‘Bitter Wheat’ – #metoo

This play at The Garrick Theatre started well. It was very amusing – a film producer in Hollywood lives a life centred entirely around himself. Acerbic, sarcastic, verbal, vile but amusing. His staff avoid conflict by obeying his every command,

‘Bitter Wheat’ – #metoo

This play at The Garrick Theatre started well. It was very amusing – a film producer in Hollywood lives a life centred entirely around himself. Acerbic, sarcastic, verbal, vile but amusing. His staff avoid conflict by obeying his every command,

The Russian Museum

Such a treasure trove of remarkable art, i won’t attempt to tell all about these remarkable works (other than to identify them where I can) but I learnt so much about Russian art history, it was cultural overload (in a

The Russian Museum

Such a treasure trove of remarkable art, i won’t attempt to tell all about these remarkable works (other than to identify them where I can) but I learnt so much about Russian art history, it was cultural overload (in a

Martin Randall – the best tours

My trip to Russia was organised by Martin Randall Travel London (with an office in Australia too). They are, in my opinion, the leaders in cultural tours. They are well planned, engage experts who really know their stuff and who

Martin Randall – the best tours

My trip to Russia was organised by Martin Randall Travel London (with an office in Australia too). They are, in my opinion, the leaders in cultural tours. They are well planned, engage experts who really know their stuff and who

Peterhof – Peter the Great’s Palace

A stunning palace with magnificent grounds on the Bay of Finland. The fountains are all gravity fed from the nearby hills. Peter the Great certainly did have a thing for water. We came back to the city on a hydrofoil,

Peterhof – Peter the Great’s Palace

A stunning palace with magnificent grounds on the Bay of Finland. The fountains are all gravity fed from the nearby hills. Peter the Great certainly did have a thing for water. We came back to the city on a hydrofoil,

The Hermitage

We were blessed by being the first group into the palace and below shows a room with no one in it. This didn’t last long as the Summer Palace is the most desired tourist destination in Russia. The level of

The Hermitage

We were blessed by being the first group into the palace and below shows a room with no one in it. This didn’t last long as the Summer Palace is the most desired tourist destination in Russia. The level of

The last of the Romanovs

The Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul in St Petersburg is the final resting place for most of the Romanov Tzars. A little gilt on the outside but a lot on the inside. Everyone was keen to see the

The last of the Romanovs

The Cathedral of St Peter and St Paul in St Petersburg is the final resting place for most of the Romanov Tzars. A little gilt on the outside but a lot on the inside. Everyone was keen to see the

Mikhailovsky ballet

A wonderful evening at St Petersburg’s Mikhailovsky Theatre for a performance of the ballet ‘Don Quixote’. The Don be the perfect ballet role for me. No dancing, just riding in on a horse and then some prancing around with a

Mikhailovsky ballet

A wonderful evening at St Petersburg’s Mikhailovsky Theatre for a performance of the ballet ‘Don Quixote’. The Don be the perfect ballet role for me. No dancing, just riding in on a horse and then some prancing around with a

Much ado about Mariinski

The original Mariinski Theatre opened in 1860 had a long and illustrious, and is presently closed for renovation. Since 1988 both the ballet company and opera company have been under the artistic leadership of Valery Gergiev, who has implemented many

Much ado about Mariinski

The original Mariinski Theatre opened in 1860 had a long and illustrious, and is presently closed for renovation. Since 1988 both the ballet company and opera company have been under the artistic leadership of Valery Gergiev, who has implemented many

The dead centre – Novodevich

The New Maiden’s Convent (Novodevichy) was the place Tsars sent their former wife or sister either into seclusion (imprisonment) or to become a nun for the rest of their lives. Smolensk Cathedral, built in 1525, (below) is in the Convent

The dead centre – Novodevich

The New Maiden’s Convent (Novodevichy) was the place Tsars sent their former wife or sister either into seclusion (imprisonment) or to become a nun for the rest of their lives. Smolensk Cathedral, built in 1525, (below) is in the Convent

Vrubel jewels

My new favourite potter (majolica) is Mikhail Vrubel 1865-1910. The face above and the fireplace below are in the Tretyakov Museum. This is where my interest was piqued. Vrubel was a frequent visitor to Abramtsevo and Savva Mamontov was a

Vrubel jewels

My new favourite potter (majolica) is Mikhail Vrubel 1865-1910. The face above and the fireplace below are in the Tretyakov Museum. This is where my interest was piqued. Vrubel was a frequent visitor to Abramtsevo and Savva Mamontov was a