Questions for Percy

Old Jul 6th, 2009, 12:50 PM
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Hi waggis:

I just got an e-mail from Grethe and all is okay in Copenhagen.

She sent me a few pictures of a group I recently set up with her.

I forgot to mention that when you are Catherine's Palace, or Peterhof or Peter and Paul's Cathedral...then there will be some people around selling you postcards.

Hopefully you will come across them.

Don't shoo them away !!, rather purchase the postcard packages they have to sell, it is usually 15-16 postcards of whatever location you happen to be at.

For example, at Catherine's Palace I purchased a package of postcards and had my picture taken with the fellow also.

The package of 16 cards is about $3.00 and well worth it because you will never capture the inside of Catherine Palace or Peterhof in the same light as these professional photographers did on the postcards.

I still took my own pictures or course with us in the pictures ...but it is nice to have these postcards ( now that I am home ) also.

I bought postcard packages of :

1. Catherine's Palace
2. Hermitage
3. Peterhof
4. Church on the Spilled Blood
5. Peter and Pauls Cathedral
6. St.Petersburg

Also the best gift shops are in:

1. Peterhof
2. Hermitage
3. Church on the Spilled Blood

An interest reading is how they finally set up the rock on which the Bronze Horseman is on !!!

Happy reading.

Hi jacketwatch ( I loved that Tiger win yesterday!)
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Old Jul 7th, 2009, 07:38 AM
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Hello Percy: I enjoyed that too. Did you notice that AK was out driving him?
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Old Jul 7th, 2009, 12:08 PM
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Yes he was outdriving him, but then when your 24 ...your 24 !!

Like Tiger said, " I am ageing ,when AK is dreaming about beating me like I used to dream about beating Jack Nicklau "

Now if Tiger can only win the Open in a few weeks

Take Care
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Old Jul 7th, 2009, 03:31 PM
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Very true. For me to see him out driven is a new experience. Anyway disatnce ain't everything. We he won The Open some yrs. back didn't he do so w/o using his driver? I am sure he used it sparingly if at all. Talk to you later amigo.
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Old Jul 7th, 2009, 06:26 PM
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Hi traveller69

Sorry I missed your posting,because we posted within one second of each other !!!

No Grethe did not e -mail me her Opera Tour because she knows I have her website and I do go to it to see what she is up to.

She asked about my hand and how I was doing and thanked me for the group of 14 people I sent to her.

In fact for this group of 14,they were all from my city and when they read my Trip Report on the Baltic Cruise, they phone me and asked if I would come to their home and give them a few hours of talk on the Baltic cruise.

So I went over and showed them all picture ,like a slide show and told them about every port and what to see.

I also lined up Alla for them in St.Petersburg!

I would love to attend her wedding , but Boo Hoo !!! I was not invited
( actually I could not go anyway )!!

jacketwatch"

Yes, you are right, Tiger used the driver very sparingly in the 2007 Open....he used that "stinger" 2-iron of his !

waggis ..... how is the studying coming along !
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Old Jul 7th, 2009, 09:07 PM
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Hi Percy!

I'm waiting for a book we ordered: "Russia - New Edition - A short History" by Abraham Ascher, a very readable condensed summary of Russia's history finishing with Putin's presidency. Should serve us well for our purpose. I don't expect, though, to read in his book about the rock of the Bronze Horseman. Do you have any other book tips?

Thanks for the postcards suggestion. You're certainly right, the pros take their pictures under the best conditions. Although, my husband just bought for this trip a new small & light camera, postcards will come in handy. At this point he's trying to learn how to operate the camera. ;-)

Regrettably, we had to forego the so-called "Sweden Tour" with Grethe. It would probably run close to $1,200 by the time expenses for the ferry, admissions and Oresund Bridge charges would be added to hers and her driver's fees. Obviously, it's very much our loss as I can see from your report. Our private tour with Alla is now running a hefty $1,1oo per couple (we're 2 couples in our group so far) unless other people sign up.

Not to discourage others who may be reading this thread. About the "Sweden Tour": Many tour operators in Copenhagen offer this tour for $99 or less, BUT only on Tuesdays, Thursdays & Saturdays!


I feel for you, Percy. To be in constant pain is terrible!! It seems an extraordinarily long wait until October!

At this time a year ago, I was recuperating from my second back surgery. To watch the "Tour de France" was a great distraction in the recovery process. It's a great travelogue to boot... This year, my compatriot, Fabian Cancellara, is still in first place...barely. I'm in hog heaven since hometown star Roger Federer won last Sunday at Wimbledon.
Our paper reported that Tiger texted Roger "Great Job. Now it's my turn."

Grethe may send you yet an invitation to the wedding if you keep sending her groups of 14 people. What a lovely gesture on your part to show your photos and talk about your trip. You're a great help to so many of us!


Hi jacketwatch!
My colleagues used to say I have the memory of an elephant. I guess I just put 2 and 2 together from your posts.

As Percy wrote, Quebec is also great in the fall. You'll think you're in France.
Bon voyage!

.....et bonne nuit
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Old Jul 8th, 2009, 10:38 AM
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Hi waggis:

I did most of my research on the Internet and also went to the Library (only because it is a block away from my house).

I will tell you all about the Bronze Horseman !

I have a point and shoot camera (Canon) and I leave it on Auto most of the time..then it becomes a PHD camera !!

What happened to your back, that you required 2 surgeries!?

Tell Alla that you want to join up with about 8 other people for the St.Petersburg tours and the price will then be much cheaper than the cruise ship prices.


Yes those tours can get expensive for sure, that is why 8 other people were anxious to join my group tour of four.

Oh yes the right hand...what can I say.

The October date for my possible Carple Tunnel surgery ( I am hoping it will get better on its own ..but I doubt that ),is of my own choosing.

There are too many structures going through under the Carpal Tunnel Band for it to just improve on its own.

It is the constant pressure on the Median and Ulnar nerves that makes my fingers and hand numb 24/7 grrr !!!!

My Plastic Surgeon friend would do it this month if I wanted it..but we both agreed to wait....until after I get back from my month long Africa Safari...

to
Kenya
Tanzania and the Spice Islands of Zanzibar !

I decided to go because numb hand at home and numb hand in Africa..what's the difference.

jacetwatch:

I have done Quebec and all of the Martime Provinces more than once.... and you will have a great time.

When you are in Quebec City , you will think you are in Strasbourg France for sure.

Hi traveller69 !
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Old Jul 8th, 2009, 12:58 PM
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Hi waggis:

I forgot I was going to tell you about the Bronze Horseman !

Catherine the Great had this statue constructed as a tribute to Peter the Great.....that is him on the horse.

The rock pedestal on which this statue sits on was hauled in from the Gulf of Finland on a barge.

The rock weighed over 1600 tons .
The rock was too big for the statue and so they had to cut the rock in half.

But now what to do with the other half they was not going to be used.!??

No one wanted the task of attempting to haul it away.

A poor peasant fellow came along and said he would do the job for a price... they all laughed at him,
but then

He began digging beside the rock until a very large hole was dug... and then what do you know, !!!... the rock fell into the hole and peasant covered it up with dirt.

So when you are standing beside the Bronze Horseman, you are actually standing on top of the other buried ( 225 years ago) half rock!!!

You are bound to see newlyweds having their pictures taken here beside the rock....there were 3 married couples when I was there.... all the brides were in white dresses.!!!

The statue was given more credence when ( in about 1833) Pushkin wrote a poem called the Bronze Horseman.

Oh yes, the inscription on the statue reads :

" To Peter I from Catherine II"( written in Russian and Latin)
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Old Jul 8th, 2009, 03:25 PM
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WOW - Percy - that's some story with that rock. I will seem so smart when I show off all my local knowledge acquired from you. As a matter of fact, my husband said we can cancel the trip, please send the postcards! ;-)

I will have to look up the Tsars on the Internet, too, as the ordered book will not have any photos or maps. The book of Catherine the Great was the only book available at the local library. We were spoiled in the NE. Public libraries in FL have a long way to go.

When I joined a group on CC for the Alla Tour, we were 5 couples. Now I'm told 3 couples have backed out. It would be very nice if Alla could add some people. The idea was to top the group off at 10.

BTW, I'm a newbie on CC and am very surprised at the poor response on the CC roll call for the cruise. On the other hand, I responded to an Australian ladies' post. She's a fantastic source of information on our ship and supplied me with taxi service links. Like you and jacketwatch, her husband and friends turned the cruise into a beer tasting event. I've agreed to get a fellow of the crew they were particularly fond of a beer in her name...

You have my greatest admiration that you're going on your African Safari with that painful hand of yours!!! What a magnificent trip you've planned. Sounds so very exotic: Kenya, Tanzania and the Spice Islands of Zanzibar no less. Will it be soon?

My troubles started many moons ago. When I was fresh off the boat, so to speak. I went horseback riding and had an accident. Both, the horse and I fell. Father time has done the rest. To tell you the truth, I definitely expected to be at a better place by now but I will go for injections before we take off in order to be able to enjoy the trip (standing & walking). Is there anything you can do before your trip to alleviate the pain a bit?

Take care and thanks for everything!!!
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Old Jul 8th, 2009, 06:12 PM
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Hi waggis

Your lucky to live in the Sunshine state!!

As I mentioned in my trip report, Alla e-mailed me everytime someone wanted to join out group of four.

Just e-mail Alla and tell her that you would like to have about 10-12 in your group, and she will handle the rest .

I am going on the African Safari on August 22nd.

Only two of us are going and we have a private guide/driver for the whole trip, so we will be able to see more and also it will be very flexable since there is just us two .

That injection your getting must be cortisone ( with or without Lidocaine).
I hope it is offering some relief.


I assume you are or have tried the Nsaid medications (they probably did not help much !)

Yes, the hand is numb and tingling. Like right now when I type on the keyboard it is like little shocks...and when I roll the mouse wheel ... the index finger tip tingles under the wheel.!!

So I might as well go on the holiday next month. No use sitting here dwelling and cussing about my hand !

No, there is nothing I can take for the pain, because the cause of the problem right now is pressure on the nerves.

And I do not want to take Oxycontin....it is just more side effects to worry about !

You are going to take the strenuous tour from Alla but also the more places you know where they are in St.Petersburg...the better for you.

For example, Peter's Summer Palace and Peter's original Log Cabin are not on the tour, neither perhaps is the Aurora Cruiser.

However ,I knew where these places were so when we were coming back from touring Peter and Paul's Cathedral,

I leaned over to our driver Boris and asked him if he could " please turn left at the next corner because Peter the Great's Original Log Cabin is only 2 blocks away"...
then
I said, "we might as well go another 2 blocks further down after and see the Aurora Cruiser."

Boris looked at me very surprised and said," yes of course we can "!

If you want to see a few of my pictures , email me at
[email protected]

Good Night
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Old Jul 9th, 2009, 04:14 AM
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Hi guys: Actually there was a recent thread on cc about Alla and a poster had voiced a number of complaints. I don't know if thats why those folks backed off or not. One big complaint the poster had was blaming her drop in blood sugar on Alla due to rescheduling the tour that day and thus lunch was later that expected. The debate went on but for me there no reason why you can't bring a power bar, peanuts or SOMETHING with you, esp. of you know you are prone to this problem. Oh well. I would like to see Quebec someday, maybe for a long weekend or the like. I have heard great things about Quebec city. BTW there is an article in this mos. issue of Cruise Travel about doing the Baltics on your own which you may find helpful. Take care guys. Larry
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Old Jul 9th, 2009, 07:40 AM
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Hi jacketwatch

I find it hard to beieve that a person would blame Alla for her level of blood sugar.

I am sure that this hypogylcemic attack that the person may have had was not her first and therefore, I think she should have had a food suppleent as jacketwatch has mentioned.

You can easily be on a tour and lunch or dinner can get delayed for a multitude of reasons.

If you are a Diabetic , then look after yourself accordingly...during this short duration where your "regular" eating time is delayed. !

I had a group of four...but I allowed Alla to let 8 others join us.

We reduced our lunch time to 30-45 minutes , which was plenty and then..

off we went again to see "extra" places that were not on the tour.!!

I agree with jacketwatch......for those that are prone to have a "dip" in their blood sugar, then have a candy bar of your favourite choosing ready !
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Old Jul 9th, 2009, 09:37 AM
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Hi Percy. Actually there were a number of other posters who said the same thing about bringing along a snack. Her counter was she was told she can't bring food off the ship. I am sure that means like fresh fruit or produce but a packaged snack is fine anywhere. Oh well, can't win them all. That upcoming trip of yours sound soooo exotic! . Wow, the spice islands of Zanzibar. I think I'm turning green.
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Old Jul 9th, 2009, 12:30 PM
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Hi Percy & Jacketwatch

I think we have all traveled enough to know that you will always have certain types in every tour. All I can say about Alla's guide that my brother and group had was - she couldn't have been more obliging and accommodating. Perhaps people should remember they are in a foreign country to see it - not spend your time "dining" stay on the ship then!!! It is very easy to pop some crackers, peanuts etc etc into your purse/pocket whatever to tide you over.

OK enough of that. Percy I do hope your hand behaves itself for the Safari. I always say if you are going to be suffering better be someplace to take your mind off it. You should have seen my by the time we got to Basicala in Rome after doing the Vatican tour. I was traveling a little too soon after surgery myself but there was no way I was missing out on anything. By the time we got into the Basilica I had to prop myself up against a marble column and I would do it again in a heartbeat.
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Old Jul 9th, 2009, 12:43 PM
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Hi jacketwatch:

Well, you have food in your room, at least I always order a fruit plates almost each day....soyou have Bananas, oranges, apples etc.

Besides if you know that you are prone to having a hypogylcemic attack, then you have some sugar snack with you in your purse or jacket pocket in case you might need it.

If you tell your waiter on the cruise ship that you need a snack packed for you because you are a Diabetic or get bouts of low sugar dip..... he will pack a snack for you.

Gee to blame Alla ( or any tour guide ) because you have an altered metabolic response ...is searching for someone to blame, I think.

What if this person was in my tour group.... a lunch delay of
one hour for lunch would not have affected me nor anyone in my group.....however

if I was the one that had bouts of low sugar....then it is up to me to look after myself during this interval...and not a tour guide in St.Petersburg Russia !
hmmmm!!!!

Yes , I fly into Amsterdam..then Nairobi Kenya ( overnight here)..then the next morning I head out to the
Kenya Safari Club near Mount Kenya and guess what !!!

... I paid extra to stay in the same bubgalow that belonged to William Holden...as this place was made famous by him.

Because this is a private tour , just another fellow and I and our private driver/guide , we can be very flexible and zig zag when we want ...as long as we end up at our lodges along the way in time for bed each night.

I already have every town and village mapped out on our journey through Kenya and Zanzibar.!!

In Zanzibar .... we are staying in a very lovely place right on the beach...looking out on the torquise water and white sand. ( It should be a tought time here )
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Old Jul 9th, 2009, 03:04 PM
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Now that I recall some of the rerouting had to do with traffic and/or museum times. Anyway I don't think you can blame Alla for this. That poster should have been prepared just in case there was a problem. I would think that if you had a hypoglycemic episode once that would be enough to make you prepared in the future. Actually Percy for you is some of the fun of traveling in the preparation? I've never seen anyone so well prepared for their destinations as you. I think thats great really. BTW what the Holden/bungalow connection? Was it in a movie he made? T69 you are quite right. Nothing like a great trip to take ones mind off of the aches and pains!
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Old Jul 9th, 2009, 04:15 PM
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I'm some impressed, Percy. Now we know for sure you're an international jet setter!! So you're staying in William Holden's bungalow. Maybe Stephanie Powers will cross your path. ;-) Evidently, she's a Director of Mount Kenya Game Ranch and a good-looking babe who's an outstanding polo player to boot.

Hope your roughing it at the beach of Zanzibar will be duly recorded for us to cry into our beers some more. If ever I wanted to see any photos, this trip is it!!!

jacketwatch - According to Wikipedia Holden ..."spent much of his time working for wildlife conservation as a managing partner in an animal preserve in Africa. His Mount Kenya Safari Club in Nanyuki (founded 1959) became a mecca for the international jet set."
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Old Jul 9th, 2009, 07:40 PM
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Hi jacketwatch, waggis , traveller69

taveller69 , that is why I am going on a holiday, I would rather have a painful hand on a Safari and then sitting at home and complaining !!

jacketwatch....I was going to explain about William Holden but waggis already did a good job.

I knew all about William Holden's work in Kenya and now I get to be in footsteps.

He founded this place and stayed right here when he came to Kenya.

The "William Holden Wildlife Education Centre " is one of the complex's building at the Kenya Safari Club

Yes sir... would I like to meet Stephanie Powers.. I can assure you all that if she is there I will make every effort to see her and talk to her.!

I know how she carried on after Holden died.

Yes, doing the research is more than half the fun.... then it is nice to go and see what you already know a lot about.

Good Night all

Oh yeah ,waggis, try to see Peter's Summer Palace and also his Original Log Cabin ( this does not take much time.)

The Summer Palace is just 1/2 block East of the Troitsky Bridge on the Neva River .....now if you were a bird and could fly....

if you flew across the river from Peter's Summer Palace, you would land on top of his Original Log Cabin on the other side !!.

fingers are burning have to go now .
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