Tiddly Carvings?! - A Baltic Cruise: Day 8 - St Petersburg, Russia (2)

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Index

Today’s Navigator


We had a full day of touring planned for today so we were up at 7:15, had breakfast, met up with Tammy and were off the ship by 8:40. We met up with Helen and Dimitri and, after stopping just outside the port to pay for the two days touring, set off for a continued city tour.

First stop today was at the Sphinxes on the English Embankment, which was just a photo stop.

From there we went to the Saint Peter And Paul’s Fortress and into the Saint Peter And Paul’s Cathedral, which contains the burial places of the Russian Royal Family.

Continued in next post

 

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We left there at 11:25 and went round to the Aurora Cruiser, whose gun was fired to signal the start of the Russian Revolution.

Next stop was the Church of the Spilt Blood, so called because it is built over the site of the assassination of Alexander the Second.

The original cobblestones of the assassination spot are still there behind the gold railing

Continued in next post

 

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We left the Church of the Spilt Blood and Helen took us to a local farmer’s market where we had a chance to walk round and look at the fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and cheese products on sale.

From the farmer’s market we went to Catherine’s Palace, where we spent an hour and a half walking round the various rooms.

This ballroom would normally be empty but there was an economic forum in town this weekend and a celebratory dinner was being held here

Continued in next post

 

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We left Catherine’s Palace at 3:20 and made the hour long drive to the gardens at Peterhof where we walked round admiring the various fountains.

Continued in next post

 

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From Peterhof we returned to Saint Petersburg where Helen took us to a local souvenir shop, which was off the main tourist path and could easily be missed but it meant we were the only ones in there and could have a good look around. Of course we had to buy a set of Matryoshka dolls

We left the souvenir shop at 7:35 and returned to the ship, getting back on board at 8:10. We went straight down to dinner, which tonight was in Lumiere’s. I started off with the Citrico’s Shrimp, Dad had bruschetta, I followed up with Pea soup while Dad had beef tomatoes then we both had pheasant followed by sticky toffee pudding for both of us plus Dad had an ice cream sundae.

We just had time for a quick brandy each before going up to the Walt Disney Theatre for the 11:00 showing of Toy Story 3 in 3D. Despite the packed day I still thoroughly enjoyed the film and can highly recommend it.

As we were now going back the way we came the clocks went back one hour tonight so we were in bed at 1:15 (00:15) knowing that we had an afternoon excursion booked for Helsinki tomorrow so no need to be up early.

Day 9

 

[irongirlof12]

everything is so ornate and gilt, can't beat a bit of bling!
I am jealous that you have seen toy story 3 in , what a fun packed day.

 

[Madisonznana]

I am so enjoying your trip report. The pictures are fanastic!

 

[wickesy]

I am so enjoying your trip report. The pictures are fanastic!

Thanks Karen. Not long now and you will actually be there rather than looking at pictures.

 

[Madisonznana]

Thanks Karen. Not long now and you will actually be there rather than looking at pictures.

I can hardly wait!!

 

[Kouris_Family]

Beautiful Pictures and Beautiful Posts, thanks for keeping us informed.
Can you tell me how much your Russian Nesting Dolls were?
That is all I want to purchase, well an ornament too.
Kay

 

[mandymouse]

More great photos David Lucky you seeing Toy Story 3

 

[TotallyAngelic]

WOW ... those interiors are stunning ... so ornate. Your photos have captured it all so well. It all looks so beautiful and opulent.

Have you posted your trip report over on the DCL trip reports board ... I'm sure many people there would love to read it. ( or you could probably just post a link to your index or something ) Maybe you have already done this, but I just think your report is so good and the photos so stunnin that they deserve the widest DIS audience

 

[disney_princess_85]

Again, beautiful buildings. Just amazing.

 

[suzycute]

Amazing photos!! I would LOVE to have a trip there!

 

[PJB71]

Another full day David lovely picture

 

[wickesy]

Beautiful Pictures and Beautiful Posts, thanks for keeping us informed.
Can you tell me how much your Russian Nesting Dolls were?
That is all I want to purchase, well an ornament too.
Kay

I don't have a note of how much the dolls were but the dolls, a fridge magnet and one or two other bits came to 4685 roubles, which is about $150

EDIT: Actually we paid part cash/part credit card and the total was over 10,000 roubles, the bulk of which was the dolls.

WOW ... those interiors are stunning ... so ornate. Your photos have captured it all so well. It all looks so beautiful and opulent.

Have you posted your trip report over on the DCL trip reports board ... I'm sure many people there would love to read it. ( or you could probably just post a link to your index or something ) Maybe you have already done this, but I just think your report is so good and the photos so stunnin that they deserve the widest DIS audience

Thank you Sarah. I've posted a link to the index on the Baltic planning thread for those that are following us and once I've finished all the reports I'm going to post a link to the index on the DCL trip reports board.

More great photos David Lucky you seeing Toy Story 3

That was one of the main things I was looking forward to and I'm glad we got to see it just after opening day in the US.

Amazing photos!!

lovely picture

Thanks!

 

[Chilly]

breathtaking city

 

[jjk]

fantastic day, love the dolls you bought

 

[florida sun]

Fabulous day, that Palace is stunning

 

[CustardTart]

OK. It's official. I've now decided that IF DCL do a Baltic cruise in the future, I'll definitely be on it!!! My worry for this one was predominately the weather (I'm such a baby) but so far so good. Plus I have always wanted to see the Church of the Spilt Blood... And Toy Story 3 - what a result!!!