Catherine the Great

Catherine the Great... was GREAT! An inspirational, strong woman who had the right idea: Behave so the kind will love you, the evil will fear you, and all will respect you. An astute collector of art, a woman who loved the finer things and had the flow to buy them, a master communicator and marketer who knew how to create and use her brand. Really the whole package. She counted Rousseau and Diderot as friends and loved Voltaire. No wonder there is a cult that follows Catherine the Great. The gilded Coronation Carriage was impressive, but so was the story of the transport of the Thunder Stone from the rural woods to the heart of St. Petersburg. It forms the massive base of the equestrian statue of Peter the Great, often called The Bronze Horseman. They slid the stone on rails filled with large ball bearings and when those sunk into the mud, they waited till things froze to continue. A really enlightening two hours - amid the construction chaos of transformation AGO. On now only until January 1, 2006 (be sure to get the audio guide).

After the tour, Mary, Pavlina and I walked over to Cafe la Gaffe on Baldwin street. Delicious food, not not great service, but a wonderful place to catch up into the wee hours.

Mary and Pavlina both remembered fims they saw of Catherine the Great. Mary's was in colour (and starred Catherine Zeta Jones) Pavlina's was in black and white - I don't think IMBD goes back that far ;-). Anyone out there with Catherine the Great movie experiences?

Catherine the Great
Girlpower au maximum
Master marketer