St Petersburg to Moscow Russian River Cruise
Aug 3rd, 2007, 08:31 PM
#21
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Monday, July 2nd
Following breakfast, the Prof. from UCLA gave an interesting talk on 'The Murder of Dimitry'. It was fascinating to hear about all the rumors and intrigue involved, and it prepared us well for Uglich (where we saw the actual bell which had been returned from exile....only in Russia!!!)
Yaroslavl at 1pm! We saw the highlights of the city and heard a wonderful vocal rendering of a Russian song from a group who performed in the church. We bought the CD!!!! Please don't ask if I have played it yet! They sold a fair number!! Okay, I'll admit it, we purchased two!! If all groups bought like we did and they really did get to keep the money, the singers would be Russian millionaires by next year! The CDs were $20 each or a bargain of two for $35. We figured they needed the money!
We were the first group to try out a new visit on the tour. We went to a Russian kindergarten and were entertained by groups of quite accomplished young performers! It was quite noticeable that there was a place for everything and everything was in its place!! Kindergarten by the way is expensive and there are not enough places for all who would like to attend. Our guides were so excited to take us there. No felt boot factory for us. From there we went into town and we were directed to an Internet Cafe (our request)while some people went to the market and others bought chocolate etc. for gifts from a large candy store. By this time I had acquired quite a large collection of sweets and chocolate from our nightly pillow treats!
Visiting these provincial cities was very special and one of the great advantages of cruising through Russia. I can't recommend this vacation highly enough!!
Back on board by 5:30pm and up on deck. We missed the Russian Traditional costume talk, but saw many passengers throughout the evening trying on various articles of clothing. I don't know what we were doing ---probably talking way after the end of our meal with our dinner companions of the evening---but we missed all but a few bars of the Russian Classical Concert performed after dinner.
And so, as always, off to bed!
Following breakfast, the Prof. from UCLA gave an interesting talk on 'The Murder of Dimitry'. It was fascinating to hear about all the rumors and intrigue involved, and it prepared us well for Uglich (where we saw the actual bell which had been returned from exile....only in Russia!!!)
Yaroslavl at 1pm! We saw the highlights of the city and heard a wonderful vocal rendering of a Russian song from a group who performed in the church. We bought the CD!!!! Please don't ask if I have played it yet! They sold a fair number!! Okay, I'll admit it, we purchased two!! If all groups bought like we did and they really did get to keep the money, the singers would be Russian millionaires by next year! The CDs were $20 each or a bargain of two for $35. We figured they needed the money!
We were the first group to try out a new visit on the tour. We went to a Russian kindergarten and were entertained by groups of quite accomplished young performers! It was quite noticeable that there was a place for everything and everything was in its place!! Kindergarten by the way is expensive and there are not enough places for all who would like to attend. Our guides were so excited to take us there. No felt boot factory for us. From there we went into town and we were directed to an Internet Cafe (our request)while some people went to the market and others bought chocolate etc. for gifts from a large candy store. By this time I had acquired quite a large collection of sweets and chocolate from our nightly pillow treats!
Visiting these provincial cities was very special and one of the great advantages of cruising through Russia. I can't recommend this vacation highly enough!!
Back on board by 5:30pm and up on deck. We missed the Russian Traditional costume talk, but saw many passengers throughout the evening trying on various articles of clothing. I don't know what we were doing ---probably talking way after the end of our meal with our dinner companions of the evening---but we missed all but a few bars of the Russian Classical Concert performed after dinner.
And so, as always, off to bed!
Aug 3rd, 2007, 09:05 PM
#22
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Philbill - enjoying your report!
When I saw two days of just cruising on the Viking itinerary, I was worried, too. But, over a two week cruise, they were very relaxing and there was plenty to do aboard ship!
Though we went in June, those days were very chilly, so I was glad to have packed so as to be comfortable on the outside decks. I've learned always to pack the hooded polartec jacket and sandals - no matter what the forecast!
When I saw two days of just cruising on the Viking itinerary, I was worried, too. But, over a two week cruise, they were very relaxing and there was plenty to do aboard ship!
Though we went in June, those days were very chilly, so I was glad to have packed so as to be comfortable on the outside decks. I've learned always to pack the hooded polartec jacket and sandals - no matter what the forecast!
Aug 4th, 2007, 11:55 AM
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A lot of the time we could sunbathe on the deck (and this wasJune/July) and at times (well occasionally) we had to go to find some shade. Having said that, it could be gorgeous but yet pour with rain 10 minutes later, with the lovely weather returning in another 20 minutes.
Motto: never be caught without a brolly in Russia even in the summer!!!
Go figure!
Motto: never be caught without a brolly in Russia even in the summer!!!
Go figure!
Aug 4th, 2007, 04:47 PM
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Tuesday, July 3rsd
Uglich! My favourite day for shopping. The large stores and vendors took dollars, but one or two small shops reportedly wanted rubless There were stalls by the dock and throughout the walkway across to the church. I thought the prices were good and they had a better quality of boxes than I had seen previously (except for the hugely expensive ones in the museum shops). We left at 7:45am for our walking tour (no rest for the wicked) and had maybe 3 hours for shopping. Watches were the rage, especially Chaika (inclding the enamelled ones( and the "Russian Army Watches". Prices have gone up this past year apparently. The prices were anywhere from $25 on up to a little over $1000 for a solid gold watch. These were being purchased in the watch shops and I have never seen anything like the crowds and the money changing hands. Credit cards were also accepted.
as I said previously, the exiled bell was on display in the museum and has been reunited with its clapper. Another group of singers but no CDs for us this time!! I would assume that passengers travelling in the oppposite direction bought CDs in Uglich and few in Yaroslavl and vice versa for us. The final few passengers raced onto the boat two minutes late with Teddy waiting for them on the dockl! 'The Last Czar' was shown..no time..gorgeous on deck. Question and Answer time with the two professors...stayed for part of it...skipped Russian singing.
More warm champers and shots of vodka at the Captain's Farewell Reception!!
There was a great show put on by crew and guests after dinner.
By the way, I forgot to write that President Putin is putting a program into place where anyone having a second child will be rewarded with $10,000!! There is a negative population growth in Russia which is of concern to the powers that be, and the guides said that the money would be deposited into a bank account when the child was three years of age and had to be used for one of a number of specified uses such as education of the child, the parent's retirement etc.. I believe the same plan will be in effect for subsequent children also.
Uglich! My favourite day for shopping. The large stores and vendors took dollars, but one or two small shops reportedly wanted rubless There were stalls by the dock and throughout the walkway across to the church. I thought the prices were good and they had a better quality of boxes than I had seen previously (except for the hugely expensive ones in the museum shops). We left at 7:45am for our walking tour (no rest for the wicked) and had maybe 3 hours for shopping. Watches were the rage, especially Chaika (inclding the enamelled ones( and the "Russian Army Watches". Prices have gone up this past year apparently. The prices were anywhere from $25 on up to a little over $1000 for a solid gold watch. These were being purchased in the watch shops and I have never seen anything like the crowds and the money changing hands. Credit cards were also accepted.
as I said previously, the exiled bell was on display in the museum and has been reunited with its clapper. Another group of singers but no CDs for us this time!! I would assume that passengers travelling in the oppposite direction bought CDs in Uglich and few in Yaroslavl and vice versa for us. The final few passengers raced onto the boat two minutes late with Teddy waiting for them on the dockl! 'The Last Czar' was shown..no time..gorgeous on deck. Question and Answer time with the two professors...stayed for part of it...skipped Russian singing.
More warm champers and shots of vodka at the Captain's Farewell Reception!!
There was a great show put on by crew and guests after dinner.
By the way, I forgot to write that President Putin is putting a program into place where anyone having a second child will be rewarded with $10,000!! There is a negative population growth in Russia which is of concern to the powers that be, and the guides said that the money would be deposited into a bank account when the child was three years of age and had to be used for one of a number of specified uses such as education of the child, the parent's retirement etc.. I believe the same plan will be in effect for subsequent children also.
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