Category: Travel

Kevin woke me up at 6.30am. Reluctantly I got up, showered and dressed. We then woke the girls up to them ready and headed up to breakfast at Windjammers.  After we’d eaten and I’d had my daily chocolate donut (I’m not a big donut lover normally but these are delicious).

The girls went to kids club and Kevin & I went to meet our tour group. Our bus trip took us to where the big song festival is held every 5 years. There are 30,000 performer and 300,000 spectators – not sure where they all fit.

We drove around for a bit.

We then headed to the old town – exploring the Upper town and 2 more churches – including the 2nd oldest church in the world.

Then we walked down the hill to the Lower town. This was just gorgeous. Lovely old buildings around a big open square.

We had a bit of time to wander around and do some shopping – I bought some handmade cushion covers and a hippo apron for Christy. Earlier in the day I had bought a Matuska doll for myself so I did well today. We then visited a 3rd church for a short concert of Medieval music. This was much better than we’d expected. The singing had an amazing voice.

Then it was time for lunch, which was wonderful. We ate in a lovely resturaunt which overlooked the square. The table was beautifully set and served and absolutely delicious. We enjoyed people watching while we ate.

 

Even the bathroom here was unique – it was in a converted fireplace.

After a leisurely lunch we boarded the bus and headed back to the ship. The Disney Magic had arrived since this morning and was docked next to us.

We rang kids club to let the girls know we were back on board and then took them for a swim in the Solarium Pool. We had a swim and spa and then enjoyed a slice of pizza.

Then it was time to go back to our room and get ready for dinner. First up I had a very yummy Mushroom Soup. Then Amy announced she didn’t feel well and wanted to go back to the room. After finishing my soup I went back to check on her. While there are room attendent came to make up the girls bed. Once she was settled I headed back to finish my dinner. Unfortunately the tofu wasn’t that good but I ate my veggies. And desert – Banana Cream Pie – more than made up for it.

We finished up dinner early tonight and went back to our cabin. Amy had vomitted but was now feeling a bit better. I think an early night (plus an extra hours sleep due to time changes) will be good for all of us. And tomorrow is a sea day so now early start to the day.

Yes, I know we didn’t actually leave but we still have to pas through customs and be officially stamped in and out of the country.

Unfortunately I woke at 8am and had to get up and get moving. I so wanted to sleep some this morning. Finally everyone was showered and dressed and we had a very speedy breakfast at Windjammers. We picked up some peanut butter for Oksana who had mentioned she likes it but it’s very expensive and hard to get in Russia.

We had a bit of a tour around St. Petersburg first up – having a scare at on the stops when we couldn’t find Christy (Oksana found her climbing on a brick wall).

Our first main stop was Peter and Paul Fortress,  in particular the Cathedral where most of the Tzars are buried. There is also a memorial to the last Romanovs – who were all murdered.

Kevin and I had a funny photo taken – only to realize afterwards we had to pay for it!

We then had lunch at a  local fast food place – no, not burgers – but Russian pancakes. Lucky we had Oksana with us as the menu was in Russian. I had a pancake with mushrooms and cheese and boy was it delicious.

Next we headed to the Hermitage Museum  (at the Winter Palace) – which houses one of the worlds greatest art collections.

It was very busy here and we had a whirlwind tour seeing just the highlights. We were especially excited to see originals by Michelangelo, Leonado Da Vinci, Rembrandt and Picaso.

Not only was the art amazing but so was the building (well, it was a palace). I loved how in EVERY building you needed to look up to really see everything.

We then went on our private cruise – which really was private – we were the only ones on the boat which would have accommodated 100!! It had just started raining while we were onboard so we sat inside but by the time we departed 30mins later the sun was back out again. We enjoyed seeing the town from the water – you can appreciate the architecture that much more when it’s not behind cars and buses.

Then it was time to visit St. Issacs Cathedral. Another busy place and though beautiful, probably our least favourite.

Our last stop was the Church of the Spilt Blood (built on the murder sight of one of the Tzars). This was quite amazing. The locals call it the Disneyland Church. Inside it is lined with mosiacs – most of which were damaged and neglected during WWII and the cold war. Apparently it took 10 years to complete the building and 30 years to repair it.

A brief stop at another souvenier shop then it was back to the ship and time to say goodbye to Oksana and our driver (who’s name I can’t pronouce or spell). We had such a wonderful two days with them and we all fell in love with Russia and would love to stay longer. The tour with Anatasia’s Tour was fantastic and I’m so glad we opted to do a private tour (it actually worked out cheaper and was far better). The girls loved it too – we saw a lot but there was a good variety and Oksana was great at getting the girls involved.

We were back onboard around 5pm so I uploaded some photos and at 6pm we headed to dinner. Just as the rain was coming in.

Nothing much appealed on the menu tonight so I ended up having 2 dinner rolls and some veggies off Amy’s and Christy’s plate. Desert made up for it though – a delicious Kahlua Creme Brulle!

The girls went off to kids club and Kevin & I headed to our room – where I sorted out some washing and typed up both days of our Russian experience. It’s been just amazing and we’re really rather sad to be leaving.

Finally we have made it to Russia. We had an early morning wake up call at 6.15am (after losing yet another hours sleep). We showered, dressed and dragged the kids from bed and off to breakfast (after they got dressed as well). We had a quick breakfast at Windjammers, then headed off the ship. We passed through immigrations with no lines (we just beat one of the cruise tours) and little fuss and Oksana was there to meet us. We then headed off on our tour, where the girls promptly fell asleep!

We drove out to Catherine’s Palace in Pushkin (which was a beautiful town – full of trees, flowers and cute houses). It was beautiful. It had been destroyed by the Nazi’s and painstakingly rebuilt.

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We had to put on little booties over our shoes to protect the parcay floor.

We left here and had lunch on route to Peterhof. We stopped a Russian restaurant.

I had bourst (cold beetroot soup) for lunch – which Oksana had recommended and was much nicer than I expected. Kevin had dumplings and Amy had beef stroganoff. Christy had bread!

Then it was on to Peterhof  – the lavish Summer home of the Tzars. It was designed mostly by Peter the Great (who it seems is everywhere in St. Petersburg) and he had fun designing trick fountains – which were turned on much to the surprise of well dressed ladies.

We wondererd around admiring the gardens and fountains, and the Gulf of Finland.

We enjoyed an ice-cream as we strolled and the girls had a photo with Peter The Great and his wife.

Next up was a short ride on the metro. These underground stations are amazing. Such beautiful architechure, complete with real chandellers. Just amazing.

We then had a stop at a shop where the girls picked up matruska dolls.

We then headed back to the ship where we changed and had a quick dinner at Windjammers before meeting our driver again, who took us to into town for the Folkloric show.

There was a lot of traffic and the drivers here are quite mad

but we made it in time to get a seat in the front row.

The show was amazing. Wonderful music and singing and amazing Russian dancing.

We loved it and Christy was sad when it was over. During intermission she had been given a CD-Rom with games on it – which we thought was very thoughtful.
After the show our driver met us and returned us to the ship. It was 9.30pm and we were all hungry again so we headed to the Seaview Cafe for a snack.

Tummies once again full we headed to our room and to bed. Tired but very happy.

We didn’t wake until 8am this morning (though it was really only 7am as the clocks went forward one hour). We read for a bit until the girls woke around 9am then we headed to Windjammers for breakfast (just as we arrived in Helsinki). You can now serve yourself at Windjammers again so that makes things much easier, and quicker. We enjoyed breakfast sitting on the back deck watching the boat next to us unload cars, trucks and buses. We couldn’t believe how many fitted into it.

Amy left us to go to kids club as she decided she didn’t want to do todays tour.

At 10.45am we met for our tour to Santa’s Summerhouse. We boarded the bus and headed into the countryside. Christy was excited because Anna and Alyssa were also doing the tour. It looks like a lovely city – modern and very green and lots of cyclists again. Our guide told us a lot about the history, the country and it’s people on the way out. Then we were met by an elf – who was too cute and just wonderful with the girls (it was just the three of them on the trip).

It was such a lovely area.

 

First they had to collect water and carry the tub up to the wood sauna.

Boy, was it smelly (just like a campfire). Don’t think I’d want to sauna in there.

Then it was off to visit Santa. Christy really enjoyed this. Santa told them what he does during his Summer – basically eat and rest, sometimes fishing, and a bit of surfing.

 

We then enjoyed a snack of tea and a cinnamon roll – which was yummy!

I also posed for a photo with Santa :-).

The girls played games, then it was time for a little woodland walk back to the bus.

We had a drive through the main town on the way back to the ship. Then a bit of shopping – I got a few nice crystal pieces to add to my collection. Christy had fun trying on the fur hats but there is no way I would buy one.

Then it was onboard and a late lunch at Windjammers. Another salad for me today. Christy went off the kids club. Kevin and I got changed and went to the thermal suites.

At 4.30pm we collected the girls and took them for a swim and play on the waterslide.

Then it was time to get ready for dinner – another formal night.

It was a little stressful with my girls tonight – Christy’s eating and Amy’s mood. Hoping so much they behave in Russia and don’t spoil our time there.