8.8.11 DAY AT SEA – 9.8.11 ARCHANGELSK RUSSIA
Feeling like shit after our big night the night, the cup of tea was greeted with distain! But thank God for it or we wouldn’t have risen, but we did and we went to the gym class of Pilates! It was hard going!
After breakfast I actually went back to bed and then Suzie came back into bed too!! Here we stayed all day like trolls not leaving the cabin and just having our meals brought to us and no alcohol!!
What a waste! By evening we decided to watch a couple of movies so we were feeling a little better!!
The sun setting after 11.00p.m. is loosing its appeal as I hate closing the curtains when it is still light but one does need sleep! I don’t cope with late nights!!!
We arrive at Archangelsk in the morning of the 9th and so pleased when we go to our body conditioning class on deck 9 that it is warm!! Yippee !!! At last!!! Approx 16 degrees!
This city looks a little more appealing than Murmansk not so grim and depressing.
This am we do computer work feeling alive again after a day of rest !
Our tour to the wooden village was again so so boring, the village interesting set amongst the aspen forest, but after seeing this which took about half an hour they gave us an hour a half free time!
No one had any rubles except me, so we were able to buy a roll as we had had no lunch .
No one else could, and no shops to entertain us so we just went back to the bus and waited!!!
Maybe I had chosen the wrong tour ,the city tour may have been better but after Murmansk thought this sounded more interesting!!
Well not coming back here again!!
Again the population is 350,000 same as Murmansk!
Here it is the centre of the timber industry, hence all the wooden homes which are very distinct and quaint. It is also important for oil and diamonds!! Wished I seen some of them although I think they are mainly industrial.
Arkangelsk is also the gate to the Arctic and polar expeditions leave from here!
Back on board and decide to have the Pommeroy champagne on our balcony to make the most of the warm weather.
We also decide to have caviar as we are in Russia! This was divine sitting on the Neva River which I was on last year on the cruise from St Petersburg to Moscow !
Oh well with the world share market crashing around us yet again we have to make the most of this as we might not get away again in the near future! Pretty depressing but glad im not in Australia to get it 24/7 on the news and feel 10 times worse!!
Oh our invitation also arrived from Gianni Dotti for lunch on 11th August!! Now will it be for 3 as requsted!!
We have dinner under the stars on the pool deck which is great just a simple meal of a perfect grilled steak and salad, sitting in the fresh air !
We are then told we will be leaving early tomorrow due to the currents and swell tomorrow!
Doesn’t worry us as we cant get off even if we wanted to as we don’t have visas and who really would want to get off!
Its hard when you cant read a thing in Russian, no English to be seen anywhere and I had experienced this last year while in Russia.
Well 2 very boring places not to put on your bucket list!!
But I guess both very important places for Russia
10.8.11 ARKHANGELSK – AT SEA UNTIL 12TH AUGUST
Pilates and breakfast sitting on the pier looking at the Russians looking at us!! Leaving early !
Eventually the engines are powered up and the Russians with their big green hats leave the ship and we depart!
I am sitting on our balcony writing this and it is very pleasant cruising up the Neva River passing timber mills and green forests and Russia Dachas ( timber holiday homes)
We are so pleased to have our balcony to be able to leave the door open and get the fresh air is wonderful.
The eye for maintenance on the ship is exceptional, when we came back yesterday a note was there for us to say they had re stained our balustrade .
Now the people on board, mainly Poms, then Americans, and a splattering of Europeans and as I have said before 17 Australians! Guess that is why it is so boring!! The Aussies are the only ones that have life in them !
I would say the average age is late 70s to high 80s so as you can see not much fun for the few younger ones!
Manchu my kayaking mate who is with his Mum and Dad. Im sure his mum must have been a ballet dancer as her posture is amazing and she is so elegant! I bet he is bored too!!
The lecturers are informative but they have drooling voices that put you to sleep, the Pommie professor at least has photos and the other an American talks with a few photos Oh well!!
Im watching the little Russian tug following us out to sea and after an hour the river is getting wider so guess we are getting closer to the ocean.
It is very pleasant being protected and sitting on the balcony listening too and watching the thunder and light rain so maybe in for some bad weather!!
The scenery is just like my river cruise last year!
Farewell Arkangelsk!!!
Now the sun is shining and the deck even more appealing!
Another invitation arrives this time from the Finance Manager tomorrow evening! Well we wont be going to that as we are having lunch with Gianni and cant do 2 in one day!!
Susie polities decline!!
An early dinner at La Terrace, Karen the American asks us to join her and Art but we gracefully decline! We don’t want any grog and having just a main so hence cant be bothered sitting and making polite conversation with 6 people over 3 courses or more!
Im following my anti social routine as I don’t want any new friends!!!
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