Elbrus Expedition Dispatch
June 20, 2009 – Off to St. Petersburg: The Expedition Has Finally Started!
On June 18th, the first Elbrus team members, Carol, Jackie, Steve and Wally left Calgary bound for Russia. Carol and Jackie got settled into their seats with excitement and satisfaction knowing that after months of planning and training their adventure was underway.
German Breakfast: After a great flight we found ourselves in Frankfurt. Having a “German breakfast” at 6:30 in the morning seemed like the thing to do.
A few hours later Carol and Jackie were delighted to realize they were finally in Russia together
Carol told us a dream of hers had been to enjoy caviar and champagne for breakfast and she did just that this morning, with St Petersburg out the window!
BAI St Petersburg guide Lina met Steve, Jackie and Carol for a tour today. They boarded a Hydrofoil and headed across the water to Peterhof, the Summer Palace.
Peterhof is one of St. Petersburg's most famous palaces also known as "The Russian Versaille". Versailles was actually the inspiration for Peter the Great's desire to build an imperial palace in the suburbs of his new city. The estate was very popular with Empress Elizabeth, Peter's granddaughter, who ordered the expansion of the Grand Palace and extended the park and the famous system of fountains, including the truly spectacular Grand Cascade. Perhaps the greatest technological achievement of Peterhof is that all of the fountains operate without the use of pumps. Water is supplied from natural springs and collects in reservoirs in the Upper Gardens.