Bit of a blog – Legend of the Seas - Ultimate Scandinavia & Russia – June 18th 2014

[NorbertsNiece]

The Tsar Bell

 

 

 

The best ice cream!!

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

I manage to enter one church and sit out another..... really tired now.

 

We head for the Moscow Metro

 

 

 

 

Spotless and ornate

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

A very deep escalator shaft

 

 

 

 

 

Moscow train station..... the Costa sign means I can get decaf!!

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

 

 

This ad was in the train magazine...... Jamie Oliver is a UK Celebrity Chef.... he will be catering on Quantum Class....

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Back in St Petersburg

 

 

About 0030

 

 

 

What a brilliant, exhausting and adventure filled day!!

[CruiseMGM]

Back in St Petersburg

 

<snip>

 

What a brilliant, exhausting and adventure filled day!!

 

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh WOW, Linda, just absolute WOW! We have sincerely enjoyed being a vicarious part of your trip. The pictures are fabulous and we're even MORE excited for our Serenade Baltic tour next June. We're setting up with Alla for days 1 & 3 in St. Petersburg and day 2 in Moscow, so we've been especially interested in these posts. Thank you so much for posting everything!

 

Best wishes!

[NorbertsNiece]

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh WOW, Linda, just absolute WOW! We have sincerely enjoyed being a vicarious part of your trip. The pictures are fabulous and we're even MORE excited for our Serenade Baltic tour next June. We're setting up with Alla for days 1 & 3 in St. Petersburg and day 2 in Moscow, so we've been especially interested in these posts. Thank you so much for posting everything!

 

Best wishes!

 

Alla's following this blog :D

Здравствуйте Алла!

[KeywestK]

What an outstanding blog this has been, Linda. All of these pictures are, without exception, the best I've ever seen on CC, and I've seen a lot! Thank you for sharing this amazing experience with us!

[NorbertsNiece]

What an outstanding blog this has been, Linda. All of these pictures are, without exception, the best I've ever seen on CC, and I've seen a lot! Thank you for sharing this amazing experience with us!

 

Thanks. Means a lot....

Currently processing SPB day 2

[ace1zoe2]

I have really, really enjoyed following along on your trip. The pictures are fabulous. This trip is definitely on our bucket list!

[lj77346]

Thank you for all the time and effort you put into posting your wonderful pictures and information. We're sailing this itinerary next June and it's great to know what we can look forward to seeing. It was also great that you had the opportunity to see so much that was important to your family's history. Wishing you all the best!

[happy trailer]

Yes and yes..... wait for Tallinn...... unfortunately I didn't get to the one in Stockholm as it was Saturday.

 

Thanks- and can't wait! :)

[NorbertsNiece]

Thanks- and can't wait! :)

 

Still uploading 223 pics for day 2 SPB.... then have to work out which to post.....

[NorbertsNiece]

We are happy to have Elena again as our guide in St Petersburg..... such a jewel in Alla's crown

 

 

We have seen this building from the road, the canal and now we are to go in. The Yosupov Palace.

 

 

There is much on the web about this stunning palace, the most important piece of history though, IMO, is the fact that Grigory Rasputin was murdered here in 1916. There is a small charge for photographs to be taken inside and I avail myself of this opportunity.

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Prince Felix Felixovich Yusupov and Princess Irina Alexandrovna of Russia

 

 

They have created a mock up of the conspirators

 

 

 

The record and the player that was in use that fateful night....

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

When it appeared that the cyanide that had been administered didn't work, Rasputin was shot. When his body was recovered from the Neva River and an autopsy performed there was water in his lungs.....

 

 

These passageways echo with the sounds of evil deeds

 

 

Rasputin's shoe was found on the Bolshoy Petrovsky Bridge, his body having been carried there wrapped in a carpet.

 

 

At least that is the story we were told..... there are many conflicting stories...

[NorbertsNiece]

We head upstairs

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 1, 2014 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

 

 

Check out the 'secret' door

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

 

 

 

Everything is very lush and opulent

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

 

 

Perfect for entertaining

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

We are treated to a Russian folk melody

 

 

 

The Yusopov family exists to this day. This is Xenia Sfiris, granddaughter of Princess Irina Alexandrovna

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

The only place I'm not allowed to photograph is the area at the top of the stairs....

 

 

They have their own theatre

 

 

 

We are sitting on the original chairs, covered of course....

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've omitted some rooms & pics..... the Palace is beautiful.

Edited July 1, 2014 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Boarding the hydrofoil

 

 

Lunch

 

 

 

Crew members playing backgammon

 

 

Quite comfortable..... ish

 

 

We pass Legend!

 

[NorbertsNiece]

DVDs anyone?

 

 

We are at Peterhof, laid out on the orders and design of Peter the Great, the Russian Versailles.

 

 

 

 

 

There are 173 fountains and 4 cascades at Peterhof. This is the Adam Fountain. We didn't see the Eve Fountain.

 

Edited July 1, 2014 by NorbertsNiece