Gastronome No. 1

This is the famous delicatessen we have spoken to many of you about. It was the ballroom of an ex-tzar. It is quite the place to buy your groceries. Of course, you don't buy too many, because with each purchase you pay for a little bit of the posh surroundings. We did find SF style italian style salami. It was about 15 bucks for one pound. You would get a whole stick for that price in the City!

Also picture below is what the Russians call Catherine the Great's Palace. They say that, but everything in the palace is brand new (finished, for the most part, in the last couple of years but they are still working on it). It is quite the building and the grounds will be quite lovely in the spring. The big dome is actually a fountain, a la the Belaggio Hotel in Las Vegas, with music and programming. Apparently, some small part of this palace was actually built for her, but she wouldn't live it because Masons worked on it and she thought they may have put a spell on it. Mostly, it is a museum, which is interesting, but probably not quite as interesting as the story they are promoting!!

Some kind of Delicatessen!
Catherine the Great's Palace from a distance
Catherine the Great's Palace
Catherine the Great's Palace
Catherine the Great's Palace (inside ballroom)