Thurs. 9-27-18
We woke up on the move today. We had a round table answer and question group, followed by Russian dumpling making. We then were informed that it was unlikely we would be able to pass through the next lake due to the influence of the remains of hurricane Florence. We spent most of the day on boat. About 5:30 we pulled into a small village called Mandrogi. It was a series of old wooden building buildings with a variety of craftsman selling their products. We got back on board around 7:00, then had a farewell dinner. It was confirmed that the boat will not be able to get to St. Petersburg. We need to get up and be on bus by 6:45 am. We have a choice tomorrow at the end of the day to take the bus back to the boat, another four hour trip, then get up Sat. Am and take the bus again four hours back to St Petersburg. We are already scheduled to spend Sat. and Sun at the Astoria in St Petersburg. Our second choice is to take the bus in to St Petersburg in the am, then just go to the Astoria a night earlier so we don't have to do the bus commute. Our group all decided to stay in St Petersburg, no extra eight hours on the bus for us !
We woke up on the move today. We had a round table answer and question group, followed by Russian dumpling making. We then were informed that it was unlikely we would be able to pass through the next lake due to the influence of the remains of hurricane Florence. We spent most of the day on boat. About 5:30 we pulled into a small village called Mandrogi. It was a series of old wooden building buildings with a variety of craftsman selling their products. We got back on board around 7:00, then had a farewell dinner. It was confirmed that the boat will not be able to get to St. Petersburg. We need to get up and be on bus by 6:45 am. We have a choice tomorrow at the end of the day to take the bus back to the boat, another four hour trip, then get up Sat. Am and take the bus again four hours back to St Petersburg. We are already scheduled to spend Sat. and Sun at the Astoria in St Petersburg. Our second choice is to take the bus in to St Petersburg in the am, then just go to the Astoria a night earlier so we don't have to do the bus commute. Our group all decided to stay in St Petersburg, no extra eight hours on the bus for us !
Fri. 9-28-18
Up and on bus at 6:45. We arrived in St Petersburg and went to Pushkin and visited Catherine's Palace. It was a gift to Catherine from her husband Peter the Great. The highlight was a room that was entirely finished in Amber. There were beautiful gardens, and a cute little village. We ate lunch then headed off to the Hermitage. It is regarded as one of the top three museums in the world. The highlights for me were paintings by DiVinci and Rembrandt. The whole museum is overwhelming, very ornate and beautiful. It was 8:00 pm when we finally checked in so we just had snacks and cocktails, explored the hotel, then called it a night. The Astoria is a fabulous grand old five star hotel. They have plaques of the rich and famous who have stayed here. The clientele is definitely not the motel 8 crowd. We are in a huge suite, the first time someone has offered to unpack our suitcases for us ! Once again we are perfectly located with lots to do and see within an easy stroll.
Up and on bus at 6:45. We arrived in St Petersburg and went to Pushkin and visited Catherine's Palace. It was a gift to Catherine from her husband Peter the Great. The highlight was a room that was entirely finished in Amber. There were beautiful gardens, and a cute little village. We ate lunch then headed off to the Hermitage. It is regarded as one of the top three museums in the world. The highlights for me were paintings by DiVinci and Rembrandt. The whole museum is overwhelming, very ornate and beautiful. It was 8:00 pm when we finally checked in so we just had snacks and cocktails, explored the hotel, then called it a night. The Astoria is a fabulous grand old five star hotel. They have plaques of the rich and famous who have stayed here. The clientele is definitely not the motel 8 crowd. We are in a huge suite, the first time someone has offered to unpack our suitcases for us ! Once again we are perfectly located with lots to do and see within an easy stroll.
Sat. 9-29-18
We had our first solid sleep this trip last night. Woke up and we were greeted by a glorious blue sky, bright sunshine. It is cold, 33 degrees, but the sunshine makes up for it. The day mostly consisted of a city tour with lots of photo stops. We stopped at the split of Basil island. Next we went to the Fortress of Peter and Paul where all the Russian Emperor and Empresses are buried from Peter the Great to Nicholas ll. We also saw a military display with band that was great pomp and circumstance. We drove by the famous Mikowsky theater, multiple cathedrals. My favorite was St. Nicholas who is the patron saint of navigation. We got an icon of him to put in our boat. St. Petersburg has. Rivers, Canals, and. Bridges. It is known as the Venice of the north. It reminded me a bit of Amsterdam. The architecture is constantly being restored. Building facades can never be destroyed, so the beauty will be maintained. Buildings are also painted in hues of pink, blue, green and yellows, and the color reflects the tone period they were built in. We had a Stroganoff at Stroganoffs restaurant that was delish ! When we got back, Jon, Danette and I headed off on foot to explore. We ran into our guide Misha twice while we were walking. We toured the Faberge museum that houses 9 of the 19 Faberge eggs. There also was a huge collections of gifts made by Faberge and company. We were beat when we got back so we had drinks and snacks, and called it a day
We had our first solid sleep this trip last night. Woke up and we were greeted by a glorious blue sky, bright sunshine. It is cold, 33 degrees, but the sunshine makes up for it. The day mostly consisted of a city tour with lots of photo stops. We stopped at the split of Basil island. Next we went to the Fortress of Peter and Paul where all the Russian Emperor and Empresses are buried from Peter the Great to Nicholas ll. We also saw a military display with band that was great pomp and circumstance. We drove by the famous Mikowsky theater, multiple cathedrals. My favorite was St. Nicholas who is the patron saint of navigation. We got an icon of him to put in our boat. St. Petersburg has. Rivers, Canals, and. Bridges. It is known as the Venice of the north. It reminded me a bit of Amsterdam. The architecture is constantly being restored. Building facades can never be destroyed, so the beauty will be maintained. Buildings are also painted in hues of pink, blue, green and yellows, and the color reflects the tone period they were built in. We had a Stroganoff at Stroganoffs restaurant that was delish ! When we got back, Jon, Danette and I headed off on foot to explore. We ran into our guide Misha twice while we were walking. We toured the Faberge museum that houses 9 of the 19 Faberge eggs. There also was a huge collections of gifts made by Faberge and company. We were beat when we got back so we had drinks and snacks, and called it a day
Sun 9-30-18
We were picked up this am at 9:30 and headed out to the country to see another summer palace Peter the Great had built for Catherine, Petrhof. We toured the lower and upper gardens that had over 175 fountains. It was cold and rainy but we had a pretty view over the Bay of Finland. We visited the bath cottage of the palace that contained elaborate saunas, baths and showers. We drove through old neighborhoods with the gray faced apartment buildings, drab and dreary. It was what I expected all of Russia to look like, how pleasantly surprised we have been ! We got back and walked around the neighborhood of our hotel. We ate dinner at a Georgian restaurant and feasted on beer and kebabs. I don't know where the time goes, but we finished dinner at it was already 8:30, so we walked back to hotel, checked emails, then off to bed.
We were picked up this am at 9:30 and headed out to the country to see another summer palace Peter the Great had built for Catherine, Petrhof. We toured the lower and upper gardens that had over 175 fountains. It was cold and rainy but we had a pretty view over the Bay of Finland. We visited the bath cottage of the palace that contained elaborate saunas, baths and showers. We drove through old neighborhoods with the gray faced apartment buildings, drab and dreary. It was what I expected all of Russia to look like, how pleasantly surprised we have been ! We got back and walked around the neighborhood of our hotel. We ate dinner at a Georgian restaurant and feasted on beer and kebabs. I don't know where the time goes, but we finished dinner at it was already 8:30, so we walked back to hotel, checked emails, then off to bed.
