Interactive Geocaching Treasure Hunt Showing 1,451-1,500 of 1,958

[Jan, Moderator]

Thanks Laila Jane! That wraps up this hunt!

[Jan, Moderator]

Here's what we found!

Treasure #24
Latitude: 59.94025088278492
Longitude: 30.31449532698318

Peacock Clock
Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg. Russia

Our latest treasure is located in the Heritage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. I have had the pleasure of visiting this museum, which is an impressive treasure in its own right. Filled with the masterpieces of many renowned artists, you can't help but be amazed by their surroundings. The floors and ceilings are absolute works of art themselve. One of its most prized pieces that never fails to delight visitors, is the gilded bronze and silver Peacock Clock. This elegant large automan features three life-sized mechanical birds (an owl, rooster and peacock), that actually come to life once a week to amaze those lucky enough to catch its performance every Wednesday.

This beautiful clock was commissioned in 1777 by Prince Grigory Potemkin as a gift for Catherine the Great’s impressive Hermitage collection. It was created by the English jeweler and automan builder James Cox. It was brought to Russia in parts and put into working order by the celebrated Russian mechanic Ivan Kulibin. Today it is the only large functioning example of 18th-century robotics to have survived unaltered into the 21st century.

The clock begins its show with some eerie chime music to which the owl turns its head. Then the peacock gracefully turns its neck and lifts its gorgeous tail slowly before quickly turning around to display its fan of golden feathers. The spectacle concludes with the crowing of a rooster below. The cycle is meant to represent the end of night and the rise of the sun, suggesting the continuity of life. The actual dial of the clock is hidden in a small mushroom next to a squirrel, fox, and other small creatures among the metal foliage.

To view this spectacle, check out this Youtube video: https://youtu.be/ilPlVRoUl_8
It will really give you a sense of the grander of both the museum and the clock.

[Jan, Moderator]

Our next coordinates have been posted. I'll take Lat 1 with: A Flair for Chardonnay Series #1

[Book Concierge]

I'll take LATitude 7 - first published 2017, Less by Andrew Sean Greer

[Meg, Contributor]

I'll take latitude 5 with Mud Run Murder, #5 in series

[Barb]

Wow, that's incredible! Thanks for the info, Jan.

[Barb]

I'll take one of the latitude 2s with Reading Between the Crimes, by Kate Young. It's #2 in the series.

[Catsalive]

Jan wrote: "Here's what we found!

Peacock Clock
Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg. Russia."

Spectacular!

I can take Lat0 with The Cake Maker’s Wish, 2020.

[Karen ♐]

I'll take Latitude 8 with - 438 pgs

[Jan, Moderator]

Glad you liked the treasure! Everyone should be updated :)

[Catsalive]

Lat0 done: The Cake Maker’s Wish by Josephine Moon 18/3 3.5★, 2020.

I can take Lat1 with Memory Zero, 1st in series.

[Meg, Contributor]

Latitude #5 - Mud Run Murder 03/17 - is done

I'll Latitude #9 with The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared 09/09/2009 396p

[Barb]

Finished latitude 2 and still haven't made up my mind about this series

Reading Between the Crimes (Jane Doe Book Club #2), by Kate Young, finished 3/18/23 ★★★.5

[Barb]

I'll take latitude 3 with Murder is a Piece of Cake, by Valerie Burns, (to be) published 2023.

[Book Concierge]

Book Concierge wrote: "I'll take LATitude 7 - first published 2017, Less by Andrew Sean Greer"

✔ - 18Mar23

[Book Concierge]

Next I'll take LONGitude 6 - 1st published 1946 - Hiroshima by John Hersey

[Jan, Moderator]

Thanks for the updates everyone! You all just read too fast!!

[Catsalive]

Lat1 done: Memory Zero by Keri Arthur 19/3 3.5★, Spook Squad #1

I'll take a Long0 with The Art of Friendship, 400p.

[Catsalive]

Long0 done: The Art of Friendship by Lisa Ireland 20/3 4★, 400p

I'll take Lat4 with The Book of Lost and Found, 455p.

[Jennifer]

I can take Latitude 2 with A Fatal Grace, Book 2 in the Armand Gamache/Three Pines Series

[Jan, Moderator]

Thanks for the updates Kylie & Jennifer!

[Andrea]

I’ll take Latitude 4 with Forged in Love by Mary Connealy, 304 pgs.

[Barb]

Finished latitude 3

Murder is a Piece of Cake (Baker Street #2), by Valerie Burns, finished 3/20/23 ★★★★

[Barb]

I can take one of the longitude 7s with Hidden Depths, by Ann Cleeves. It was published in 2007.

[Jan, Moderator]

Glad you're jumping in Andrea! I was wondering where you were ;)

[Jan, Moderator]

Wow Barb! A 5 star read!! Those don't come your way very often.
I'll get you updated.

[Andrea]

Jan wrote: "Glad you're jumping in Andrea! I was wondering where you were ;)"

Packed weekend and recovering from back trouble. Mostly better now, but still giving it extra rest.

I'm also contracted to write a novella for an anthology collection with Wild Blue Wonder Press (their debut book), so that's keeping me busy.

However, I do have some library audios to squeeze in again, so I am happy to be jumping back in.

When you saw the peacock clock, was it one of those times it was showing off? That thing looks amazing!

[Jan, Moderator]

Glad you are starting to feel better Andrea! Good luck with your novella writing. That's exciting!

Unfortunately, when I saw the clock in person it was not on a Wednesday. So I'm glad I was able to check out its "show" via youtube.

[Meg, Contributor]

Latitude #9 is done with The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared 09/09/2009 396p

I'll take longtitude 9 with A Curious Beginning 09/01/2015 339p

[Andrea]

Jan wrote: "Unfortunately, when I saw the clock in person it was not on a Wednesday."

That would be my luck too. xD

[Jan, Moderator]

Thanks for the update Meg!

[Barb]

Jan wrote: "Wow Barb! A 5 star read!! Those don't come your way very often."

Well ooops! That was supposed to be four stars, but I got carried away. It's a fun series, but not *that fun :)

[Jan, Moderator]

Barb wrote: "Jan wrote: "Wow Barb! A 5 star read!! Those don't come your way very often."

Well ooops! That was supposed to be four stars, but I got carried away. It's a fun series, but not *that fun :)"

LOL!!!

[Catsalive]

Lat4 done: The Book of Lost and Found by Lucy Foley 21/3 3.5★, 455p

I'll take a Long0 with Ink and Bone, 410p

[Jan, Moderator]

Great Kylie!

[Catsalive]

Long0 done: Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine 22/3 3★, 410p"

I'll take Lat6 with Paper and Fire, 2016

[Jan, Moderator]

Hey Kylie - did you mean that you finished Ink and Bone??

[Catsalive]

Jan wrote: "Hey Kylie - did you mean that you finished Ink and Bone??"
I certainly did 🤔. Updated above.

[Catsalive]

Lat6 done: Paper and Fire by Rachel Caine 23/3 2.5★, 2016

I'll take Long0 with Red Dust, 309p

[Jan, Moderator]

You are just too fast Kylie!! You could finish this whole challenge by yourself...lol.

[Andrea]

Finished Forged in Love, 3/23/23. Will wait to pick another number, because I have another busy weekend ahead.

[Jan, Moderator]

Thanks Andrea!

[Catsalive]

Jan wrote: "You are just too fast Kylie!! You could finish this whole challenge by yourself...lol."

Those YAs are like snacks 😂

[Karen ♐]

Karen ♐ wrote: "I'll take Latitude 8 with - 438 pgs"

Finished 3/22/23 - 5 stars

[Karen ♐]

I'll take Latitude 3 with - 315 pgs

[Catsalive]

I'll take Long0 done: Red Dust by Fleur McDonald 24/3 2.5★, 330p

I'll take Lat8 with The Twyford Code, 384p

[Jan, Moderator]

Thanks Karen & Kylie! You are both updated.

[Andrea]

I'll take the final 0. I have a library audio due in 4 days, so I'll have to squeeze it into the weekend somewhere.

Remember Me by Tracie Peterson, 320 pages.

[Barb]

Finished longitude 7

Hidden Depths (Vera Stanhope #3), by Ann Cleeves, finished 3/24 ★★★.5

[Barb]

I can take longitude 9 with The Ghost Goes to the Dogs, by Cleo Coyle. It's #9 in the series.