2/15 February 1914
St Petersburg

I love the city!

As always we went first to Anitchkov Palace for luncheon with Grandmother. The food was very elegant – not at all what we eat at home. Papa prefers what he calls peasant food, such as sauerkraut soup and pirozhki, little pies filled with rice and eggs. Mama doesn’t eat much of anything and only nibbles at whatever is on her plate. But Grandmother loves French food! Today we had veal kidneys with wine sauce in little pastry shells (I ate the shell and managed to hide the kidneys in my napkin.) Each of us had a footman to serve us. I tried hard to make my footman laugh, but he would not.

Grandmother presided at the head of the table, and each of us had to say something pleasant and polite, all while sitting up absolutely straight and using exactly the right fork and knife. When it was my turn to speak, I accidentally let out a belch. Even though I begged everyone’s pardon, Grandmother was displeased.

At last we were excused, and we said goodbye to Grandmother and kissed her hand. (I love her perfume!) Then Aunt Olga whisked us off to her house.

She made us each lie down on a divan with our eyes closed for an hour before her guests were to arrive. I hate to lie down for rests! There’s always too much to do. My sisters closed their eyes and are pretending to sleep, but Aunt Olga is allowing me to write in my diary instead.