Total Eclipse : A pictorial review of the Tradewinds Transatlantic crossing 2015

[perfect match]

I am back to resume my virtual tour of Russia through your eyes and camera. I am really enjoying the pictures, and also learning about how to visit SPB on our own. I am also enjoying your enthusiasm for SPB and Moscow as a wonderful place to visit.

 

Pat, I hope your knee surgery recovery is continuing to go well.

[scubacruiserx2]

I am back to resume my virtual tour of Russia through your eyes and camera. I am really enjoying the pictures, and also learning about how to visit SPB on our own. I am also enjoying your enthusiasm for SPB and Moscow as a wonderful place to visit.

 

Pat, I hope your knee surgery recovery is continuing to go well.

 

We're glad that you are with us on our slow tour ! ;) The museums (Hermitage after the Russian Museum) are an amazing place to me . Unlike photos and memories which fade rapidly sometimes , the statues and paintings require great skill and last for hundreds or sometimes thousands of years ! We did enjoy our stays in Russia and were quite surprised how different is was than what we had first expected . We hope that the photos and narrative will help future visitors to narrow their choices as to what to see and do when visiting Russia .

 

Pat's rehab is a slow and steady process as they want her to continue to use a walker and a fixed leg brace for 3 more weeks . How about you , are you able to dive yet ? :cool:

[scubacruiserx2]

The statue in front of the painting is Faun and Bacchante and is based on a fresco from Pompeii

 

 

 

 

Fyodor Bruni like Briullov , lived and worked in Italy before returning to St. Petersburg and bringing his Moses Exalting the Brazen Serpent with him . He also painted the ceiling on St. Isaac' Cathedral .

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fyodor_Bruni

 

 

 

Ivan Aivazovsky is famous for his maritime paintings like Wave

 

 

 

 

and The Tenth Wave , which may make cruisers a bit nervous .

 

 

 

 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Aivazovsky

[scubacruiserx2]

Many of portraits of that era were of the rich and famous

 

 

Portrait of Princess Zinaida Yusupova

 

 

 

 

 

 

Portrait of Fiodor Chaliapin as Boris Godunov in Mussorgsky's Opera of the same name

 

 

 

 

Peacock feathers and a leopard rug

 

 

 

 

 

And finally , Tsar Nicholas II in the throne room of the Winter Palace , which will be our next visit after the Russian Museum .

 

[Bimmer09]

 

Ivan Aivazovsky is famous for his maritime paintings like Wave

 

 

 

 

and The Tenth Wave , which may make cruisers a bit nervous .

 

 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Aivazovsky

 

Now, these paintings speak to me (something like "you can't afford me comrade")

 

I have never heard of this artist until today. Brilliant work!

 

Norris,

reaching for his life jacket...

[scubacruiserx2]

Now, these paintings speak to me (something like "you can't afford me comrade")

 

I have never heard of this artist until today. Brilliant work!

 

Norris,

reaching for his life jacket...

 

 

Why we need lifeboat drills . He completed 6000 paintings in his lifetime , astonishing !

[scubacruiserx2]

Another artist of special note is Ilya Repin , who painted the portrait of Tsar Nicholas II .

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilya_Repin

 

 

 

 

Some of his early works were better known:

 

 

The Volga Barge Haulers

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sadko underwater

 

 

 

 

 

and Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks to Sultan Mehmed IV Sultan of the Ottoman Empire

 

 

 

 

There is an interesting story behind this painting . When the Sultan demanded their surrender in a dignified letter - the cossacks replied in a vulgar and undignified way :

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reply_of_the_Zaporozhian_Cossacks

 

 

Lastly is the mammoth painting Formal Session of the State Council in Honor of it's Centenary

 

 

 

It measures 13' X 29' !!!

 

Edited September 10, 2015 by scubacruiserx2

[Bimmer09]

Tom, I'm not repeating those paintings with a quote...

 

I like many styles of art but Realism of this magnitude really impresses as there's nowhere to hide, especially with a lot of people in the composition-each one has to be a finished person brought to life with a brush or palette knife-the artist can't get bored or tired and "drop a few squiggles in".

 

What an undertaking each of these is...13 ft X 29 ft..."we're gonna need a bigger studio!".

 

Thanks for being there and taking these stellar shots!!

Thanks for introducing me to painters I didn't know existed.

 

Norris

[scubacruiserx2]

Tom, I'm not repeating those paintings with a quote...

 

I like many styles of art but Realism of this magnitude really impresses as there's nowhere to hide, especially with a lot of people in the composition-each one has to be a finished person brought to life with a brush or palette knife-the artist can't get bored or tired and "drop a few squiggles in".

 

What an undertaking each of these is...13 ft X 29 ft..."we're gonna need a bigger studio!".

 

Thanks for being there and taking these stellar shots!!

Thanks for introducing me to painters I didn't know existed.

 

Norris

 

We agree , this was our favorite period for Russian painting . We have a friend who paints portraits , very talented (one of his works is in the Buckingham Palace ) and it's amazing to watch him at work . Here's a watercolor that he did of my DW from the late 80's . :) :D

 

 

Joe

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

Unlike Repin who produced 6000 paintings , Alexander Ivanov worked on The Appearance of Christ to the People for 30 years .

 

 

 

 

There seemed to be a subtle shift from the rich toward the poor as the exhibit progressed . Whether by design or not , we don't know .

 

 

 

 

A knight at the Crossroads

 

 

 

 

We found this one of St. Basil's in Moscow interesting . Notice the wooden Kremlin and mud streets in Red Square as the rich rule over the poor .

 

 

 

 

A evil looking statue of Ivan the Terrible , who ordered the building of St. Basil's Cathedral and also killed his son in a fit of anger .

 

 

 

 

Were their leaders truly evil and were the people looking for a messiah ?

[scubacruiserx2]

The last grouping which seemed appropriate for Victory Day was Soviet Art beginning with the Avant - Garde of the revolution .

 

 

 

 

 

Followed by the Socialist Realism which glorified the proletariat

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note that the Hermitage is painted red in the painting above ! And finally , a chess board where the white pawns (Imperial Russia) are in chains and the red pawns(Communist Russia) are free to swing a sickle for grain . Happy labor days , comrades .

 

 

 

Edited September 11, 2015 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

Most cruisers will not see the Russian Museum but it can be seen in about 1 hour . It has a really great location being the yellow building on the right .

 

 

 

 

And it has a park , next to the church and behind the museum

 

 

 

 

And one of the favorite eating places for the visitor to St. Petersburg is about 1 block away - Stolle . Everybody eats at Stolle .

 

 

 

 

They are famous for their pies both savory meat filled and sweet fruit filled . It can be a nice break or taken away to eat while on the road to your next stop . True Russian fast food .

 

 

 

 

But we go when nobody is there .

 

 

 

 

To relax and enjoy our salmon and rabbit pie .

 

 

 

 

 

Please see their photo filled menu here :

 

http://stolle.ru/en/menu/saint-petersburg

 

 

 

 

Up next : Where do you want to go next ?

Edited September 12, 2015 by scubacruiserx2

[cruise47]

The Chicken Pie and the Choko Roll with raisins & poppyseeds on the menu looks awesome. What is the cost in dollars for this meal?

[scubacruiserx2]

The Chicken Pie and the Choko Roll with raisins & poppyseeds on the menu looks awesome. What is the cost in dollars for this meal?

 

Sure , the price is in rubles/kg. The Ruble is very good for Americans now @ 67 per dollar . So 1.1 lbs. of the Chicken Pie is about $ 4.72 and the Choko Roll is about $ 6.30 for 1.1 lbs. You can see why they are popular with tourists and locals alike . ;)

[jenseib]

Wow..the art is so amazing and sadly a lot of Americans probably have no clue it even exists there.

[cruise47]

Sure , the price is in rubles/kg. The Ruble is very good for Americans now @ 67 per dollar . So 1.1 lbs. of the Chicken Pie is about $ 4.72 and the Choko Roll is about $ 6.30 for 1.1 lbs. You can see why they are popular with tourists and locals alike . ;)

 

Thank you. That is a very good price for that meal.

[scubacruiserx2]

Thank you. That is a very good price for that meal.

 

Yes , one of our favorite places to eat (and take some home) .

[scubacruiserx2]

When visiting Russia it's easy to get overloaded with room after room of mansions , art and churches . So the question is where do you want to go next ?

 

1. We have the world famous museum the Hermitage (long) .

 

2. A 2 day trip to Moscow (long) .

 

3. 3 beautiful churches , St. Isaac's , Spilled Blood and St. Nicholas church .

 

4. Or a walk on Nevsky Prospect .

 

5. A quickie to Catherine's Palace .

[Issyalex]

When visiting Russia it's easy to get overloaded with room after room of mansions , art and churches . So the question is where do you want to go next ?

 

1. We have the world famous museum the Hermitage (long) .

 

2. A 2 day trip to Moscow (long) .

 

3. 3 beautiful churches , St. Isaac's , Spilled Blood and St. Nicholas church .

 

4. Or a walk on Nevsky Prospect .

 

5. A quickie to Catherine's Palace .

 

My choice would be number 2 or 4.

[scubacruiserx2]

My choice would be number 2 or 4.

 

An excellent choice Issyalex ! How about Nevsky Prospect ?

Edited September 14, 2015 by scubacruiserx2

[Gracie115]

When visiting Russia it's easy to get overloaded with room after room of mansions , art and churches . So the question is where do you want to go next ?

 

1. We have the world famous museum the Hermitage (long) .

 

2. A 2 day trip to Moscow (long) .

 

3. 3 beautiful churches , St. Isaac's , Spilled Blood and St. Nicholas church .

 

4. Or a walk on Nevsky Prospect .

 

5. A quickie to Catherine's Palace .

 

I would pick #3....but am good with wherever you lead us.....:)

[scubacruiserx2]

I would pick #3....but am good with wherever you lead us.....:)

 

Hi Gracie , we'll do all 5 but I've uploaded the N.P. photos already , sorry . We did book the Eclipse Baltic for June 5 next year with our grandson . :) :D

[Issyalex]

An excellent choice Issyalex ! How about Nevsky Prospect ?

 

That would be great. I'm loving 'our' cruise and land holiday more and more each day with every new photo.

[scubacruiserx2]

That would be great. I'm loving 'our' cruise and land holiday more and more each day with every new photo.

 

Thank you - we're glad that you are along for the ride (walk) . On the Celebrity shore excursions they do now offer a walk on N.P. , however , we're a little more independent . ;)

[scubacruiserx2]

We found this map of N.P. on a web site , but we will be using our photos .

 

 

http://www.nevsky-prospekt.com/maps/map1.html

 

 

 

 

Nevsky Prospect is the main thoroughfare of St. Petersburg running from the Admiralty in the West to the Alexander Nevsky Cemetery in the East , a distance of about 3 miles . It has been called by many the Champs Elysees of Russia .

 

 

Using the maps numbers , # 1 is the Triumphal Arch of the General Staff Building .

 

 

 

 

It has also been called the street of tolerance because of a number of non Russian Orthodox churches found there . The first is the # 2 - The Lutheran St. Peter and Paul .

 

 

 

 

One thing missing on the map is a pedestrian side street shown with the red arrow - Bolshaya Konyushennaya . It has many of the famous names that shoppers know

 

 

 

 

And some not so famous names , but good street eats . Tepemok serves a crepe like blini, filled will yummy choices of sweet or savory fillings .