15
16 SEPTEMBER..AWAY WE GO......0400 AM.... LAS VEGAS TO AIRPORT...8 TO 9 FLY TO
LA...1400 TO 2340 .... NINE HOURS 40 MINUTES LA TO AMSTERDAM KLMAIR...GREAT
FLIGHT... GREAT FOOD ....FLEW OVER WINNIPEG LABRADOR GREENLAND LIVERPOOL...(NO
BEATLES)... FIVE HOUR LAY OVER IN AMSTERDAM...1400 TO 1700 HELSINKI.... THE BAGS
MADE IT...THEY MADE IT LAST BUT MADE IT...TOUR DIRECTOR AT HOTEL SCANDIA TWO
NIGHTS IN HELSINKI..... PRICE THERE 130 PER....9 HOURS AHEAD .....8 FOR LONDON
TIME ...NINE TO AMSTERDAM 10 TO ST PETE...GREAT CITY SUNDAY NIGHT SHORT TOUR
ORIENATATION WALK...SHORT SUPPER AT BARISH DEAL....REALLY INOVATIVE....SAUSAGE
LINKS...MEATBALLS...BACON..BEEF...PORK...ROADKILL...SAUERKRAUT DILL PICKLES
MUSTARD...MIGHT BE BEST MEAL ON TOUR...DOUBT IT BUT GREAT ....GOT PEPSI IN
KMARTISH STORE...LONG DAY WHICH REALLY CONCLUDES INTO MONDAY 0600 HELSINKI TIME
TO SUNDAY NIGHT 8 PM LAS VEGAS...ON FREE INET .....KESLOWSKI WON THE
RACE...GORDON OUT EARLY...HELSINKI HAD 52 GAMES 56 MELBOURNE...60 ROME...64
TOKOYO...68 MEXICO GAMES ....BUT SUMMER GAMES....HELSINKI WAS TO HAVE 40 GAMES
AND LONDON 44 BUT THEY DID THE SWITCHAROO.....GUIDE EZGENY SAID COUNTRY TOO FLAT
FOR TALL MOUNTAIN SKIING....CANT LOG ONTO LVENTERTAINMENT BUT WILL TRANSFER
DAILY LOG TO ED BRUCE MAIL DO IT WHEN WE CAN...2 NIGHTS HELSINKI...3 TALLINN
ESTONIA...14 ON THE SHIP ST PETERRSBURG TO MOSCOW.... HOME 5 OCTOBER...SEE
TCHIAKOVSKY'S GRAVE IN ST PETE...LOVE AND KISSES
17 SEPTEMBER ...MONDAY .........DAY TWO.......... PRETTY MUCH STILL NINE HOURS AHEAD....ACCIDENTALLY GOT INTO THE WOMENS SAUNA AT THE HOTEL...IT WAS EXCITING FOR 3 ORIENTAL WOMEN...GREAT BREAKFAST...PICKLED HERRING....36 AT ORIENTATION FOR THE DAY...WENT ON CITY OF HELSINKI BUS TOUR...GREAT OFFS AND ONS....CHURCH CUT OUT OF GRANITE WITH COPPER CIRCULAR ROOF...SEBILIUS CITY PARK MUSEUM...CHURCHS GOVERNMENTAL BUILDINGS....VIEW CITY TRAM...OPEN AIR SHOP MART...BOAT TOUR TO HISTORIC ISLAND WITH FORTS AND ROCK CASTLES NOW NAVY ACADEMY...14 MINUTES OVER AND BACK DID NOT GET SEA SICK...LOTS OF SEAGULL SHIT AROUND....LOTS OF COLORFUL MAPLE LEAVES HAVE HIT THE GROUND.....TOUR DINNER IN HOTEL...TOOK THREE HOURS...SALMON GOOD BUT AWFUL SLOW...BOUGHT SOME PEPSI AND NUTS...LIFE IS GREAT ..JANET STILL WITH ME. SOME GROUP OF 3 AT HOTEL HAD THEIR PASSPORTS AND CREDIT CARDS STOLEN..JANET TRIES TO HELP ON I NET...CAN'T BE TOO PARANOID....SAW 52 OLYMPIC STADIUM WITH STATUE OF PAVO NURMI IN FRONT....THE FLYING FINN.
18 SEPTEMBER....DAYS FLYING BY....BREAKFAST GREAT AT HOTELS ABLE TO
MAKE GREAT HAM SANDWICHS FOR LUNCH....JANET WORRIED ABOUT OTHERS WATCHING
US....COUPLE FROM MINNESOTA DOING THE SAME THING.....WALKED TO THE
CHURCH...JANET DID NOT WANT TO GO BECAUSE PLACARD SAID COVERED HEADS...EVERYONE
ELSE WENT IN....9000 MILES TO BE IRREVERENT TO WHO....RODE THE TRAMS IN HELSINKI
...MOVIE MUSEUM FREE.....ART MUSEUM 10 EUROS... OR SO ....HELENE WHOEVER, HAD
A WHOLE FLOOR OF SHADY PORTRAITS...JANET LIKED THEM I DID NOT...OK TO SEE...HAD
OUR SANDWICHS....LEFT HELSINKI FOR FERRY TO TALLINN...WHAT A BOAT....TRACTOR
TRAILERS...CARS..... 5 DECKS...SLOT MACHINES...FOOD .. PET KENNELS...GREAT
RIDE...DID NOT GET SICK....ARRIVED AT HOTEL....DRAIN IN THE TUB DID NOT WORK ON
SHOWER BEFORE DINNER...THEY CAME COULDN'T FIX IT MOVED US.... CHECKED US
OUT...THAT LOCKED THE REFRIGERATOR DOOR IN THE OLD ROOM...UNBELIEVABLE WENT FROM
920 TOP 1620 NEW ROOM HAD LOCK SAFE ON DOOR BROKEN...WE SURVIVED...CITY WALKING
TOUR...GREAT ...TALLINN IS WALLED CITY...OUT DOOR NICE SUPPER LATE AT
2030...SLIGHT RAIN....LOVED WALK BACK TO HOTEL THRU FLOWER MARKET....NATIONAL
GEOGRAPHIC CHANNEL AND CNN ON TV.....3 NIGHTS IN ESTONIA...WHAT A GREAT FREE
VALUE PRE TRIP...MORE .....ONLY 60 DAYS OF SUN HERE...WE GOT MORE THAN OUR SHARE
19 SEPTEMBER.....BIG PICKLED HERRING ORANGE JUICE BREAKFAST....CITY TOUR ON BUS GREAT .....GUIDE THEN WALKED THRU OLD TOWN...SHOPS ON A HILL ...TALLINN A WALLED CITY 500 YEARS AGO.... SOME REMAINS....SHOPS, CHURCHES...GREEN....HAD THE ORGAN PRACTICING IN ONE....IT WAS SPECIAL....THEY DO THE HEAD SET SPEAKER SYSTEM VERY WELL TO HEAR THE GUIDE ...SHE HAD LOTS TO SAY....WALKED THE COBBLE STONES IN THE OLD CITY....LUNCH IN OUR ROOM....A TOO LONG NAP AND HOUR LECTURE BY OUR GUIDE ABOUT THE COUNTRY....SHE WAS GREAT ....ALL 37 OF OUR GROUP...IN ATTENDANCE SOME EVEN ON TIME.....DINNER FROM THE TOUR NEXT TO HOTEL...CHICKEN AND NEW FRIENDS....SHOULD BOND WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE AT EACH MEAL SETTING...DID 24TH FLOOR VIEWING...MOST OF THE RAIN GONE...GET OVER 200 DAYS OF RAIN HERE...HIGH TAXES...NAT GEO CHANNEL. JANET TAKING TONS OF PICS DAILY...HOPE TO SEE THEM I AM MOSTLY THE STAR...HUMBLY
20 SEPTEMBER.....THURSDAY...STILL 11 HOURS ..AHEAD...BREAKFAST...OPTIONAL TOUR WILL EAT BUFFET ON OUR OWN....LUNCH WITH TOUR...BREAKFAST NOW...MORE LATER
23 SEPTEMBER 8 AM HERE ....DON BEST SPORTS LIVE SCORES ON INET.... HALFTIME OF UNLV GAME....CAPTAIN GREETS US EVERY TRIP OFF AND ON THE SHIP....GREAT VIDEO LAST NIGHT ON RUSSIAN REVOLUTION...BLACK AND WHITE ORIGINAL STUFF FROM 1921....PROPAGANDA...LENIN STALIN TROTSKY...LOVELY HAT TRICK.
TCHIAKOVSKY'S GRAVE....AND SWAN LAKE AND MORE.....SOME KIND OF GREAT DAY...ST CATHERINES PALACE...TONS OF GOLD PLATING IN THE REBUILT PALACE WITH GARDENS....A QUINTET OF ONE SONG....SAW A WEDDING IN THE RAIN...WEDDING NUMBER TWO....LUNCH ON BOARD....TCHIAKOVSKY 1840-1893....$50 CAB RIDE ADMISSION TO CEMETERY ...A HOOT AND THE BALLET ...SWAN LAKE WONDERFUL...IT WAS 2.21...TWO INTERMISSIONS...... 1 MINUTE LATE...CLASS MUSIC...GREAT COSTUMES 400 THEATRE...EXCELLENT PRODUCTION DANCING B-...THIS MONDAY MORNING HERE.
24 SEPTEMBER....EVERY MORNING NEWS BULLETIN AT SHIP LIBRARY....12 HOURS AHEAD OF LAS VEGAS...EVERY NIGHT AFTER DINNER BEDS TURNED DOWN WITH A MINT ON THE PILLOW....END ST PETERSBURG TUESDAY....TODAY PETER AND PAUL FORTRESS...CONSTANTLY REMODELING...ANOTHER CHURCHISH TYPE CATHEDRAL......SHOPPING MALL REST STOP...ON TO MAIN DRAG IN ST PETE...MET TOUR GUIDES MOTHER...SHE IS THE ONLY ONE WE MET WHO SMOKES...WALKED STRIP ST CATHERINES STATUE...PICTURES FROM MANY ANGLES....PETERHOF TOUR...AMAZING FOUNTAINS ALL BY GRAVITY..LOTS OF PICTURES...HAD OUR SECOND SUNNY DAY ...THEY ONLY GET 60 DAYS OF SUN HERE...JUST MARVELOUS TOUR....NICE SUPPER AS ALWAYS MET NEW FOLKS WHICH IS THE MISSION...TEN YEAR OLD VIDEO BIOGRAPHY ON TV FROM HARRY SMITH ABOUT PETER THE GREAT..EXCELLENT....NO BUILDING IN ST PETE TALLER THAN 93 FEET...LEAVE OUR WONDERFUL TOUR GUIDE GIZEL TUESDAY...YES...ANOTHER OUTSTANDING DAY IN MY LIFE WITH JANET....
25 SEPTEMBER....TOUR OF YUSHOV PALACE...A TRIP NICE...BACK FOR LUNCH.....TRIP TO A MUSIC SCHOOL...OUTSTANDING...30 MINUTE CONCERT MET THE KIDS...BROUGHT GIFTS....VIDEO ON RUSSIA AND WW11 ...CAPTAINS COCKTAILS....SHIP NOW LEFT AFTER 4 NITES IN ST PETE..... RATHER THAN HOTELS STAY ON SHIP IN MOSCOW AND ST PETE...CAPTAINS DINNER...DRESS UP..... 5 HENS ONE ROOSTER AT OUR TABLE...PIANO CONCERT AT 915 ...GOING NOW....MORE GREAT STUFF...PIANO AND 3 STEEL STRING BALA LIKA INSTRUMENT....BIG CROWD ZEGENY HOSTED...PERFECT...JANET MISSED IT
26 SEPTEMBER....OVER NIGHT BOAT TRIP ACROSS LAKE...A TAD BUMPY...NOT BAD...FIRST LOCK..GREAT FAST ...TEN MINUTES...HAMMER AND CYCLE SYMBOL AND ROSES AND APPLE TREES ON DOCK...GORGEOUS DAY TO TRAVEL FLAT CLEAR CLEAN WATER ..BEAUTY ON SIDES WITH TREES AND LEAVES MOSTLY BIRCH FIRST CYCLE FOREST...LOTS OF MAPLE LEAFS IN RUSSIA NOT AT HOME ...VISIT TO THE CITY NOW ITS PIROZHKI...DAILY ITENERERY IN ROOM AFTER SUPPER EACH NIGHT...WOMAN 85 TOLD HER STORY WITH TEA AND CRACKERS IN HER LITTLE HOME...LIVES ALONE AFTER THE WAR...LOST HER HUSBAND...DAUGHTER OLGA HELPED THE VISIT..... SHE LIKES NICHOLAS CAGE...I WILL SAY HELLO FOR HER NEITHER SPOKE ENGLISH...LOVELY WALK GARDEN FLOWERS CLOSE TO THE BOAT....RUSSIAN TRADITIONAL DINNER ATE WITH NEW FOLKS...RUSSIAN COSTUME CONTEST AND GREAT FUN SHOW ON TOP DECK...ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THURSDAY SCHEDULE CHANGED ITS ORDER TO ACCOMODATE POSSIBLE ROUGH WATERS....LOCK TWO LAST NIGHT...... BIG NOT QUITE AS FAST AS LOCK ONE...NO RAIN TODAY..
27 SEPTEMBER....ALWAYS UP AT 7 TO COMPUTER AT 8 BREAKFAST AND GO AT NINE..CHANGE IN PLANS TO ROUGH WATER....ISLAND VISIT WITH
LOG CABIN SETTLEMENT REDONE CHURCH CLOSED TO RENOVATION...TRIVIA CONTEST...JANET WON ...FREE CHAMPAGNE...WE SHARED WITH 8 FANS FROM GEORGIA....INTERLOPER JOINED US FOR TABLE OF 12 ON 10 SETUPS...PIANO CONCERT 50 MINUTES GREAT......SCHEDULE CHANGE DUE TO ROUGH WATERS RESET YESTERDAY AND TODAY BUT WE GOT THE SAME STUFF...THIS DAY FOLK CONCERT MUSIC..DANCE...SONGS..GOT A VIOLIN INTO IT...SENSATIONAL DANCERS BETTER THAN AT SWAN LAKE..... AGAIN ON A SMALL STUDENT TEACHING CENTER STAGE UPSTAIRS...MUSIC STOPPED DURING FIRST DANCE ...THEY NEVER MISSED A STEP OR BEAT OR MOVE ...AMONG HIGHLITES OF THE TOUR ..JANET WAS IN THE FRONT ROW AND SHE SAID THE DANCE CAPTAIN STARTED A COUNT IT WAS SPECIAL...QUESTION ANSWER...SEA SICK PILLS MUST HAVE WORKED...TOMORROW CITY WALK TOUR....ALMOST AN ALTERNATIVE TOUR AT EACH STOP...4 YET TO GO IN MOSCOW...FIGURED $1100 THERE...MONEY WELL SPENT WE WILL NEVER BE BACK. ISLAND TOUR ON KIZHI...JANET BOUGHT A RING AND I GOT A SHOT GLASS FOR MIKE SHAFFER...MISS HANDBALL
28 SEPTEMBER...... HOME A WEEK FROM TODAY.....CITY TOUR OF PETROZAVODSK....SHORT OK UNEVENTFUL ETERNAL FLAME...RURAL CITY 200,000...PREPARE FOR ROUGH BOAT RIDE....LUCKILY IT DID NOT OCCUR...DID PILLS...PIANO MUSIC PRIOR TO LUNCH ....NOW RUSSIAN CUISINE PRESENTATION ON SHIP...DID DUMPLINGS ..NICE....THIS IS A SHIP MS TIKHI DON REFURBISHED...FROM 350 ROOMS TO 216 YOU CAN PUT A BOAT ON A SHIP BUT NOT A SHIP ON A BOAT THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE...A SUB IS A BOAT...CAPTAINS BRIDGE VISIT...WONDERFUL...HE HITS AN ICON DOT ON HIS COMPUTER AND IT TELLS ME WHAT SHIP IS NEARBY AND ALL ITS STATS...COMMUNICATION ALL IN RUSSIAN...CAPT KONSTAINTAN WORLD CLASS...OUR GUIDE ZEGENY DID 91 MINUTE STANDUP NO NOTES ON MODERN RUSSIAN HISTORY...MODERN IS 1917 TO NOW...DINNER A BUFFET A RUSSIAN BUFFETT...LOVELY SOFT WATER TRIP DURING THE LAKE THRU THE LOCKS DURING THE TALK...EVEN A SUNSET AROUND 7...LOTS OF LOCKS...THRU THEM IN A HURRY .....IN ONE A COAL SHIP IN FRONT AND IN BACK...AMAZING HOW EFFICIENT THEY WORK AND QUICK AND UP AND DOWN A BIG DISTANCE...MAYBE OVER 40 FEET.....COMPUTERS OFF YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AND NO TV FOR A WHILE YESTERDAY...BACK SATURDAY MORNING AS I WRITE THIS...AFTER SAUER KRAUT AND SAUSAGE AND LOTS OF 0THER GOODIES...63 MINUTE DOMRA AND ACCORDIAN CONCERT ...WORLD CLASS STUFF...DOMRA PLAYER TERRIFIC AND ACCORDIAN PLAYER WITH 200 BUTTON INSTRUMENT JUST OUT OF SCHOOL AND HAD GREAT EXPRESSIONS WITH HIS PLAYING IT WENT WELL...WORLD CLASS STUFF...LAST CONCERT...EVEN JANET LIKED IT....ONLY ONE OFF SHIP STOP SATURDAY.
29 SEPTEMBER .... IT IS SUNDAY MORNING HERE...PLAYING HIT AND MISS WITH COMPUTER....LOTS OF MISS...GLAD TO BE ON..... CHECKED FB SCORES AND HAVE BEEN REPORTING PREVIOUS DAYS EVENTS....ON SHIP IN THE MORNING AND MADE BELIMIS...GREAT KOLACHISH LIKE PASTRY...OFF SHIP AT GORITSKY FOR TOUR..BOUGHT MY CANE AND 2 T SHIRTS...WENT TO MONASTERY...AFTER THAT A PAINTING CLASS...RUSSIANS HAVE THESE LITTLE DOLL INSIDE OF DOLL WOOD STATUES AND SOMETIMES LOTS INSIDE UP TO 15...ANYWAY JOHN MASTALIR INTO WATER COLORS..MANAGED TO GET SOME ON ME..FUN..THEN VODKA TASTING JANET PARTOOK...ZEGENY WAS OUR HOST AND WAS TERRIFIC AS ALWAYS...KIEV SUPPER AND THEN LIARS CLUB SHOW BY TOUR GUIDES LOTS OF FUN THEY MADE UP DEFINITIONS OF WORDS AND WE GUESSED WHAT THEY WERE...HOME MADE COOKIES AT 3 EVERY DAY...I HAVE A NICE SUPPLY...CAPTAIN KONSTANTIN ONLY ON BOARD 7 DAYS AS THE SHIP IS A HOTEL FOR 4 IN ST PETE AND 4 IN MOSCOW AND THE BOAT DOES NOT MOVE... NOW THIS IS NOT TRUE CPT K HERE FOR DURATION ...THREW MORE LOCKS THAT WORK LIKE A SWISS CLOCK...NO ROUGH WATERS...DO NOT LEAVE THE SHIP SUNDAY MORNING...SAVE THIS BEFORE THE COMPUTER GOES.
30 SEPTEMBER....NOW OCTOBER IN RUSSIA AS A WRITE SUNDAYS DAY...WONDERFUL AND OUR LAST DAY ON THE SHIP AS WE ARRIVE IN MOSCOW MONDAY NOON...SUNDAY GOT COLLEGE SCORES 0FF MACHINE...DID UGLICH WITH WONDERFUL GUIDE...CLOSE TO THE WATER...SHOPPING CENTER CHURCHES AND STUFF..... BOUGHT MY WALKING STICK DAY BEFORE AND USED IT TODAY...JANET BOUGHT SOME STUFF HOPE IT ALL GETS IN SUITCASE....MATRYOSKHKA DOLL PAINTERS DISPLAYED THEIR STUFF...BRILLIANT....MASSAGE AGAIN......IT WAS GOOD...92 MINUTES $106...SHIP BILL AND THIS SEPARATE...... WILL BE FUN ON THURSDAY...RUSSIAN LANGUAGE SESSION AFTER MASSAGE...JULIA PUT JANET AND MY NAME IN RUSSIAN ON THE BACK OF THE ID CARD...COOL...CAPTAINS FAREWELL DRINK HE IS EVERYWHERE EVERYDAY...CAPTAINS FAREWELL DINNER BEEF AND BAKED ALASKA...PARTY AND PICS...SURPRISE ENTERTAINMENT AFTER DINNER DECK FOUR..BIG CROWD...CREATIVE EFFORT BY TOUR GROUP LEADERS THEY ARE ALWAYS SO GREAT JANET LOVED IT...CAPTAIN KONSTANTIN THERE AS ALWAYS..TORMORROW THE KREMLIN..
1 OCOTBER WOKE UP THREW THE LOCKS...6 INTO MOSCOW ...AMAZING THE WAY THEY WORK..9 MINUTES TO FILL WITH WATER AND THEN MOVE OUT ..SAW LIKA AT ONE OF THEM YESTERDAY...ALSO GREAT DOG-CAT STAREDOWN AT UGLICH OUTSIDE A CHURCH...ABC ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL CHURCH. NOW IT IS THE LAST HALF HOUR OF OCT 1 JUST FINISHED NIGHT IN MOSCOW TOUR WILL FINISH THIS SAME DAY....ON SHIP ALL MORNING.......OPTIONAL TOUR PITCH...ALSO TALK OF MOSCOW...LUNCH AND ARRIVE MOSCOW ON TIKI AT 1310 WHAT A CITY 11 MILLION ITS BIRTH IN 1170...HISTORIC...CLEAN.... BUSY...INDUSTRIOUS...BEAUTIFUL....TOUR STARTED RIGHT AT SPOT WHERE THE NAZIS MADE IT TO...BUT NOT INTO MOSCOW....BASILS CATHERDAL...DID KREMLIN OUTSIDE...BUS TOUR...ZUKOV STATUTE ON A HORSE....HAS RIGHT FRONT FOOT OF THE HORSE ON A SWASTIKA...LOTS OF MEDALS ONE OF MY HEROS WHEN HE LEVELED BERLIN IN 1945...LOTS OF TRAFFIC FOR THE BUS ON WAY BACK TO BOAT....RED SQUARE NOT ALWAYS TOURABLE...ZEGENY SAID OF SEVEN ONLY THREE TOURS MADE IT ...WE DID...LOTS OF ACTION...LIGHT SHOW SET UP..SAW US EMBASSY..... BOLSHOI...FANCY HOTELS ALL ON THE MAIN DRAG...NOT FAR FROM BOAT...DINNER AND OFF TO MOSCOW AT SUNSET TOUR...ACTUALLY SHOULD BE MOSCOW AFTER SUNSET BECAUSE IT WAS A LIGHT TOUR..JANET SLEPT...NOT ME...WONDERFUL...NOT BAD TRAFFIC..LOVELY SIGHTS AND LIGHTS..CITY ACTIVE AT NIGHT WITH CONSTRUCTION AND PART OF LIGHT SHOW IN RED SQUARE...WE SAW SOME...LOVELY ...LOUD OF COURSE...NOT BAD TRAFFIC HOME...NOW MIDNIGHT.
2 OCTOBER WILL BE OFF TO BREAKFAST AND INTO THE KREMLIN FOR GUIDED TOUR TUESDAY...ALWAYS LOCAL GUIDES...ALWAYS GOOD...INFORMATIVE AND HELPFUL...WHAT AN EXPERIENCE THIS WAS QUICK TRIP IN...WE ARRIVEDEARLY TO SECURITY AND INTO INDOOR MUSEUM OF KREMLIN...FOUR HUNDRED YEAR OLD LUXURY FROM CZARS AND MONARCH AND COMMUNISTS AND OTHERS.... HISTORY...JEWELS..GOWNS...CHARIOTS...ARMOR...GUNS...EGGS...DIAMONDS..OPULENCE NOT TO BE BELIEVED....OUT DOOR WALK AND MORE PICTURES...PERFECT 50ISH DAY SUN..FEW CLOUDS...DRIVE TO DOWNTOWN HARD ROCK FOR LUNCH AND I SAT DOWN AT RANDOM UNDER PAUL...QUICK RIDE TO BOAT 4 O'CLOCK ....EAT AGAIN AT 5 AND OFF TOO MUSIC SHOW...TWO DAYS LEFT HERE....YET ANOTHER EARLY MEAL...GOOD....PAID FOR THE MASSAGE...VIDEO KURSK TO LENNINGRAD...LOTS OF TRAFFIC ON TRIP TO ZLATOUST SINGERS CONCERT...WORTH THE WAIT...PEED BEFORE WE LEFT PEED AS WE GOT THERE...PEEDD AFTER CONCERT PERFECT...A CAPLA MUSIC... 65 MINUTES ALL IN RUSSIAN...GREAT ARENA FOR 150 COLOSSAL PAINTINGS IN VENUE SOME...15 BY 30 AND BIGGER...BEAUTIFUL..HISTORIC STUFF AND OTHERS NOT SO BIG...NO DRUMS TONIGHT HEARD NOTES NEW TO MY EARS ...55 MINUTES BACK TO BUS...ALWAYS SAME ROUTE...JANET AND I ON SEPARATE TRIPS ON AM SCHEDULE...MOSCOW CIRCUS TOMORROW NIGHT AND LOTS OF EATING..ANOTHER HISTORIC DAY IN MY LIFE..JANET TOO...SHE IS TAKING MOST OF THE PICS
3 OCTOBER.... ITS ABOUT OVER ......MID AFTERNOON...DID LIGHT BREAKFAST JANET JEWISH TOUR...ME MUSEUM TOUR ALWAYS AN HOUR INTO MOSCOW AND AN HOUR BACK TO SHIP BUT IT WORKS GOOD...MUSEUM GREAT RUSSIAN STUFF...GOT A PUZZLE FOR JANETS MOM..BACK TO SHIP FOR ICKY LUNCH....POST TRIP DISEMBARKATION BRIEFING.... MINIMAL DUMB QUESTIONS...ANOTHER LUNCH BEFORE MOSCOW CIRUCS TONIGHT...DINNER AFTERWARD AND PAY BILLS ....TRIP TO CHURCH INTO TOWN THURSDAY MORNING...ITS OVER HOPE THE FLIGHTS GO WELL....NOT ALL FOR TODAY..... NOW BACK FROM MOSCOW CIRCUS...THIS AT THE NEXT LEVEL...2:28 HOURS WITH A 23 MINUTE INTERMISSION IN THEIR OWN THEATRE...SPECTACULAR...4 TRAINED POLAR BEARS ON ICE...A 3000 POUND TRAINED SEAL...5 RARE BREED DOUBLE HUMPED CAMELS...CIRQUE TYPE ACROBATS...BOXING KANGAROO...TERRIFIC ACTOR HE WAS...MARVELOUS...SAW 1980 OLYMPIC STADIUM IT WILL ALSO HOST 2018 WORLD CUP...REASONABLE TRAFFIC...BACK TO SHIP AT 2255....ALWAYS AN HOUR INTO TOWN FROM BOAT AND AN HOUR BACK AND WE ARE PRETTY MUCH BEATING THE GAME...THEN A MEAL JUST NOW AT 2300....ONE MORE TOUR TRIP OF MOSCOW THURSDAY...WAKE UP TO THE DEBATE...LEAVE SHIP FRIDAY AM AT 0500 FOR THE LONG PARIS TO LA TO LAS VEGAS FINALE...AIR FRANCE.
4 OCTOBER..... WE HAVE REACHED THE POINT WHERE THE TOUR DIRECTORS HAVE GPS ON THEIR PHONE PADS AND DIRECT THE BUS DRIVERS...MAYBE THE KANGAROO WAS THE BEST ACTOR AT THE MOSCOW CIRCUS LAST NIGHT ...CNN ALL OVER DEBATE LAST NIGHT...CLOSE TO THE LAST INTERNET...NOT TRUE...TRIP TO OLYMPIC STADIUM MOSCOW U AND ABC AND GRAVEYARD FOR FAMOUS FOLKS.....SHASTAKOVICH....RASTAPOVICH....YELTSIN...KRUSHEV....GOVENMENT HAS TO OK YOUR PLANING...SOME CREAMATIONS....HISTORIC....GREEN...WITH CHESTNUTS...BACK TO BOAT ANOTHER LUNCH BOUGHT PICS...FINISHED THIS DIALOGUE IN PIECES AS AVAILABLE AND WWII VETS TALK AT 1700 DINNER TO AIRPORT AT 0615 BEST TRIP EVER...BEST TOUR GUIDE...BEST ENTIRE STAFF ...BEST SCHEDULE....HOPE FOR FAST SAFE
17 SEPTEMBER ...MONDAY .........DAY TWO.......... PRETTY MUCH STILL NINE HOURS AHEAD....ACCIDENTALLY GOT INTO THE WOMENS SAUNA AT THE HOTEL...IT WAS EXCITING FOR 3 ORIENTAL WOMEN...GREAT BREAKFAST...PICKLED HERRING....36 AT ORIENTATION FOR THE DAY...WENT ON CITY OF HELSINKI BUS TOUR...GREAT OFFS AND ONS....CHURCH CUT OUT OF GRANITE WITH COPPER CIRCULAR ROOF...SEBILIUS CITY PARK MUSEUM...CHURCHS GOVERNMENTAL BUILDINGS....VIEW CITY TRAM...OPEN AIR SHOP MART...BOAT TOUR TO HISTORIC ISLAND WITH FORTS AND ROCK CASTLES NOW NAVY ACADEMY...14 MINUTES OVER AND BACK DID NOT GET SEA SICK...LOTS OF SEAGULL SHIT AROUND....LOTS OF COLORFUL MAPLE LEAVES HAVE HIT THE GROUND.....TOUR DINNER IN HOTEL...TOOK THREE HOURS...SALMON GOOD BUT AWFUL SLOW...BOUGHT SOME PEPSI AND NUTS...LIFE IS GREAT ..JANET STILL WITH ME. SOME GROUP OF 3 AT HOTEL HAD THEIR PASSPORTS AND CREDIT CARDS STOLEN..JANET TRIES TO HELP ON I NET...CAN'T BE TOO PARANOID....SAW 52 OLYMPIC STADIUM WITH STATUE OF PAVO NURMI IN FRONT....THE FLYING FINN.
19 SEPTEMBER.....BIG PICKLED HERRING ORANGE JUICE BREAKFAST....CITY TOUR ON BUS GREAT .....GUIDE THEN WALKED THRU OLD TOWN...SHOPS ON A HILL ...TALLINN A WALLED CITY 500 YEARS AGO.... SOME REMAINS....SHOPS, CHURCHES...GREEN....HAD THE ORGAN PRACTICING IN ONE....IT WAS SPECIAL....THEY DO THE HEAD SET SPEAKER SYSTEM VERY WELL TO HEAR THE GUIDE ...SHE HAD LOTS TO SAY....WALKED THE COBBLE STONES IN THE OLD CITY....LUNCH IN OUR ROOM....A TOO LONG NAP AND HOUR LECTURE BY OUR GUIDE ABOUT THE COUNTRY....SHE WAS GREAT ....ALL 37 OF OUR GROUP...IN ATTENDANCE SOME EVEN ON TIME.....DINNER FROM THE TOUR NEXT TO HOTEL...CHICKEN AND NEW FRIENDS....SHOULD BOND WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE AT EACH MEAL SETTING...DID 24TH FLOOR VIEWING...MOST OF THE RAIN GONE...GET OVER 200 DAYS OF RAIN HERE...HIGH TAXES...NAT GEO CHANNEL. JANET TAKING TONS OF PICS DAILY...HOPE TO SEE THEM I AM MOSTLY THE STAR...HUMBLY
20 SEPTEMBER.....THURSDAY...STILL 11 HOURS ..AHEAD...BREAKFAST...OPTIONAL TOUR WILL EAT BUFFET ON OUR OWN....LUNCH WITH TOUR...BREAKFAST NOW...MORE LATER
IT IS LATER...WHAT A GREAT DAY SO FAR....TRIP TO RURAL ESTONIA WHICH
RECREATES LIFE 200 YEARS AGO AND THE LIFESTYLE....WOOD LOG CABINS IN THE FOREST
WITH TOUR LECTURE...THEN TO THE FARM....DAIRY FARM....LUNCH...WITH VIDEO AND
LECTURE AND CHEESE FACTORY....APPLE ORCHARD...AT 545 WE GO TO MONASTERY AND
VISIT THE MONKS....MORE TO COME ....and NOW IT COMES GREAT LECTURE OF
TALLINN...WALK TO MONASTERY...WHAT A HOOT....STAIRS AND DOORS AND SHOPS AND
SLIDING PLATFORMS...VERTICAL....COLORED EGGS...HOME FOR M0NKS OFF AND ON....
JUST FOUR THO...WALK THRU TOWN TO PEPPER SACK FOR DINNER 4 STORIES...KITCHEN ON
EACH FLOOR....SWORD FIGHT ON THE STAIRS...PORK AND SAUERKRAUT...NICE...WALK HOME
A ROSE FOR EZGENY...
21 SEPTEMBER....FIRST ON THE BUS TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY...JANET NOT TO GET SICK ON THE TRIP BEHIND THE DRIVER....JUST AN HOUR.... FIRST STOP WE RODE THE SWINGS AND PEED...TWO HOURS TO ESTONIA RUSSIA BORDER GREAT CASTLE WALL MUSEUM AND A RAINBOW RIGHT ON THE BORDER.....GUIDE PREPARED US FOR A 2 TO 6 HOUR STOP....KGB ABSENT..... 90 MINUTES SLICK AS A CATS ASS....RAINED ALL THE WAY TO ST PETE...MORE GREAT GUIDE LECTURES ON HISTORY ON THE BUS....37 ON TRIP 32 PLAYED BIRTH DAY GAME ONLY ONE MATCH .....17 MARCH...ON BOARD THE SHIP....ROOM 106 FIRST FLOOR FIRST ROOM MANAGED TO PROCURE EXTRA HANGARS FOR JANET THEY HAVE CNN MSNBC MOVIES NOT BAD...... TV DINNER AT 7 NOT SUPER...ALLEGEDLY FREE HOME MADE COOKIES AT 3 EACH DAY...UNPACKING ..... JANET'S FAVORITE THING .... HERMITAGE TOMORROW...
GLAD TO LOG IN HERE DAILY WHILE MY THOUGHTS ARE FRESH
22 SEPTEMBER I GUESS ONE OF THE MANY GREAT DAYS OF MY LIFE....BREAKFAST...BUS TRIP THRU ST PETE TO ST ISAAC'S CATHEDRAL...ONE OF THE TREASURES OF THIS EARTH...EVERY BODY TAKING PICTURES...RARE SUNNY DAY...NICE LUNCH GREAT GUIDE AND THE HERMITAGE....THE REAL TREASURE OF THIS EARTH...WE STAYED LONGER THAN MOST.... EVERYTHING ON EARTH....PAINTINGS 5OO YEARS OLD...... MARBLE....CEILINGS ...TAPESTRY...HISTORY....PORTRAITS...1100 ROOMS TELLS THE STORY......DINNER....SUNDAY TCHIAKOVSKY'S GRAVE PETER HOFF..
21 SEPTEMBER....FIRST ON THE BUS TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY...JANET NOT TO GET SICK ON THE TRIP BEHIND THE DRIVER....JUST AN HOUR.... FIRST STOP WE RODE THE SWINGS AND PEED...TWO HOURS TO ESTONIA RUSSIA BORDER GREAT CASTLE WALL MUSEUM AND A RAINBOW RIGHT ON THE BORDER.....GUIDE PREPARED US FOR A 2 TO 6 HOUR STOP....KGB ABSENT..... 90 MINUTES SLICK AS A CATS ASS....RAINED ALL THE WAY TO ST PETE...MORE GREAT GUIDE LECTURES ON HISTORY ON THE BUS....37 ON TRIP 32 PLAYED BIRTH DAY GAME ONLY ONE MATCH .....17 MARCH...ON BOARD THE SHIP....ROOM 106 FIRST FLOOR FIRST ROOM MANAGED TO PROCURE EXTRA HANGARS FOR JANET THEY HAVE CNN MSNBC MOVIES NOT BAD...... TV DINNER AT 7 NOT SUPER...ALLEGEDLY FREE HOME MADE COOKIES AT 3 EACH DAY...UNPACKING ..... JANET'S FAVORITE THING .... HERMITAGE TOMORROW...
GLAD TO LOG IN HERE DAILY WHILE MY THOUGHTS ARE FRESH
22 SEPTEMBER I GUESS ONE OF THE MANY GREAT DAYS OF MY LIFE....BREAKFAST...BUS TRIP THRU ST PETE TO ST ISAAC'S CATHEDRAL...ONE OF THE TREASURES OF THIS EARTH...EVERY BODY TAKING PICTURES...RARE SUNNY DAY...NICE LUNCH GREAT GUIDE AND THE HERMITAGE....THE REAL TREASURE OF THIS EARTH...WE STAYED LONGER THAN MOST.... EVERYTHING ON EARTH....PAINTINGS 5OO YEARS OLD...... MARBLE....CEILINGS ...TAPESTRY...HISTORY....PORTRAITS...1100 ROOMS TELLS THE STORY......DINNER....SUNDAY TCHIAKOVSKY'S GRAVE PETER HOFF..
23 SEPTEMBER 8 AM HERE ....DON BEST SPORTS LIVE SCORES ON INET.... HALFTIME OF UNLV GAME....CAPTAIN GREETS US EVERY TRIP OFF AND ON THE SHIP....GREAT VIDEO LAST NIGHT ON RUSSIAN REVOLUTION...BLACK AND WHITE ORIGINAL STUFF FROM 1921....PROPAGANDA...LENIN STALIN TROTSKY...LOVELY HAT TRICK.
TCHIAKOVSKY'S GRAVE....AND SWAN LAKE AND MORE.....SOME KIND OF GREAT DAY...ST CATHERINES PALACE...TONS OF GOLD PLATING IN THE REBUILT PALACE WITH GARDENS....A QUINTET OF ONE SONG....SAW A WEDDING IN THE RAIN...WEDDING NUMBER TWO....LUNCH ON BOARD....TCHIAKOVSKY 1840-1893....$50 CAB RIDE ADMISSION TO CEMETERY ...A HOOT AND THE BALLET ...SWAN LAKE WONDERFUL...IT WAS 2.21...TWO INTERMISSIONS...... 1 MINUTE LATE...CLASS MUSIC...GREAT COSTUMES 400 THEATRE...EXCELLENT PRODUCTION DANCING B-...THIS MONDAY MORNING HERE.
24 SEPTEMBER....EVERY MORNING NEWS BULLETIN AT SHIP LIBRARY....12 HOURS AHEAD OF LAS VEGAS...EVERY NIGHT AFTER DINNER BEDS TURNED DOWN WITH A MINT ON THE PILLOW....END ST PETERSBURG TUESDAY....TODAY PETER AND PAUL FORTRESS...CONSTANTLY REMODELING...ANOTHER CHURCHISH TYPE CATHEDRAL......SHOPPING MALL REST STOP...ON TO MAIN DRAG IN ST PETE...MET TOUR GUIDES MOTHER...SHE IS THE ONLY ONE WE MET WHO SMOKES...WALKED STRIP ST CATHERINES STATUE...PICTURES FROM MANY ANGLES....PETERHOF TOUR...AMAZING FOUNTAINS ALL BY GRAVITY..LOTS OF PICTURES...HAD OUR SECOND SUNNY DAY ...THEY ONLY GET 60 DAYS OF SUN HERE...JUST MARVELOUS TOUR....NICE SUPPER AS ALWAYS MET NEW FOLKS WHICH IS THE MISSION...TEN YEAR OLD VIDEO BIOGRAPHY ON TV FROM HARRY SMITH ABOUT PETER THE GREAT..EXCELLENT....NO BUILDING IN ST PETE TALLER THAN 93 FEET...LEAVE OUR WONDERFUL TOUR GUIDE GIZEL TUESDAY...YES...ANOTHER OUTSTANDING DAY IN MY LIFE WITH JANET....
25 SEPTEMBER....TOUR OF YUSHOV PALACE...A TRIP NICE...BACK FOR LUNCH.....TRIP TO A MUSIC SCHOOL...OUTSTANDING...30 MINUTE CONCERT MET THE KIDS...BROUGHT GIFTS....VIDEO ON RUSSIA AND WW11 ...CAPTAINS COCKTAILS....SHIP NOW LEFT AFTER 4 NITES IN ST PETE..... RATHER THAN HOTELS STAY ON SHIP IN MOSCOW AND ST PETE...CAPTAINS DINNER...DRESS UP..... 5 HENS ONE ROOSTER AT OUR TABLE...PIANO CONCERT AT 915 ...GOING NOW....MORE GREAT STUFF...PIANO AND 3 STEEL STRING BALA LIKA INSTRUMENT....BIG CROWD ZEGENY HOSTED...PERFECT...JANET MISSED IT
26 SEPTEMBER....OVER NIGHT BOAT TRIP ACROSS LAKE...A TAD BUMPY...NOT BAD...FIRST LOCK..GREAT FAST ...TEN MINUTES...HAMMER AND CYCLE SYMBOL AND ROSES AND APPLE TREES ON DOCK...GORGEOUS DAY TO TRAVEL FLAT CLEAR CLEAN WATER ..BEAUTY ON SIDES WITH TREES AND LEAVES MOSTLY BIRCH FIRST CYCLE FOREST...LOTS OF MAPLE LEAFS IN RUSSIA NOT AT HOME ...VISIT TO THE CITY NOW ITS PIROZHKI...DAILY ITENERERY IN ROOM AFTER SUPPER EACH NIGHT...WOMAN 85 TOLD HER STORY WITH TEA AND CRACKERS IN HER LITTLE HOME...LIVES ALONE AFTER THE WAR...LOST HER HUSBAND...DAUGHTER OLGA HELPED THE VISIT..... SHE LIKES NICHOLAS CAGE...I WILL SAY HELLO FOR HER NEITHER SPOKE ENGLISH...LOVELY WALK GARDEN FLOWERS CLOSE TO THE BOAT....RUSSIAN TRADITIONAL DINNER ATE WITH NEW FOLKS...RUSSIAN COSTUME CONTEST AND GREAT FUN SHOW ON TOP DECK...ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THURSDAY SCHEDULE CHANGED ITS ORDER TO ACCOMODATE POSSIBLE ROUGH WATERS....LOCK TWO LAST NIGHT...... BIG NOT QUITE AS FAST AS LOCK ONE...NO RAIN TODAY..
27 SEPTEMBER....ALWAYS UP AT 7 TO COMPUTER AT 8 BREAKFAST AND GO AT NINE..CHANGE IN PLANS TO ROUGH WATER....ISLAND VISIT WITH
LOG CABIN SETTLEMENT REDONE CHURCH CLOSED TO RENOVATION...TRIVIA CONTEST...JANET WON ...FREE CHAMPAGNE...WE SHARED WITH 8 FANS FROM GEORGIA....INTERLOPER JOINED US FOR TABLE OF 12 ON 10 SETUPS...PIANO CONCERT 50 MINUTES GREAT......SCHEDULE CHANGE DUE TO ROUGH WATERS RESET YESTERDAY AND TODAY BUT WE GOT THE SAME STUFF...THIS DAY FOLK CONCERT MUSIC..DANCE...SONGS..GOT A VIOLIN INTO IT...SENSATIONAL DANCERS BETTER THAN AT SWAN LAKE..... AGAIN ON A SMALL STUDENT TEACHING CENTER STAGE UPSTAIRS...MUSIC STOPPED DURING FIRST DANCE ...THEY NEVER MISSED A STEP OR BEAT OR MOVE ...AMONG HIGHLITES OF THE TOUR ..JANET WAS IN THE FRONT ROW AND SHE SAID THE DANCE CAPTAIN STARTED A COUNT IT WAS SPECIAL...QUESTION ANSWER...SEA SICK PILLS MUST HAVE WORKED...TOMORROW CITY WALK TOUR....ALMOST AN ALTERNATIVE TOUR AT EACH STOP...4 YET TO GO IN MOSCOW...FIGURED $1100 THERE...MONEY WELL SPENT WE WILL NEVER BE BACK. ISLAND TOUR ON KIZHI...JANET BOUGHT A RING AND I GOT A SHOT GLASS FOR MIKE SHAFFER...MISS HANDBALL
28 SEPTEMBER...... HOME A WEEK FROM TODAY.....CITY TOUR OF PETROZAVODSK....SHORT OK UNEVENTFUL ETERNAL FLAME...RURAL CITY 200,000...PREPARE FOR ROUGH BOAT RIDE....LUCKILY IT DID NOT OCCUR...DID PILLS...PIANO MUSIC PRIOR TO LUNCH ....NOW RUSSIAN CUISINE PRESENTATION ON SHIP...DID DUMPLINGS ..NICE....THIS IS A SHIP MS TIKHI DON REFURBISHED...FROM 350 ROOMS TO 216 YOU CAN PUT A BOAT ON A SHIP BUT NOT A SHIP ON A BOAT THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE...A SUB IS A BOAT...CAPTAINS BRIDGE VISIT...WONDERFUL...HE HITS AN ICON DOT ON HIS COMPUTER AND IT TELLS ME WHAT SHIP IS NEARBY AND ALL ITS STATS...COMMUNICATION ALL IN RUSSIAN...CAPT KONSTAINTAN WORLD CLASS...OUR GUIDE ZEGENY DID 91 MINUTE STANDUP NO NOTES ON MODERN RUSSIAN HISTORY...MODERN IS 1917 TO NOW...DINNER A BUFFET A RUSSIAN BUFFETT...LOVELY SOFT WATER TRIP DURING THE LAKE THRU THE LOCKS DURING THE TALK...EVEN A SUNSET AROUND 7...LOTS OF LOCKS...THRU THEM IN A HURRY .....IN ONE A COAL SHIP IN FRONT AND IN BACK...AMAZING HOW EFFICIENT THEY WORK AND QUICK AND UP AND DOWN A BIG DISTANCE...MAYBE OVER 40 FEET.....COMPUTERS OFF YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AND NO TV FOR A WHILE YESTERDAY...BACK SATURDAY MORNING AS I WRITE THIS...AFTER SAUER KRAUT AND SAUSAGE AND LOTS OF 0THER GOODIES...63 MINUTE DOMRA AND ACCORDIAN CONCERT ...WORLD CLASS STUFF...DOMRA PLAYER TERRIFIC AND ACCORDIAN PLAYER WITH 200 BUTTON INSTRUMENT JUST OUT OF SCHOOL AND HAD GREAT EXPRESSIONS WITH HIS PLAYING IT WENT WELL...WORLD CLASS STUFF...LAST CONCERT...EVEN JANET LIKED IT....ONLY ONE OFF SHIP STOP SATURDAY.
29 SEPTEMBER .... IT IS SUNDAY MORNING HERE...PLAYING HIT AND MISS WITH COMPUTER....LOTS OF MISS...GLAD TO BE ON..... CHECKED FB SCORES AND HAVE BEEN REPORTING PREVIOUS DAYS EVENTS....ON SHIP IN THE MORNING AND MADE BELIMIS...GREAT KOLACHISH LIKE PASTRY...OFF SHIP AT GORITSKY FOR TOUR..BOUGHT MY CANE AND 2 T SHIRTS...WENT TO MONASTERY...AFTER THAT A PAINTING CLASS...RUSSIANS HAVE THESE LITTLE DOLL INSIDE OF DOLL WOOD STATUES AND SOMETIMES LOTS INSIDE UP TO 15...ANYWAY JOHN MASTALIR INTO WATER COLORS..MANAGED TO GET SOME ON ME..FUN..THEN VODKA TASTING JANET PARTOOK...ZEGENY WAS OUR HOST AND WAS TERRIFIC AS ALWAYS...KIEV SUPPER AND THEN LIARS CLUB SHOW BY TOUR GUIDES LOTS OF FUN THEY MADE UP DEFINITIONS OF WORDS AND WE GUESSED WHAT THEY WERE...HOME MADE COOKIES AT 3 EVERY DAY...I HAVE A NICE SUPPLY...CAPTAIN KONSTANTIN ONLY ON BOARD 7 DAYS AS THE SHIP IS A HOTEL FOR 4 IN ST PETE AND 4 IN MOSCOW AND THE BOAT DOES NOT MOVE... NOW THIS IS NOT TRUE CPT K HERE FOR DURATION ...THREW MORE LOCKS THAT WORK LIKE A SWISS CLOCK...NO ROUGH WATERS...DO NOT LEAVE THE SHIP SUNDAY MORNING...SAVE THIS BEFORE THE COMPUTER GOES.
30 SEPTEMBER....NOW OCTOBER IN RUSSIA AS A WRITE SUNDAYS DAY...WONDERFUL AND OUR LAST DAY ON THE SHIP AS WE ARRIVE IN MOSCOW MONDAY NOON...SUNDAY GOT COLLEGE SCORES 0FF MACHINE...DID UGLICH WITH WONDERFUL GUIDE...CLOSE TO THE WATER...SHOPPING CENTER CHURCHES AND STUFF..... BOUGHT MY WALKING STICK DAY BEFORE AND USED IT TODAY...JANET BOUGHT SOME STUFF HOPE IT ALL GETS IN SUITCASE....MATRYOSKHKA DOLL PAINTERS DISPLAYED THEIR STUFF...BRILLIANT....MASSAGE AGAIN......IT WAS GOOD...92 MINUTES $106...SHIP BILL AND THIS SEPARATE...... WILL BE FUN ON THURSDAY...RUSSIAN LANGUAGE SESSION AFTER MASSAGE...JULIA PUT JANET AND MY NAME IN RUSSIAN ON THE BACK OF THE ID CARD...COOL...CAPTAINS FAREWELL DRINK HE IS EVERYWHERE EVERYDAY...CAPTAINS FAREWELL DINNER BEEF AND BAKED ALASKA...PARTY AND PICS...SURPRISE ENTERTAINMENT AFTER DINNER DECK FOUR..BIG CROWD...CREATIVE EFFORT BY TOUR GROUP LEADERS THEY ARE ALWAYS SO GREAT JANET LOVED IT...CAPTAIN KONSTANTIN THERE AS ALWAYS..TORMORROW THE KREMLIN..
1 OCOTBER WOKE UP THREW THE LOCKS...6 INTO MOSCOW ...AMAZING THE WAY THEY WORK..9 MINUTES TO FILL WITH WATER AND THEN MOVE OUT ..SAW LIKA AT ONE OF THEM YESTERDAY...ALSO GREAT DOG-CAT STAREDOWN AT UGLICH OUTSIDE A CHURCH...ABC ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL CHURCH. NOW IT IS THE LAST HALF HOUR OF OCT 1 JUST FINISHED NIGHT IN MOSCOW TOUR WILL FINISH THIS SAME DAY....ON SHIP ALL MORNING.......OPTIONAL TOUR PITCH...ALSO TALK OF MOSCOW...LUNCH AND ARRIVE MOSCOW ON TIKI AT 1310 WHAT A CITY 11 MILLION ITS BIRTH IN 1170...HISTORIC...CLEAN.... BUSY...INDUSTRIOUS...BEAUTIFUL....TOUR STARTED RIGHT AT SPOT WHERE THE NAZIS MADE IT TO...BUT NOT INTO MOSCOW....BASILS CATHERDAL...DID KREMLIN OUTSIDE...BUS TOUR...ZUKOV STATUTE ON A HORSE....HAS RIGHT FRONT FOOT OF THE HORSE ON A SWASTIKA...LOTS OF MEDALS ONE OF MY HEROS WHEN HE LEVELED BERLIN IN 1945...LOTS OF TRAFFIC FOR THE BUS ON WAY BACK TO BOAT....RED SQUARE NOT ALWAYS TOURABLE...ZEGENY SAID OF SEVEN ONLY THREE TOURS MADE IT ...WE DID...LOTS OF ACTION...LIGHT SHOW SET UP..SAW US EMBASSY..... BOLSHOI...FANCY HOTELS ALL ON THE MAIN DRAG...NOT FAR FROM BOAT...DINNER AND OFF TO MOSCOW AT SUNSET TOUR...ACTUALLY SHOULD BE MOSCOW AFTER SUNSET BECAUSE IT WAS A LIGHT TOUR..JANET SLEPT...NOT ME...WONDERFUL...NOT BAD TRAFFIC..LOVELY SIGHTS AND LIGHTS..CITY ACTIVE AT NIGHT WITH CONSTRUCTION AND PART OF LIGHT SHOW IN RED SQUARE...WE SAW SOME...LOVELY ...LOUD OF COURSE...NOT BAD TRAFFIC HOME...NOW MIDNIGHT.
2 OCTOBER WILL BE OFF TO BREAKFAST AND INTO THE KREMLIN FOR GUIDED TOUR TUESDAY...ALWAYS LOCAL GUIDES...ALWAYS GOOD...INFORMATIVE AND HELPFUL...WHAT AN EXPERIENCE THIS WAS QUICK TRIP IN...WE ARRIVEDEARLY TO SECURITY AND INTO INDOOR MUSEUM OF KREMLIN...FOUR HUNDRED YEAR OLD LUXURY FROM CZARS AND MONARCH AND COMMUNISTS AND OTHERS.... HISTORY...JEWELS..GOWNS...CHARIOTS...ARMOR...GUNS...EGGS...DIAMONDS..OPULENCE NOT TO BE BELIEVED....OUT DOOR WALK AND MORE PICTURES...PERFECT 50ISH DAY SUN..FEW CLOUDS...DRIVE TO DOWNTOWN HARD ROCK FOR LUNCH AND I SAT DOWN AT RANDOM UNDER PAUL...QUICK RIDE TO BOAT 4 O'CLOCK ....EAT AGAIN AT 5 AND OFF TOO MUSIC SHOW...TWO DAYS LEFT HERE....YET ANOTHER EARLY MEAL...GOOD....PAID FOR THE MASSAGE...VIDEO KURSK TO LENNINGRAD...LOTS OF TRAFFIC ON TRIP TO ZLATOUST SINGERS CONCERT...WORTH THE WAIT...PEED BEFORE WE LEFT PEED AS WE GOT THERE...PEEDD AFTER CONCERT PERFECT...A CAPLA MUSIC... 65 MINUTES ALL IN RUSSIAN...GREAT ARENA FOR 150 COLOSSAL PAINTINGS IN VENUE SOME...15 BY 30 AND BIGGER...BEAUTIFUL..HISTORIC STUFF AND OTHERS NOT SO BIG...NO DRUMS TONIGHT HEARD NOTES NEW TO MY EARS ...55 MINUTES BACK TO BUS...ALWAYS SAME ROUTE...JANET AND I ON SEPARATE TRIPS ON AM SCHEDULE...MOSCOW CIRCUS TOMORROW NIGHT AND LOTS OF EATING..ANOTHER HISTORIC DAY IN MY LIFE..JANET TOO...SHE IS TAKING MOST OF THE PICS
3 OCTOBER.... ITS ABOUT OVER ......MID AFTERNOON...DID LIGHT BREAKFAST JANET JEWISH TOUR...ME MUSEUM TOUR ALWAYS AN HOUR INTO MOSCOW AND AN HOUR BACK TO SHIP BUT IT WORKS GOOD...MUSEUM GREAT RUSSIAN STUFF...GOT A PUZZLE FOR JANETS MOM..BACK TO SHIP FOR ICKY LUNCH....POST TRIP DISEMBARKATION BRIEFING.... MINIMAL DUMB QUESTIONS...ANOTHER LUNCH BEFORE MOSCOW CIRUCS TONIGHT...DINNER AFTERWARD AND PAY BILLS ....TRIP TO CHURCH INTO TOWN THURSDAY MORNING...ITS OVER HOPE THE FLIGHTS GO WELL....NOT ALL FOR TODAY..... NOW BACK FROM MOSCOW CIRCUS...THIS AT THE NEXT LEVEL...2:28 HOURS WITH A 23 MINUTE INTERMISSION IN THEIR OWN THEATRE...SPECTACULAR...4 TRAINED POLAR BEARS ON ICE...A 3000 POUND TRAINED SEAL...5 RARE BREED DOUBLE HUMPED CAMELS...CIRQUE TYPE ACROBATS...BOXING KANGAROO...TERRIFIC ACTOR HE WAS...MARVELOUS...SAW 1980 OLYMPIC STADIUM IT WILL ALSO HOST 2018 WORLD CUP...REASONABLE TRAFFIC...BACK TO SHIP AT 2255....ALWAYS AN HOUR INTO TOWN FROM BOAT AND AN HOUR BACK AND WE ARE PRETTY MUCH BEATING THE GAME...THEN A MEAL JUST NOW AT 2300....ONE MORE TOUR TRIP OF MOSCOW THURSDAY...WAKE UP TO THE DEBATE...LEAVE SHIP FRIDAY AM AT 0500 FOR THE LONG PARIS TO LA TO LAS VEGAS FINALE...AIR FRANCE.
4 OCTOBER..... WE HAVE REACHED THE POINT WHERE THE TOUR DIRECTORS HAVE GPS ON THEIR PHONE PADS AND DIRECT THE BUS DRIVERS...MAYBE THE KANGAROO WAS THE BEST ACTOR AT THE MOSCOW CIRCUS LAST NIGHT ...CNN ALL OVER DEBATE LAST NIGHT...CLOSE TO THE LAST INTERNET...NOT TRUE...TRIP TO OLYMPIC STADIUM MOSCOW U AND ABC AND GRAVEYARD FOR FAMOUS FOLKS.....SHASTAKOVICH....RASTAPOVICH....YELTSIN...KRUSHEV....GOVENMENT HAS TO OK YOUR PLANING...SOME CREAMATIONS....HISTORIC....GREEN...WITH CHESTNUTS...BACK TO BOAT ANOTHER LUNCH BOUGHT PICS...FINISHED THIS DIALOGUE IN PIECES AS AVAILABLE AND WWII VETS TALK AT 1700 DINNER TO AIRPORT AT 0615 BEST TRIP EVER...BEST TOUR GUIDE...BEST ENTIRE STAFF ...BEST SCHEDULE....HOPE FOR FAST SAFE
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