29 Jun 2009 Mon St. Petersburg, Russia 8:00 PM Depart
June 29, 2009 - Leave a Response
Today we are going on tour to visit three famous Cathedrals. Hopefully I will be able to blog more later!
St. Petersburg, Russia
| Shopping |
| There are plenty of opportunities for souvenir shopping around St. Isaac’s Square. The market near the Spilled Blood Cathedral offers everything from matrioshka dolls to hand-painted lacquer boxes in a wide range of quality and prices. The local currency is the ruble. |
| Cuisine |
| Service and quality may not be up to Western standards at all times. If you dine ashore, accept graciously the service of the establishment and respect the limitations the country is experiencing with certain items. There are numerous new restaurants in St. Petersburg, many of which are located inside the better hotels. Be aware that restaurants charge premium prices. |
Pat Wilcock
Leisure Travel Consultant
Hurley Travel Experts
415 Cumberland Avenue
Portland, ME 04101
pwilcock@travelexperts.com
207 874 7400 or 800 874 1743
Direct line- 207 523 3509
http://www.hurleytravelexperts.com/
Cruises are a wonderful travel value and offer lifelong memories and experiences.
A Virtuoso and BCD Travel Company
Pat Wilcock
28 Jun 2009 Sun St. Petersburg, Russia
June 29, 2009 - Leave a Response
Pat Wilcock
We are up early for a quick breakfast and a tour of the Hermitage. We had the same guide today as we had last night. Anastasia teaches English as her primary profession and is very easy to understand . The Hermitage opened early to accommodate our cruise group. The tour was very informative and we enjoyed amazing art for about 2 hours before coming back to the ship for lunch.
“A Silversea voyage is not just a trip from point A to point B. It is much more of an exploration. Discovering new places, whether it be a new city or state of mind, that you never knew existed. It is about finding new cultures, opening yourself up to new experiences and adventures.” Silversea Cruises Website
Pat Wilcock
Leisure Travel Consultant
Hurley Travel Experts
415 Cumberland Avenue
Portland, ME 04101
pwilcock@travelexperts.com
207 874 7400 or 800 874 1743
Direct line- 207 523 3509
http://www.hurleytravelexperts.com/
Cruises are a wonderful travel value and offer lifelong memories and experiences.
A Virtuoso and BCD Travel Company
27 Jun 2009 Sat St. Petersburg, Russia 11:00 AM Arrive
June 29, 2009 - Leave a Response
 Pat Wilcock We arrived St Petersburg around 11 am. It was overcast and dreary and later we learned that St. Petersburg has only 30 days a year without rain. The port is located about 30-40 minutes from downtown St Petersburg. Silverseas opened the dining room early for the guests attending the ballet. This was one of the benefits and example of Silverseas flexibility and level of service for their guests. At 7pm we went to the Palace Theatre to see the ballet performance of Swan Lake. We had seats in the 6throw center and received a double treat since the symphony performed the music. The sets, the costumes and the ballet performance were wonderful. During the second intermission we attend a special champagne party for Silversea’s guests . After the ballet we had a chance to talk with one of the prima ballerinas and ask her questions about her training and experience. Upon our return to the ship there was a special buffet
St. Petersburg, Russia
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| Founded by Peter the Great in 1703, this beautiful city became the designated capital of Imperial Russia from 1712 to 1914 and has remained the country’s cultural capital. The tsar’s brainchild was built according to his plans after draining swampland on the Gulf of Finland. His friends were required to construct their palaces along these newly created canals. The result was a gateway to the West and a distinctly European metropolis with baroque and neo-classical mansions. St. Petersburg’s new cultural life attracted such great figures as Pushkin, Dostoyevsky, Tchaikovsky and Tolstoy.At the start of World War I, the city’s name was changed to Petrograd; in 1924, it was renamed Leningrad in honour of the USSR’s first premier, Vladimir Lenin. During World War II, Leningrad heroically endured a siege by the Nazis for 900 days during which nearly one million people perished. The remaining brave but battered population did not fully recover until the 1960s.Following 75 years of communist rule, the political upheaval and subsequent changes in 1991 truly astonished the world and brought a new outlook to this city. In the wake of ensuing events, Leningrad reclaimed its original name, St. Petersburg, and started an ambitious project to restore the city to its former glory.St. Petersburg is Russia’s second largest city and the country’s principal seaport. It boasts opulent palaces, fine theatres and ballet companies, as well as some of the world’s best art museums. Many of the city’s monuments represent an important facet of the country’s rich historical and cultural heritage. The legendary Hermitage contains some of the world’s most magnificent art treasures, including a unique collection of jewellery in the Gold and Diamond Rooms. |
Pat Wilcock
Leisure Travel Consultant
Hurley Travel Experts
415 Cumberland Avenue
Portland, ME 04101
pwilcock@travelexperts.com
207 874 7400 or 800 874 1743
Direct line- 207 523 3509
http://www.hurleytravelexperts.com/
Cruises are a wonderful travel value and offer lifelong memories and experiences.
A Virtuoso and BCD Travel Company
