The Aurora Ship, which was used to counter attack the Bolsheviks in Saint Petersburg as they attacked the parliament while it was in session at the Winter Palace. This revolution was in October 1917.

The Aurora revolutionary ship. It fired its gun, one shot, to provoke the Revolutionaries to storm the Winter Palace. Here was the seat of the provisional government that the Bolsheviks planned to over throw- and did.

We did move on because it felt that the gun was aimed at us- along with the frosty air, and also it might be the fact that we are from California. The ship was preserved as a, “Historical Reminder”.

Mike and I are smiling because we’re about to go board our enclosed canal boat but had time to get a cup of hot coffee. And left the horses on either end of the bridge to stand guard.

The horse behind.

This horse was guarding the Anichkow’s Bridge along with the Fontanara, Moika, Neva Rivers.

Looking out over the green hedges we were surprised to see the Peter and Paul fortress along with church shadowing it.

Still on the canal boat- the heat is on! We could have gone out to the back deck for better viewing of what we were passing- but then we would have to come back and defrost again.

Figured that with all the sideshow on the river boats and with the Aurora that you might be interested in seeing some of the elegance distributed by the wealthy. This one is Catherine’s Palace and the entrance way to the same.

The leaves are falling, time to go in.          What can one say about such elegance and beauty? This was only one of the three Catherines’ Palaces.