St. Pete's of the Burgh.

Today in St. Petersburg we visited local elected officials to discuss the way that government differs. One way these government buildings have differed is that they are former palaces. You can tell by the talon doorknobs and frescos on the ceiling. Below is the building for the delegates of St. Petersburg, which is a former home of one of the princesses of Russia, who never wanted to leave St. Petersburg.

Meeting room for the delegates on committees. 

If you've got to have a doorknob, why not make it an engraved bronze talon clutching a ball.

So, former princesses had fancy chandeliers. Now government buildings do.