A Baltic boating adventure TRIP REPORT COMPLETED 11/19 - Page 59 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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More and more, we do tend to look at our own tour options - I think that was the case for 2 of 3 ports in Alaska - as long as we know the time won't be cut too finely.
I'm sure you eventually saw more examples of Communist architecture. I found both Moscow & St. Petersburg to have a fair number of those ugly concrete block apartment buildings, that look much like the old housing projects from Chicago - but somehow uglier...
We saw a few in both cities, probably more in Moscow....
The night before sounded rough, but I'd probably be in the same boat as you. Oh, haha, pun.
Very good!
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I forgot you have to clear immigration on-site there, so to speak. Whew - good thing it didn't take too long!
That was the only place really, as everywhere else, we had no issues, as most of the passengers were British and it's easy to get around Europe and into most countries. Whether that changes one day in the future remains to be seen...
Glad you were able to capture photos of Old Town as you sailed away. Beautiful! I totally understand how you were feeling disembarking in Russia. I love to do new things, but they also make me initially apprehensive as I'm not sure what to expect. I'm really excited about your updates for the next 3 days.
I hope you enjoy them. There will be lots of them.
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Saturday 11 June – part two: like a little kid with candy
When we came out into the terminal, I couldn’t immediately see SPB Tours, but Mark spotted them, and we made our way over there. We met a family of three – Jay, Stephanie and their 13 year old son Ethan. We were soon joined by an older woman, Phyllis, and that was literally it, just the six of us. Wow! This was going to be a small group…
Isn’t it funny that one of the first things we saw in the cruise terminal was this piece of America?
I was very excited and relieved to finally be through and safely on Russian soil, and I immediately photographed our Russian visas.
We met our guide Elena, and headed outside with her…
We found our minivan, and our driver Daniel, who was an absolute star. I tell you, they are crazy drivers in St. Petersburg, but I never once felt unsafe with him at the wheel. I did notice that he and all the other drivers here are very patient. We all commented a number of times that usually in most cities people would be frantically tooting their horns, but not here which made a very pleasant change.
Elena explained to us that the cruise terminal was all built on reclaimed land. Later we’d see a hotel in the city, which she told us originally had a name that was about overlooking the Baltic Sea, but because it’s now so far back from the water, they had to change the name to just Park Inn.
We headed out of the terminal and, as you can see, security is quite tight here. Elena again explained this wasn’t the case a few years ago, you could literally come and go as you pleased, but in the light of terrorism, they’ve added a lot of security measures. I can understand that.
It was fascinating to drive through the city. I thought some of the tower blocks looked as if they dated from the communist era, but I’m only guessing here…
I did notice that where things were aimed at tourists, particularly restaurants, they were all written in English, as well as Russian, which I can understand, given they want to attract the most people they can.
However, driving would be another matter. All the signs are in Russian only, so unless you’re proficient in their language (and if you are, you’re a way better person than me! ) then it’s not an option to drive yourself over here.
Soon we were crossing over the Neva River…
… and we were making our first stop here, at this subway station…
I have to say I was a like a little kid with candy at the prospect of travelling on a Russian subway system. I know Moscow’s is supposed to be a lot grander, but heck this would do. I absolutely love subway systems, I always have. I think it’s because I can’t quite reconcile how they manage to build them. To me, they’re an amazing feat of engineering.
Despite the problems I’d had learning the Russian alphabet, now I was seeing it here, it was starting to look a little more familiar, and I remembered bits of it, which was something.
Elena told us all the stations are themed, and this one is themed to sport, as it’s right by one of the major sports stadiums. On that subject, she said they’re building a football stadium here in time for the 2020 World Cup and it should be ready in about 18 months’ time.
How wonderful that your tour group is so small. I suppose with the high cost and long hours of the tour, it was limited in size. It sounds like you have a good guide and driver.
McDonalds. Haha!
The boring block looking buildings would be my guess too, from older communist times. The other buildings look more typical to what I'd imagine though, very cool!
The street signs are scary though! Good thing you're on a tour. Cripes!
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Those block apartments are definitely from communist times. I've stayed in one in Moscow. Wouldn't like to live in one, I don't think. Nor would you want to come home after a few drinks to figure out which was yours!
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I JUST caught up with this and I'm more than ever ready for a Baltic cruise! We were supposed to be on the first Disney Baltic cruise a few years ago with Barb (Grammy Grumpy) and Bob, but both of us ended up having to cancel for a variety of reasons...it's remained on my bucket list, however!
For now, I'm enjoying my armchair (or desk chair ) tour! Wonderful photos!
How wonderful that your tour group is so small. I suppose with the high cost and long hours of the tour, it was limited in size. It sounds like you have a good guide and driver.
I know! There's the true mark of when you're in the middle of nowhere... no McDonalds!
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The boring block looking buildings would be my guess too, from older communist times. The other buildings look more typical to what I'd imagine though, very cool!
The street signs are scary though! Good thing you're on a tour. Cripes!
Oh my goodness, there is no way we could have navigated our own way around those streets.
I JUST caught up with this and I'm more than ever ready for a Baltic cruise! We were supposed to be on the first Disney Baltic cruise a few years ago with Barb (Grammy Grumpy) and Bob, but both of us ended up having to cancel for a variety of reasons...it's remained on my bucket list, however!
We wanted to do that one, but we had to give in when we found out the prices - oh and how many DVC points they wanted, if we were going to go down that avenue... Now that would've been a neat cruise if we'd all been able to go.
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For now, I'm enjoying my armchair (or desk chair ) tour! Wonderful photos!
Nice start to your tour of St. Petersburg with some nice photos! I can't believe how small your group is!
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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!
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I totally understand how you were feeling disembarking in Russia. I love to do new things, but they also make me initially apprehensive as I'm not sure what to expect. 
I'm really excited about your updates for the next 3 days. 
which made a very pleasant change. 
Later we’d see a hotel in the city, which she told us originally had a name that was about overlooking the Baltic Sea, but because it’s now so far back from the water, they had to change the name to just Park Inn. 
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