We arrived at Mandrogi in the morning. This is a popular local winter vacation spot with quite a few resident artists crafting various souvenirs. For lunch we had a traditional Shashlik picnic. Shashlik is a Russian form of shish kebab.
Before dinner, we had the Captain's Farewell Reception since this was our last day of cruising. For dessert at the Captain's Farewell Dinner, we had "Baked Alaska" cake.
In the evening, there was a talent show put on by the passengers as well as some of the crew. It included singing, Russian music, a hilarious "ballet" performance, and some funny skits.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Kizhi
Today was a very relaxing day.
In the morning, we exited the final ship lock in the Volga-Baltic Canal and entered Lake Onega. While cruising the lake, we were given a tour of the ship's bridge. In the afternoon, we had a Russian Tea Party.
At about 5pm, we arrived at Kizhi Island. Here, we had a walking tour and saw the Church of the Transfiguration, the Bell Tower, and the Church of the Intercession. The Church of the Transfiguration was build without using a single nail in 1714. We also saw the small Church of Lazar of Murom (also known as the Church of the Resurrection of Lazarus). It was actually constructed elsewhere in the 14th century and moved here and may be one of the oldest wooden buildings in Russia.
At around 7pm we departed Kizhi. Quite a few passengers were late re-boarding.
We had a Russian themed dinner which included Pelmeni, which is a Russian dumpling soup, and Russian ragout.
In the morning, we exited the final ship lock in the Volga-Baltic Canal and entered Lake Onega. While cruising the lake, we were given a tour of the ship's bridge. In the afternoon, we had a Russian Tea Party.
At about 5pm, we arrived at Kizhi Island. Here, we had a walking tour and saw the Church of the Transfiguration, the Bell Tower, and the Church of the Intercession. The Church of the Transfiguration was build without using a single nail in 1714. We also saw the small Church of Lazar of Murom (also known as the Church of the Resurrection of Lazarus). It was actually constructed elsewhere in the 14th century and moved here and may be one of the oldest wooden buildings in Russia.
At around 7pm we departed Kizhi. Quite a few passengers were late re-boarding.
We had a Russian themed dinner which included Pelmeni, which is a Russian dumpling soup, and Russian ragout.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Goritsy
In the morning, there was a talk on Russian Vodka by one of the ship's bartendars, Eugene.
After lunch, we arrived in Goritsy and took a bus to Kirillov to visit the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery. This monastery is currently a museum and has a nice collection of Orthodox icons.
After getting back on the ship, we had a blini cooking lesson by Chef Pavel. Blinis are Russian pancakes. Following the demonstration, there was a blini and vodka tasting. The blinis were served with red caviar. We were also able to sample 3 types of vodka: clear, pepper, and cranberry. The clear and pepper vodka has 40% alchohol, while the cranberry is has only 20%. I had 4 shots.
Following a, um, short nap, there was a special dinner. The dinning staff had transformed into pirates.
After lunch, we arrived in Goritsy and took a bus to Kirillov to visit the Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery. This monastery is currently a museum and has a nice collection of Orthodox icons.
After getting back on the ship, we had a blini cooking lesson by Chef Pavel. Blinis are Russian pancakes. Following the demonstration, there was a blini and vodka tasting. The blinis were served with red caviar. We were also able to sample 3 types of vodka: clear, pepper, and cranberry. The clear and pepper vodka has 40% alchohol, while the cranberry is has only 20%. I had 4 shots.
Following a, um, short nap, there was a special dinner. The dinning staff had transformed into pirates.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Yaroslavl
Today we visited the city of Yaroslavl. Our first stop was a Puppet Theater. After that, we visited the Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Saviour. After a short stop at an outdoor market, we walked over to the Church of Elijah the Prophet.
We left Yaroslavl shortly before lunch.
In the afternoon, we painted Matryoshka dolls.
Before dinner, we exited the Volga River through a ship lock and entered the Rybinsk Reservoir.
We had a Ukrainian themed dinner that included Ukrainian borscht for soup and Vareniki which are Ukrainian dumplings. After dinner, the was a Russian Dance class and a performance of "Russian Soul" by Igor, the Neva bar musician.
We left Yaroslavl shortly before lunch.
In the afternoon, we painted Matryoshka dolls.
Before dinner, we exited the Volga River through a ship lock and entered the Rybinsk Reservoir.
We had a Ukrainian themed dinner that included Ukrainian borscht for soup and Vareniki which are Ukrainian dumplings. After dinner, the was a Russian Dance class and a performance of "Russian Soul" by Igor, the Neva bar musician.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Uglich
We didn't arrive in Uglich until the afternoon. So in the morning, we had a short Russian Language Lesson by Lidia, and a presentation on Russian Handicrafts by Anna, the Arts and Craft Consultant who ran the ship's gift shop.
After lunch, we arrived in Uglich where we visited the Church of St. Dmitry on the Blood and the Transfiguration Cathedral. We also had some time to do some shopping at the stalls near the pier.
For dinner, we divided up into smaller groups since we were going to have home-hosted dinners. The group that I was in went with a lady to her apartment. Her niece helped out serving the meal, but her husband was hiding at their dacha (country cottage). We were served Uglich "moonshine" made from sugar and yeast. It had a nice caramel-like flavor with a very strong kick.
After lunch, we arrived in Uglich where we visited the Church of St. Dmitry on the Blood and the Transfiguration Cathedral. We also had some time to do some shopping at the stalls near the pier.
For dinner, we divided up into smaller groups since we were going to have home-hosted dinners. The group that I was in went with a lady to her apartment. Her niece helped out serving the meal, but her husband was hiding at their dacha (country cottage). We were served Uglich "moonshine" made from sugar and yeast. It had a nice caramel-like flavor with a very strong kick.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Last day in Moscow
Today was our last day in Moscow. In the morning, we visited the Tretyakov Art Gallery to see their collection of Russian paintings and icons.
After lunch the ship set sail to Uglich along the Moscow Canal on the way to the Volga River.
In the evening, there was the Captain's Welcome Reception and the Captain's Welcome Dinner, and after that a short folk concert by the on board musicians.
The musicians were also photographers/videographers, and were selling photos and a video of the trip.
After lunch the ship set sail to Uglich along the Moscow Canal on the way to the Volga River.
In the evening, there was the Captain's Welcome Reception and the Captain's Welcome Dinner, and after that a short folk concert by the on board musicians.
The musicians were also photographers/videographers, and were selling photos and a video of the trip.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Moscow Metro and Arbat Street
Today, we took a tour of the Moscow Metro. The subway stations in Moscow are very decorative and ornate. We got on the subway at Ploshchad Revolyutsii and headed 3 stops to the Kievskaya Subway Station. From there, we went back one stop to Smolenskaya.
Smolenskaya is near Arbat Street which is where we did a little shopping. Amongst other things, here I was able to purchase a SIM card for 500 rubles so that I could send SMS messages back to the U.S.
On the way back to the ship, we stopped by a grocery store where we bought soda and chocolate. There was black caviar behind a locked refrigerated case.
After lunch, we took a courtesy bus back into the city center to look around some more.
Smolenskaya is near Arbat Street which is where we did a little shopping. Amongst other things, here I was able to purchase a SIM card for 500 rubles so that I could send SMS messages back to the U.S.
On the way back to the ship, we stopped by a grocery store where we bought soda and chocolate. There was black caviar behind a locked refrigerated case.
After lunch, we took a courtesy bus back into the city center to look around some more.
Friday, August 24, 2007
The Kremlin and a Ballet Performance
In the morning we went to the Kremlin. The first thing we visited at the Kremlin was the State Armory to see it's collection of armor, clothes, carriages, icons, silverware, and Faberge eggs. Also on the grounds of the Kremlin, is the Cathedral of the Archangel, the Cathedral of the Assumption, the Cathedral of the Annunciation, and the Ivan the Great Bell Tower. We also saw the Tsar Bell and Tsar Cannon.
After a late lunch on the ship, we headed back into the city to see a ballet performance by the Imperial Russian Ballet at the New Opera Theater at the Moscow Hermitage Gardens. We saw exceprts of Shaharazade, Walpurgis Night, and Bolero.
After a late lunch on the ship, we headed back into the city to see a ballet performance by the Imperial Russian Ballet at the New Opera Theater at the Moscow Hermitage Gardens. We saw exceprts of Shaharazade, Walpurgis Night, and Bolero.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
First day in Moscow
My suitcase arrived in the morning.
After breakfast, we got on the Blue Group bus (the people on the ship were divided into one of 6 color coded groups), where we met our Program Manager for the group, Lidia Usikova. We then departed for a city tour of Moscow.
Our first stop was the Red Square. Here we saw (but did not enter) St. Basil's Cathedral, Lenin's Mausoleum, the State History Museum, and Resurrection Gate. We also saw and went inside the Kazan Cathedral and GUM. GUM was once a government department store, but now it's a shopping mall.
While at GUM, I tried looking for a store that would sell a SIM card. The one cell phone store that I found would only sell a SIM card if you could show your passport. Unfortunately, the ship was holding on to mine.
From the Red Square, we headed to Novodevichiy Convent. A ticket to take still photos cost 80 rubles ($1 equals about 25 rubles).
We had lunch on pleasure boats on the Moskva River. The cruise along the river provided excellent views of the Kremlin, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, and Gorky Park.
After lunch, we headed to Sparrow Hill (formerly Lenin Hills) which had a good view of the city. Then, we headed back to the ship.
Dinner was on the ship. The presentation of the food was excellent.
After dinner, we went to see a performance at the Nikulin Circus (Old Moscow Circus).
After breakfast, we got on the Blue Group bus (the people on the ship were divided into one of 6 color coded groups), where we met our Program Manager for the group, Lidia Usikova. We then departed for a city tour of Moscow.
Our first stop was the Red Square. Here we saw (but did not enter) St. Basil's Cathedral, Lenin's Mausoleum, the State History Museum, and Resurrection Gate. We also saw and went inside the Kazan Cathedral and GUM. GUM was once a government department store, but now it's a shopping mall.
While at GUM, I tried looking for a store that would sell a SIM card. The one cell phone store that I found would only sell a SIM card if you could show your passport. Unfortunately, the ship was holding on to mine.
From the Red Square, we headed to Novodevichiy Convent. A ticket to take still photos cost 80 rubles ($1 equals about 25 rubles).
We had lunch on pleasure boats on the Moskva River. The cruise along the river provided excellent views of the Kremlin, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, and Gorky Park.
After lunch, we headed to Sparrow Hill (formerly Lenin Hills) which had a good view of the city. Then, we headed back to the ship.
Dinner was on the ship. The presentation of the food was excellent.
After dinner, we went to see a performance at the Nikulin Circus (Old Moscow Circus).
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Arrived in Moscow
This afternoon, I arrived in Moscow via Chicago and Frankfurt. Unfortunately, my suitcase did not make it.
At Sheremetyevo 2 Airport, we met some program managers from Vantage who escorted us to the bus that would take us to the M/S Nikolay Chernyshevsky which was docked at the Northern River Terminal.
At Sheremetyevo 2 Airport, we met some program managers from Vantage who escorted us to the bus that would take us to the M/S Nikolay Chernyshevsky which was docked at the Northern River Terminal.
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