A Baltic boating adventure TRIP REPORT COMPLETED 11/19 - Page 93 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
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Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
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To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
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The fountains must be much more fun in the summer. That seems like something out of Disneyworld though, not expected in Russia!
I'm so bummed you didn't get to try the Borscht! My husband's grandma always said that most Russians were poor when she was little so they didn't use meat and/or beef broth. Just plain water with the seasonings. It was almost always served as a vegetable soup. Only if you had money could you put the beef in it. So I, too, am surprised they didn't have a vegetarian version of it! In fact, her recipe doesn't use beef broth either, just water.
Maybe cherries don't grow on trees in Russia?! That's kinda funny. Good thing you could swap desserts!
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Tanya
Every click helps feed .6 bowls of food to rescued animals. Give a quick click every day and help animals in shelters! www.theanimalrescuesite.com
That's too funny with the fountains and especially Mark! All I can think of are those little fountains in Tomorrowland that the kids run through! Looked like a great lunch!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
I thought all those trick fountains were so funny!
Lunch looked good. Too bad they didn't have a vegetarian version of the borscht. Although that would significantly change the flavor. It is so delicious!
You see, how naïve am I? I thought borscht was vegetarian...
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See, Murphy's law was at work with your dessert - tell Mark that is a sure sign that the group saved him from misery in not letting him try the fountain!
The fountains must be much more fun in the summer. That seems like something out of Disneyworld though, not expected in Russia!
Well, don't forget we were there in the summer - mid-June and just a few days off midsummer's day!
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I'm so bummed you didn't get to try the Borscht! My husband's grandma always said that most Russians were poor when she was little so they didn't use meat and/or beef broth. Just plain water with the seasonings. It was almost always served as a vegetable soup. Only if you had money could you put the beef in it. So I, too, am surprised they didn't have a vegetarian version of it! In fact, her recipe doesn't use beef broth either, just water.
Ah, you see I was sort of right then, thinking it was vegetarian...
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Maybe cherries don't grow on trees in Russia?! That's kinda funny. Good thing you could swap desserts!
That's too funny with the fountains and especially Mark! All I can think of are those little fountains in Tomorrowland that the kids run through! Looked like a great lunch!
Oh gosh yes and of course there are also those ones between Future World and World Showcase in Epcot....
I love the look of the tree fountains, but I wouldn't want to get too close. Lunch looked delicious, but I can't believe they brought you ice cream with a cherry.
I love the look of the tree fountains, but I wouldn't want to get too close. Lunch looked delicious, but I can't believe they brought you ice cream with a cherry.
Monday 13 June – part six: I missed the Russian cows…
We headed out again after lunch, and this time, we were on Russian motorways, all of which seemed to be brand new. Elena confirmed that and explained they were building a lot of other things, like new homes, and even golf courses, which really haven’t existed in the country until now. As we drove along, parts reminded us of Florida, both in terms of the amount of building work going on here, and the type of building they’re now doing. It seems to be very much aimed at either those who want second homes, or perhaps tourists.
While we were on the road, I was trying to get our Palo reservations sorted out for our Disney cruise in September, so I missed the fact that we’d passed a field of Russian cows until it was almost too late, but luckily Mark spotted them, and I could at least say hello to them, even if I couldn’t get a photo of them.
We were soon arriving at Catherine’s Palace, and as we walked up, Elena pointed out this statue.
As we approached it, the buildings became more and more impressive…
Look at this gate – very ornate, isn’t it?
Well, this is the back entrance into the place.
Once Elena had purchased our tickets, we made our way through the courtyard, where they were either setting up for or dismantling for a concert.
We made our way towards one of the entrances, and there was already a large line, but again Elena just cut in front of most of the groups. We had one big group in front of us, and they would occasionally let another set of people in. They let in half the group in front of us, and just as we figured we’d have to wait until they next lie in, Elena goes up to them, obviously told them there were only five of us, and we were straight in. I do love being part of a small group!
We had more lines in here, as you have to wear overshoes, so you don’t damage the floor as you walk around. Getting a seat to put those on was a bit of a challenge, as it was pretty tough to get them on standing up.
Catherine’s Palace was built for Tsarina Elizabeth, who named it for her mother, Catherine I, who originally owned the estate. Catherine the Great then put her mark on it during her reign, redesigning the interiors.
The first section we came to was the Grand Staircase…
I thought that we were stopped at the bottom by the huge tour group in front of us, but it was because they operate a system to control the crowds, whereby only a certain number of people can move past the staircase at any one time.
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Catherine's Palace seems like quite a place both inside and outside. Love the colors on the outside and all the gold! That's funny with the overshoes but does make sense.
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
You've only just begun. I'm beginning to feel that even some of the most grand European palaces have nothing on these Russian places. Or they're very similar at the very least. Wow! Not surprised by the overshoes. I'm sure the floor is spectacular. And old.
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Tanya
Every click helps feed .6 bowls of food to rescued animals. Give a quick click every day and help animals in shelters! www.theanimalrescuesite.com
You've only just begun. I'm beginning to feel that even some of the most grand European palaces have nothing on these Russian places. Or they're very similar at the very least. Wow! Not surprised by the overshoes. I'm sure the floor is spectacular. And old.
Oh they're definitely similar. I honestly wouldn't have a clue which is the grandest out of all the ones I've seen. Perhaps Versailles still edges it over everything else.
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. Your lunch looks lovely!!
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That's kinda funny. Good thing you could swap desserts!
All I can think of are those little fountains in Tomorrowland that the kids run through! 
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Elena goes up to them, obviously told them there were only five of us, and we were straight in. 
I do love being part of a small group! 
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