A Baltic boating adventure TRIP REPORT COMPLETED 11/19 - Page 90 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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A tale of two water journeys. The first one looks wonderful! The view from the water is so different. You really see the detail on railings and bridges that you don't necessarily see from the ground. It's slightly more peaceful too, somehow.
The second one though.... perhaps it's best that you fell asleep!! The seats did look comfy, so that sure helped. And I agree, that is strange that Elena doesn't chat with anyone on her tour. Not confident in her English? I wonder.
Maybe, but her English was excellent. I wonder whether it's just not the done thing to fraternise with the guests? That's the only thing I can think of.
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When I read "hydrofoil" I immediately recalled your first med cruise and began to feel queasy myself! I'm glad you survived this one in a better state.
I think I assumed a hydrofoil was more like a speedboat but this looks more like a commuter style?
It is sort of like a speedboat, but you're right, much bigger. I feel bad now I didn't get any photos of it.
And regarding tour guides not fraternizing, we've had that in many places. Most recently our guide from Le Havre to Mont St. Michel. She spoke excellent English, was so interesting, and very funny, but sat at a separate table from our group for lunch. I looked at it as a bit of a break for her, given what a long day it was, and the fact that she really had to be 'on' so much of the day. Not to mention how tiring it is to be doing so in a language that is not your native one. So I figure they just need some time to recharge, and lunch, or the hydrofoil ride give such opportunity.
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Your river cruise looked enjoyable in St. Petersburg with many nice photos. Too bad all of you weren't feeling 100% for the hydrofoil portion. I can just imagine the potent smells from the river to make you feel this way!
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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!
The Armoury is both extensive and interesting. But by the point you reached it, I can imagine that all of you were feeling tired. The weather this day has been quite crazy.
So cool to find a TGI Friday's at the train station, and what a value with those prices. Cool start with your boat ride.
Glad you are catching up on these TRs as do easy to fall behind on them and especially Cheryl's with her frequent updates, which amaze me how she can do it!
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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!
And regarding tour guides not fraternizing, we've had that in many places. Most recently our guide from Le Havre to Mont St. Michel. She spoke excellent English, was so interesting, and very funny, but sat at a separate table from our group for lunch. I looked at it as a bit of a break for her, given what a long day it was, and the fact that she really had to be 'on' so much of the day. Not to mention how tiring it is to be doing so in a language that is not your native one. So I figure they just need some time to recharge, and lunch, or the hydrofoil ride give such opportunity.
Your river cruise looked enjoyable in St. Petersburg with many nice photos. Too bad all of you weren't feeling 100% for the hydrofoil portion. I can just imagine the potent smells from the river to make you feel this way!
Honestly, it was nothing to do with the smell - we were out in the open water for the hydrofoil ride and you are literally going up and down, as you go up with the waves, then smash down on them, so there's a lot of motion, and that's a big part of the problem.
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The Armoury is both extensive and interesting. But by the point you reached it, I can imagine that all of you were feeling tired. The weather this day has been quite crazy.
It was just all over the place.... even worse than Florida!
Glad you are catching up on these TRs as do easy to fall behind on them and especially Cheryl's with her frequent updates, which amaze me how she can do it!
I write the whole lot as I go, which means all I need to do (and it is still a lot...) is add the photos in. That's why I usually spend at least an hour working on my trip reports each day we're away....
Monday 13 June – part three: from one problem to another…
I was so glad to finally get off the hydrofoil at Peterhof, and away from that feeling of extreme motion. However, the delight didn’t last long, as I quickly realised that we were going from one problem to another. It was really windy outside, and my goodness, to the point where you were almost being blown off your feet. Of course that meant the wind was also dragging in spray from the sea, so we were getting wet and cold. Once I worked out which way we were going, I set off on a power walk of my own, and I left the others behind, as I was so keen to get out of the wind and the wet.
I think by this point we were all wondering what we’d done, and were thinking Phylis was the sensible one to be staying on the point. It certainly wasn’t a great start to the day, especially as we knew that we’d be walking around the park gardens for a little while in the wet and the wind…
At least when we made it into the grounds and behind a line of trees, the wind did die down somewhat.
The Peterhof was designed by a French architect, which is probably why the gardens immediately reminded us of Versailles. Of course the fact that they had golf carts to get around the grounds was also a similarity. We did drop some not-too-subtle hints to Elena about those, and in truth, we’d have paid for one for all of us to whizz around on, but I don’t think that was an option for this tour sadly.
As we walked along, Elena explained that the fountains would all start within the next few minutes, as they begin at 11:00am daily, when they play the anthem of St. Petersburg. As she said, they try and do it every day, although sometimes in the winter, it’s not possible if the fountains are iced up. That’s very different to Versailles. I think we’ve been four times now perhaps and have only seen the fountains once, and we had to plan our trip to incorporate that, as they only plan a couple of times a month, which is a real shame, given they’re one of the starring attractions of the place.
Sure enough, the fountains did gradually start to come to life, and it was interesting to see how some shot quite high into the sky, while their next door neighbour may just be spurting up a few inches. I guess it takes time for the water to work its way through the whole system.
It felt as if the whole world and his wife had arrived to see this spectacle, as it was just packed everywhere you looked.
Elena took us to a little pavilion, which gave us pretty good views of the fountains…
Next: why not go in there to get a hot drink?
By the way, the first few photos do include a hydrofoil, so it may give you more of an idea of what they look like....
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And I agree, that is strange that Elena doesn't chat with anyone on her tour. Not confident in her English? I wonder.
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Too bad all of you weren't feeling 100% for the hydrofoil portion. 
I can just imagine the potent smells from the river to make you feel this way! 
Cool start with your boat ride. 
That’s very different to Versailles. I think we’ve been four times now perhaps and have only seen the fountains once, and we had to plan our trip to incorporate that, as they only plan a couple of times a month, which is a real shame, given they’re one of the starring attractions of the place. 
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