[And goodnight, as we pass the $9 million Johnsonville Brat house . . . ]

I’m tired of being set upon by crazed Christians one minute and unbridled libertines the next. Girls, I’m going camping.  ~  Bailey White

Up Next:  Day 7?

August 2

[It’s another sunfish morning . . . ]

[After breakfast, the ride back up the hill.  Yes, ride.  For the first time the Super rented a golf cart for the week.  Some of us aren’t getting any younger – and from Rappaport to the water is about 75 steps, and going up and down at least 3 times a day (just for the meals) gets to be a bit much.  I think the golf cart is forever in our future.]

[Home, Jeeves!]

[It was going to be a big day at the Christopher Farm.  We were here two years ago and thought a return trip well worthwhile . . . ]

[The Christopher Farm & Gardens is a privately owned residence requiring advanced registration for tours.  Go to our Contact page to fill out a request form for a group guided tour.  Our 500 acre farm and botanical garden is located along the western shores of Lake Michigan in the scenic Pigeon River Valley of Mosel Township, Sheboygan County, Wisconsin.  We encourage you to explore our website to acquaint yourself with the various agricultural, horticultural and artistic aspects of the farm and gardens.  (christopherfarmandgardens.org)]

[Group led tours are on a request basis as our staff schedule permits. We request a $2.00 minimum donation per person be made to Sheboygan County’s Meals On Wheels program.  Our preferred group size is 15 – 100 participants. Email: christopherfarmandgardens@gmail.com]

[Doris Christopher was the founder of the Pampered Chef, which Warren Buffett bought for a reported $900 million in 2002.  Thus, Jay Christopher is able to fund a private operation of this scope . . . ]

[Coming through the entry gate . . . ]

[Such of children are throughout the gardens . . . ]

[These are runoff holding ponds, beautiful with fountains, that are used for irrigation . . . ]

[Remembered him as our guide two years ago.  He’s a full-time employee . . . ]

[The walk through begins . . . ]

[The sign leads the way . . . ]

[The natural prairie, with a sighting of Lake Michigan in the background . . . ]

[A path through the prairie is the direct route to the lake overlook . . . ]

[Now please beware of the bears ahead . . . ]

[But first . . . ]

[And special bonus coverage – ]

[The Super says I found it . . . ]

[Through the prairie . . . ]

[Oops, some folks can’t find their way out . . . ]

[Heading into bear country . . . ]

[It begins . . . ]

[It’s a Packers jersey (Mr. Christopher is a Bears fan) . . . ]

[Thanks, John!]

[And the mama’s bed was just right!]

[Onward to the lake . . . ]

[Anne is lucky that bison is penned . . . ]

[Purple coneflowers (I checked sources to learn that) . . . ]

[Reetz (I checked sources to learn that, too)]

[And I got help from the sign here . . . ]

[“The Biddies” and Lake Michigan – quite a trio!]

[John and Rosalba – and they also played Whistling Straits . . . ]

[Karina (another longtime camper since childhood), to the best of my knowledge, did not play Whistling Straits . . . ]

[The family Gross . . . ]

[Coneflowers are everywhere!]

[Always good to know, because no matter where you go, there you are . . . ]

[About to head back inland . . . ]

[Why yes, we are tourists!]

[The Super model . . . ]

[And again . . . ]

[The Cialis bathtubs . . . ]

[Reetz, with the aforementioned Cialis bathtubs . . . ]

[Watch out, deer, there are bears in the forest!]

[Last shot of the prairie (for a while) . . . ]

[The Great Lakes watershed . . . ]

[And where Alexandria stands in the grand scheme of things . . . ]

[Now we’re in the children’s educational garden . . . ]

[Sasquatch . . . ]

[Lotsa nice evergreens . . . ]

[And tall evergreens . . . ]

[Lilies and black-eyed susans . . . ]

[A close personal friend . . . ]

[We work out at the same gym . . . ]

[Help, I’m sitting and I can’t get up!]

[We’ll wrap up Part 1 in the Japanese garden . . . ]

Is that weird, taking my Louis Vuitton bag camping?  ~  Jessica Simpson

Up Next:  Part 2

We take a momentary sabbatical from Russia and camp for . . . 

BRUCE’S GARDEN PARTY – AUGUST 10

“Went to a garden party to reminisce with my old friends, a chance to share old memories and play our songs again…” -Ricky Nelson

Join us for an evening of fun to celebrate Bruce Olson’s retirement. Bruce is one of the original founders and the first and only Executive Director of the Legacy of the Lakes Museum. He has been a visionary force, providing the spark, enthusiasm and leadership to transform a start-up product into a respected, vibrant museum, campus, gardens, education and event center.

Doors at 5:00 pm
Dinner served 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Music from 7:00 – 9:00 pm

Ticket includes a beef brisket meal with savory sides catered by Wurst Machers and gourmet desserts by Country Blossom Farm, LLC.. Plus, a Music in the Gardens concert by the entertaining Davina and The Vagabonds! Remember to bring your lawn chair. Cash bar. 21+.

This is a fundraiser event. Proceeds will help fund a Gardener’s House to be built for the museum and garden volunteers’ work space and storage. 

[We came in the front door.  We hadn’t been to the museum for a while and were startled by this amazing art display upon entry.  It’s presented here for your leisurely enjoyment absent further commentary . . . ]

[Welcome to the museum . . . ]

[And now on to the event at hand.  This was a maintenance building, its conversion to an event center recently completed . . . ]

[And every time we come, so much more has been done to the gardens.  I think they’re pretty much complete now, extending to all the property boundaries, and are a definite destination for visitors to the area . . . ]

[Let’s just go for a stroll around . . . ]

[Bruce designed the performance stage, complete with “sails” . . . ]

[There was dining inside and out – a very warm and sticky day . . . ]

[The Super enjoys . . . ]

[Brisket given kudos by all . . . ]

[The Olson family table.  Congratulations, Bruce, you did good!]

[Davina and The Vagabonds]

[The crowd settles in . . . ]

[Canadian wildfires have had a dampening effect on our sunshine lately . . . ]

[Kevin Kopischke, retired president of the local college, readies to memorialize Bruce’s career at the museum . . . ]

[And then does . . . ]

[Kevin continues . . . ]

[Olson kids talk about dad . . . ]

[And the gentleman of honor . . . ]

[Fellow museum poohbahs (their official title, I believe), Fred Bursch . . . ]

[And Jim Eidsvold also honor Bruce . . . ]

[We probably first met Bruce and Marie in the early 2000’s because of the young woman between us.  Their daughter Ahna, who from graduated high school in 2006, was on the Cardinal hockey team.  And of course that became our favorite spectator sport.  We probably hadn’t seen her in 10 years, so it was nice of her to come all the way from Palo Alto to do so.  Oh, she came back to Alex for her dad’s retirement shindig?  Never mind.]

The only way to understand painting is to go and look at it. And if out of a million visitors there is even one to whom art means something, that is enough to justify museums.  ~  Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Up Next:  Back to camp.

August 1

We begin each day at the waterfront . . . well, after breakfast.  Let the games begin!

[Anne and Bill ready to attack Elkhart Lake in a double kayak . . . ]

[And they’re off, no injuries were reported . . . ]

[A right turn, clear of the mooring area . . . ]

[Trying to sync . . . ]

[Past the swimming area, then out of sight . . . ]

[Waterfront staff prepares to receive incoming vessels . . . ]

[Other waterfront staff keeping an eye on things from the pontoon . . . ]

[Next up, Katie and Cassie ready for a paddleboard adventure . . . ]

[And away they go (I hope someone is keeping track of such things) . . . ]

[At the request of their family, I shot other longtime campers sailing to shore . . . ]

[Those of us not into such strenuous activities find comfort on shore, in the shade.]

[Anne and Bill found their way back home after circumnavigating the entire lake.]

[Name that cloud!!]

[I think it’s a puppy on its haunches?]

[The best photo ever of these two guys (if I do say so myself) – the DOM, on the left, with Wiley, the outgoing camp director.]

[It’s time for cornhole!  The DOM here, teamed with Vicki, unfortunately ran into a buzzsaw, i.e., the defending champs, in the opening round . . . ]

[Vick launches a couple . . . ]

[She had to carry the DOM . . . ]

[Jami teamed with Kathleen in a match that went down to the wire . . . ]

[Good form . . . ]

[Nice follow through . . . ]

[Kathleen shoots back . . . ]

[The bag is airborne . . . ]

[The Fort Wayne Dynamos stayed for the continuing action . . . ]

[Kathleen, lookin’ good!]

[Cornhole!!]

[Woo-woo!  Jenny was impressed . . . ]

[And the save of the day . . . ]

[I was able to dive into the bowels of Elkhart Lake to save “The Biddies” from the clutches of the plastic horrors befouling our planet’s waters!]

Anna had read books about people in the cities going camping.  She couldn’t imagine something so ridiculous.  ~  Gail Sattler

Up Next:  I believe we’ll go to the Legacy of the Lakes Museum.

July 30

[This is my favorite view going down to breakfast every morning . . . ]

[Here is our cabin – available to us because Reetz comes every year and has been coming for over 30 years . . . ]

[The 9:00 o’clock morning flag raising – all the little kids come and sing the “birdie song” . . . ]

[The lake walk – while we can no longer walk all around the lake (some property owners no longer permit it), we can still walk part way.  Here Bill, and all walkers, are invited by the owner to spin the bowl of flowers under the kaleidoscope . . . ]

[Another lovely available view . . . ]

[We disturbed a local family at Turtle Bay . . . ]

[Turtle Bay, the end of our walk in this direction . . . ]

[Anne and Bill at the base of Turtle Bay without flash . . . ]

[With flash . . . ]

Meanwhile, back at camp . . . 

[Let’s line dance!  “The Biddies” join in . . . ]

[And baby makes three . . . ]

[“The Biddies” in their western motif . . . ]

[Well, howdy!!]

[You can’t get anymore “western” than a Hawaiian swimsuit . . . ]

[Reetz borrowed my camera (for this and the following two) to catch three generations of Longardners, the family’s 40th year at camp.  Baby Lena was my girlfriend last year – this year she threw me over for a younger, richer guy.  She’s learning!]

[New playground, though I did not partake . . . ]

[Meanwhile, back at the dance . . . ]

[Scott (the DOM) and Vicki (a/k/a, the Fort Wayne Dynamos), better known as Lena’s grandparents . . . ]

[Meanwhile, back at the dance . . . ]

[There were 9 teams signed up for the euchre tournament.  There had to be a play-in game.  By luck of the draw, it matched two of the camp’s perennial favorites – the Dreaded Callecod Sisters vs. the Fort Wayne Dynamos.  The Sisters were able to pull out a down-to-the-wire win, 10-9 and 10-9.  The Dynamos were unaware that by wearing their glasses on the top of their heads, the Sisters were able to see their cards by the reflection off the ceiling . . . ]

July 31

[Yes, we do field trips, too.  We have been here before for guided tours, which they apparently don’t do anymore.  But there are windows into their operation, and you can shop and buy cheese – so, we did . . . ]

[Back in camp, it was adult dinner night.  They hide all the kids somewhere – some go into town for pizza and bowling; some do outdoor weinies.  We get dressed up to the camp-degree possible . . . ]

[And have photo sessions on the patio . . . ]

[And then we eat – prime rib or almond-crusted haddock (some years walleye or cod) with twice-baked potato or rice with red or white wine.  I forgot to mention in the day one pronouncements that Kathleen, Anne, Bill, and Cassie were all first time campers – you do not have to be an IU alum to attend . . . ]

Some national parks have long waiting lists for camping reservations. When you have to wait a year to sleep next to a tree, something is wrong.  ~  George Carlin

Up Next:  Day 5

 

[The two-masted schooner building (?) in downtown Sheboygan . . . ]

[A little playground/garden adjacent to the schooner building . . . ]

[These are the smiles of people being goosed by hand chairs . . . ]

[Existing in the gloaming of noncontroversiality . . . ]

[The ladies enjoying the evening stroll . . . ]

July 29

[Up early, head to the beach . . . ]

[Dueling photos with Anne . . . ]

[Bill decided to test the water . . . ]

[I likely would have tumbled face first into the water with that move . . . ]

[Our final venue in Sheboygan before heading to camp . . . ]

[The Kohler Art Center, just as we did last year . . . ]

[Jami models before a see-through (or crawl-through) fireplace . . . ]

[Or an artistic facsimile of such . . . ]

[No explanation, but I thought it cool . . . ]

[Like daughter, like mom . . . ]

[The entry vestibule . . . ]

[Art in the vestibule (nobody can use “vestibule” just once) . . . ]

[Found this to be quite beautiful . . . ]

[OK, I finally had to acknowledge – members of the family tree?]

[Or theirs?]

[And, of course, the bathrooms.  If one arrives at Sunday morning opening, you are likely able to “visit” both the women’s and men’s facilities, acknowledged as having no peers . . . ]

[And shooting the entrance as we depart . . . ]

[Traveling through Plymouth (comparable in size to Alex) on the way to camp.  We have spent Saturday nights here as well . . . ]

 

[Staff introductions by song . . . ]

[All together now . . . ]

[Dos and don’ts for the waterfront . . . ]

[Opening night camp fire . . . ]

[Readings of the history of Elkhart Lake . . . ]

[Whoooooooooosh!!]

[I believe this was Katie on the left and Cassie on the right . . . ]

[A kumbaya moment . . . ]

[Attendance, and/or participation, usually begins to taper off with the arrival of mosquitoes. They were surprisingly quite polite this year . . . ]

Camping is nature’s way of promoting the motel business.  ~  Dave Barry

Up Next:  Days 3 & 4.  Apologies for the publishing delay – we had to settle some remuneration issues with our carrier, WordPress.

June 2

St. Petersburg

And now two days in St. Petersburg to see . . . everything!  On this day we would visit Catherine’s Palace, do a walking tour of the city beginning with a subway ride, and then an evening of Cossack folk songs and dances.  On the following day we would visit Peterhof Palace (yes, palaced-out) and explore the city by water.  Almost like in Vacationland USA!  On the third day we would rest. 

[Big Day!  A morning bus ride to Catherine Palace in Pushkin, about 30 km south of St. Petersburg.  Along the 40-minute drive route one can see such sights as this.  One would think this distinctive yellow building wearing red hats would be identified in the “literature”?  It’s not.  Must be an FSB (nee, KGB) building?]

[Nukes!]

[More colorful high-rises in the modern tradition . . . ]

[It’s good to know pizza is aways available . . . ]

[It appears we’re approaching our destination . . . ]

[Statue of Alexander Pushkin in Lyceum Garden, pretty much adjacent to Catherine Palace . . . ]

[Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin, 6 June [O.S. 26 May] 1799 – 10 February [O.S. 29 January] 1837) was a Russian poet, playwright, and novelist of the Romantic era who is considered by many to be the greatest Russian poet and the founder of modern Russian literature.  (Wikipedia)]

[We have debused and are approaching the entrace to Catherine Palace . . . ]

[Sasha displays his lollipop as we are invited to listen to the band playing American patriotic tunes . . . ]

[The Super gets into it with an appropriate donation . . . ]

[And now the Super welcomes you to the palace grounds.  As Professor Doctor Colonel Kiehne says, it’s the very essence of unmitigated opulence.]

[Let’s go in!]

[This was fine, shooting photos outside from the palace grounds . . . ]

[As with much of antiquity, undergoing renovation . . . ]

[A final look into the gardens before . . . ]

[Entering the building . . . ]

[It appears he has an “outie” . . . ]

[And going inside, places of these vintages, e.g., Versailles, et al, were not designed, or equipped, to handle large groups of tourists . . . ]

[It appears the Super has broken away from the crowd . . . ]

[Oh, did I mention “footies”?  Well, probably a good idea to protect the overly trod upon floors . . . ]

[The doll house version of the palace . . . ]

[Mass, forward!  The Grand Hall, or Hall of Lights, was a special occasion room.  At 1,000 square meters, it is the largest room in the palace . . . ]

[And a grand “selfie” room . . . ]

[Some of the ceiling appointments therein . . . ]

[Did somebody mention opulence?]

[Ready!  Set!  Photograph!]

[I don’t think this design pattern will work in our new home?]

[Just say “selfie”!]

[Well, uffda, there are mirrors everywhere . . . ]

[Two from the Super . . . ]

[It appears the table designer won a blue ribbon?]

[Didn’t paint get in their eyes when they did the ceilings?]

[It gets hot and claustrophobic going through such places.  A look out a window brings welcome relief . . . ]

[Crown molding on steroids . . . ]

[The Main Staircase.  TMI:  In the 1750s, when he reconstructed the Great Palace,  Bartolomeo Francesco Rastrelli placed the main staircase at a distance from the entrance gates, in the southern part of the palace, which was crowned by a dome and spire. In the reign of Catherine II Rastrelli’s main staircase was removed and instead, in keeping with the wishes of the mistress of Tsarskoye Selo, Charles Cameron constructed a new staircase of mahogany in the centre of the palace, in place of the Chinese Hall that Rastrelli had designed. In 1860–63 the staircase was reconstructed by the architect Ippolitto Monighetti. He produced a new one in marble stylized in imitation of the Rococo and decorated by elaborate carved balustrades and figured vases.   The stairwell occupies the entire height and width of the palace and is lit by three tiers of windows on both east and west. The white marble steps ascend from both sides to a central landing from which four flights rise to the first floor where the state rooms are located. The walls are embellished with moulded ornament and also decorative vases and dishes made of Chinese and Japanese porcelain (eighteenth- and nineteenth-century) – a reminder of the Chinese Hall that was located here in the mid-1700s. During the Second World War a fire destroyed the décor of the Main Staircase. Only the collection of porcelain survived in part, as it was evacuated in time, together with fragments of the marble vases and balustrades found among the ruins. To recreate the appearance of the stairwell, canvases were selected that match the previous compositions in both style and size. Today the upper landings of the staircase are adorned by restored marble sculptures of Cupid Sleeping and Cupid Awakening that were carved by Victor Brodzsky in 1860 by the order of Empress Maria Feodorovna, the spouse of Alexander II.  In the nineteenth century the well of the Main Staircase was decorated with a ceiling painting by Joseph-Marie Vien, The Triumph of Venus, and two smaller works by Guido Reni, The Rape of Europa and Galatea. These were destroyed when the roof collapsed during the war.  To recreate the appearance of the stairwell, canvases were selected that match the previous compositions in both style and size. The central painting of The Judgement of Paris, produced by the Italian artist Carlo Maratti, and Jupiter and Callisto by Pietro Liberi came from the stocks of the State Hermitage. The composition Aeneas and Venus by an unknown eighteenth-century Italian artist that is on the west side of the ceiling was a gift to the palace museum from the Leningrader A. Tikhomirov (eng.tzar.ru/museums/palaces).]

[This is the stock photo I didn’t get.  Which is why there will be a multiple-choice test on this later.]

[More “appointments”?]

[A generic ornate white wall clock . . . ]

[Eggos will be served precisely at 8:30 . . . ]

[A delft tile room heater . . . ]

[Help!  Let me out!  I wanna go to the gardens!  (Yes, I felt the same way in Versailles.)]

[Is there a restroom up there?]

[More room-to-room appointments . . . ]

[Catherine the Great in Portrait Hall . . . ]

[Da!]

[The Portrait Room . . . ]

[A sampling of portraits . . . ]

[Alexander I . . . ]

[Yes, we finished the makeover of our breakfast nook . . . ]

[Relief!  Outside again!]

[Pam also rejoices in the great outdoors . . . ]

[These appear to be known simply as garden statues . . . ]

[Hmmm, it was June 2, and we were in there?]

[Tom soaks in his surroundings . . . ]

[Let’s just stroll the grounds . . . ]

[Reflecting pool and building . . . ]

[Cameron Gallery . . . ]

[And again . . . ]

[Called a lake . . . ]

[Meanwhile, back at Cameron Gallery . . . ]

[Tom and Pam plot our next move . . . ]

[How ’bout a stroll by the lake . . . ]

[Grotto Pavilion on the lake . . . ]

[The Super appears to have discovered a large discus thrower . . . ]

[Is this an original Olympian?]

[This is kinda like No Name Pond at home . . . ]

[Our 3B guide for the palace . . . ]

[Pam Does Photos . . . ]

[In the Grotto . . . ]

[A terrific a cappella group was performing, or practicing, so shhhhhhhhh!]

[On the outside of the “singing” room . . . ]

[The Pavilion crowd . . . ]

[Was this looking in through a window?]

[We wandered far from the palace . . . ]

[What could it be?]

[The Super seeks some bas relief . . . ]

[Heading back to the boat to prepare for our next outing . . . ]

[There’s our bridge . . . ]

[There’s our boat and our bridge . . . ]

[And we’re off for our afternoon adventure, next in Part II.  Sasha has gathered us for a trip into the city on the subway . . . ]

Destiny may ride with us today, but there is no reason for it to interfere with lunch.  ~  Peter the Great

Up Next:  More St. Pete . . .

July 23

Taking a short break from blogging the Russia trip to . . .

Those familiar with this “not fake news” social media post are aware that once a month a few buddies from the Alexandria Class of ’65 have lunch together at some venue outside the confines of the Greater Alexandria Metropolitan Area.  It’s a never ending, but generally successful, quest to fight off the ravages of full-blown senior citizenship.  Today we visited Vining . . . 

[Vining is in Ottertail County and has a population of 78.  It is located 31 miles due north of Alexandria and 28 miles due east of Fergus Falls.]

[The statue above and below is next to our restaurant, and it’s creator will be introduced soon . . . ]

[Our place of fine dining . . . ]

[The boys outside . . . ]

[The boys inside . . . ]

[Bradley could hardly contain his excitement about the well-placed sign to his rearage.]

[The history . . . ]

[Burgers and broasted chicken . . . yummy!  We gave the restaurant 5 stars . . . ]

[Our host behind the bar – a one woman operation . . . ]

In 1989, Ken Nyberg seemed like just an average guy. He worked in construction, and in his spare time he would make little sculptures out of scrap metal, such as an arboreal “family tree,” or a dog.  Coffee so thick it defies gravity: a tribute to Ken Nyberg’s favorite beverage.  Then he decided to build an 11-foot-tall human foot.  “I wanted to make something bigger and better,” Ken explained. “And I thought, ‘A Big Foot. There couldn’t be many of them around. I’d hate to make something that there’s a lot of already.'”  Ken worked on Big Foot in secret for over two years.  [H]is neighbors loved Big Foot so much that they placed it in a permanent spot of honor next to the main road through town. “Now I can get by with anything,” said Ken (roadsideamerica.com).

[A clothes pin . . . ]

[Another town building, interspersed with Nyberg statuary . . . ]

[It’s knotty . . . ]

[Ken at work?]

[I thought the fork ran away with the spoon?]

[Mayo in the background gives perspective on the size of these things . . . ]

One of the sculptures in Nyberg Park is of Ken’s daughter Karen, a NASA astronaut who’s flown two missions to the International Space Station. Was she pleased with her father’s tribute? “I can’t really say,” said Ken. “I never discussed it” . . . ]

Ken’s astronaut daughter has flown two missions to the International Space Station (roadsideamerica.com).

[Pest control?]

[Spearfishing . . . ]

[Tow chain . . . ]

[I thought this was quite realistic . . . ]

[Was Mayo sexing?]

[Of global import . . . ]

[Yep, good form . . . ]

[And here’s the aforementioned coffee . . . ]

[Don’t mind if I do!]

[I was shocked when the figure to the right of the sign began moving toward us . . . ]

[And Big Foot . . . ]

[Before Christopher Columbus . . . ]

[And then we visited Nyberg’s “studio” about a mile out of town . . . ]

[And this is where we had just been.  The boys could now check Vining off their Bucket List.  The Super and I have been here a few times before . . . ]

There is a comfortable feeling in small towns.  It is salubrious.  ~  Andie MacDowell  [Editor’s note:  And whom amongst us doesn’t like being salubrious?]

Up Next:  Back to Russia . . .

June 1

St. Petersburg

When last we met, we were reviewing the extraordinary art of the Kremlin.  We now continue . . .

[Sasha pointing out a whole lot of big pictures hanging on a wall . . . ]

[Quite a reception . . . ]

[I’m stunned . . . ]

[A good reason for Russian relationships . . . ]

[Oh my, they rolled out the red carpet for me . . . ]

[Now becoming quite the familiar room . . . ]

[There was something about her eyes . . . ]

[That made me want to capture her from different angles . . . ]

[Across a crowded room . . . ]

[You may have noticed, I had a hard time focusing on the smaller identification plates . . . ]

[A Rembrandt, following an El Greco – ho hum . . . ]

[And another Rembrandt . . . ]

[Follow the crowd . . . ]

[The Tent Room (the roof) . . . ]

[A 2-person par-tay?]

[And throw in a couple of Rubens . . . ]

[Adam and Eve (before rent control) . . . ]

[An exterior garden, views available at no extra charge . . . ]

[As best I could discover, merely described as one of the oldest and largest chandeliers in the Hermitage . . . ]

[Hermitage Square, where it appears things may be happening for World Cup events.]

[Meanwhile, our inside tour continues . . . ]

[Obviously a warm Winter . . . ]

[Can be found in museums worldwide . . . ]

[St. George slaying the dragon, part of Catherine the Great’s collection.]

[Tapestry Corridor . . . ]

[I suspect this may be identifying an original brick wall . . . ]

[This must be something of substance – or just a place for a meet up wth Sasha?  Anyway, I couldn’t find out anything about it?]

[Now allemande left . . . ]

[I need a nap . . . ]

[No, really, I need a nap . . . ]

[A nap sounds good to me too . . . ]

[But until then, this is really exciting . . . ]

[Just look at those really big pictures . . . ]

[The Malachite Room . . . ]

[Another large unknown objet d’art?  I’m getting embarrassed . . . ]

[The Super didn’t care what his name was . . . ]

[In the entry area of the museum . . . ]

[They are not the Three Graces . . . ]

[They appear to be nameless . . . ]

[Back out on the street, a photographer shoots across the street between buses . . . ]

[At a bride and groom . . . ]

[With the Neva and the Peter and Paul Fortress in the background . . . ]

[Obviously a favorite photo op spot . . . ]

[Say сыр! (That’s Russian for “cheese.”)]

[The Russian naval flag on a peeling building amidst a bunch of wires.]

[Back on the boat for lunch. This is the Panorama Bar, about 3 doors from our room.  Every morning at 6:00 I was always the first to greet our host, on the left.  And I can no longer remember her name.  Arrrggggghhh!  She is from Novgorod, a city about the size of St. Paul, between St. Petersburg and Moscow.  Why do I remember that but not her name?]

[But lunch was in the Neva Restaurant.  Looks lovely . . . ]

[Looks addled . . . ]

[So much excitement in anticipation of the ballet . . . ]

[Yes, after a morning and afternoon at the Hermitage, we’re off to a real live Russian ballet . . . ]

[A comfy bus ride downtown . . . ]

[Vosstaniya Square is a major square in the Central Business District – the building is the Moskovsky Rail Terminal . . . ]

[We’re on the “main street” of downtown St. Petersburg . . . ]

[The street signs are on the side of the buildings . . . ]

[And this is Nevsky Prospekt, the Broadway of the city . . . ]

[Now this looks Russian . . . ]

[A big time street for shopping . . . ]

[Teens look the same everywhere . . . ]

[We’re getting close . . . ]

[But not yet . . . ]

[We’re still in the big city excitement zone – we’ll be walking through here in a couple of days . . . ]

[The Catherine Garden is the public garden in front of the Alexandrinsky Theater, between the Theater and Nevsky Prospekt.  The statue is Catherine the Great . . . ]

[Imperial Alexandrinsky Theatre . . . ]

[The Alexandrinsky Theatre or Russian State Pushkin Academy Drama Theater was built for the Imperial troupe of Petersburg (Imperial troupe was founded in 1756).  The theatre was opened on 31 August (12 September), 1832.  Since 1832, the theatre has occupied an Empire-style building that Carlo Rossi designed. It was built in 1828-1832 on Alexandrinsky Square (now Ostrovsky Square), which is situated on Nevsky Prospekt between the National Library of Russia and Anichkov Palace. The theatre and the square were named after Empress consort Alexandra Feodorovna. The building is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments.  (Wikipedia).  (This is a stock photo.)]

[Back to my photos . . . ]

[Led in by our Viking lollipop . . . ]

[We’re in!]

[Pam, being the most energetic, climbed to the top tier for a photo op.  I don’t have a copy of it because of my acrophobia . . . ]

[We seemed pretty high in tier one . . . ]

[This was the stuff we’d only seen on PBS . . . ]

[Impressive . . . ]

[Obviously, the local A-listers, a/k/a, the beautiful people . . . ]

[The ladies looked lovely . . . ]

[Just like at the AAHS Performing Arts Center, lots of mingling and photo taking before the performance . . . ]

[I got my ticket!]

[The obligatory chandelier shot . . . ]

[Still just milling around . . . ]

[Marina?  Marina is our assistant maitre d’ shipboard and is from St. Petersburg.  She’s also a hoot. This was her first ever ballet at the Alexandrinsky . . . ]

[The Super eyeballs the crowd . . . ]

[Still lovely . . . ]

[The guys looked lovely, too?]

[Thanks for getting these shots, Marina . . . ]

[And Pam must have wandered away to get a shot of Marina with us . . . ]

[Bravo!!!]

[It was Swan Lake, of course . . . ]

[After this big-time major league performance, I have to admit I was most impressed with the sets. OK, and with the dancers . . . and the orchestra . . . amazing.]

[All together now . . . ]

[The bus trip back to the boat, on which street?]

[That’s right, Nevsky Prospekt.  Just checking to see if you remembered?]

[Past the train depot . . . ]

[Back in our “neighborhood” . . . ]

[Aaaaah, the Akun.  Until tomorrow . . . ]

It is from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia.  ~  Sarah Palin

Up Next:  Still St. Pete