tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588118538433483895.post2584740583928344010..comments2024-03-28T03:17:28.911-04:00Comments on Art With a Needle: Art report / Russia 4Kathleen Loomishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05930922068379938756noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588118538433483895.post-14779708282013827222018-06-29T01:28:33.571-04:002018-06-29T01:28:33.571-04:00Good to know! And probably a rushed tour is better...Good to know! And probably a rushed tour is better than not at all, so there's that.That church is really amazing.Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11563230869151812456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588118538433483895.post-67841323075144676972018-06-21T13:51:55.960-04:002018-06-21T13:51:55.960-04:00I've never done a river cruise but have done s...I've never done a river cruise but have done several ocean cruises. You don't have to go ashore (we decided to skip the second day of St. Petersburg because it sounded a whole lot like the first day), and in fact shore days are very nice if you stay on the ship. Uncrowded dining rooms, a generally relaxed atmosphere, sometimes fancy food treats.<br /><br />Or you can go ashore but not take a ship excursion. We often would just walk around the town, have lunch, drink a beer, take pictures, see what we could see. Some passengers will take a city bus to the end of the line and explore, or take a cab to visit a certain tourist spot. (You couldn't do that in Russia, of course, because of the visa, but in other countries, no problem.)kathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588118538433483895.post-24509120504301620042018-06-21T12:21:51.745-04:002018-06-21T12:21:51.745-04:00I had been considering a River Cruise but now--all...I had been considering a River Cruise but now--all those sales booklets go directly into recycling. How many passengers stay onboard and decline tours???Joanne Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01623855664379207620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588118538433483895.post-87823374480899955532018-06-21T09:25:34.516-04:002018-06-21T09:25:34.516-04:00As a tour group, we were also allowed in an hour e...As a tour group, we were also allowed in an hour early, before the general admission. That didn't mean any less waiting in line, as there were three huge cruise ships in town that day -- probably totaling 8000 or 9000 passengers -- and all the tours had the same idea. <br /><br /> kathynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588118538433483895.post-52947593507770538692018-06-21T08:04:33.159-04:002018-06-21T08:04:33.159-04:00When we visited the Hermitage it was practically e...When we visited the Hermitage it was practically empty. I think our tour arranged for us to be there first thing in the morning. I was amazed by the open windows all over. No worry about humidity, etc. I took tons of pictures. I agree with you about the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood. It was spectacular!<br />Ours was not a cruise ship tour, but a land tour with Tauck Tours. they do such a good job. I loved the trip---one of my favorites.Norma Schlagerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03979046682608968891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588118538433483895.post-67302571805789608632018-06-20T17:20:29.745-04:002018-06-20T17:20:29.745-04:00Learned a lot this post. I am sure there are othe...Learned a lot this post. I am sure there are other situations not just Russia where there are two rules for travelers.Susie Qhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05893377527974815997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-588118538433483895.post-52426147894126231572018-06-20T15:36:49.617-04:002018-06-20T15:36:49.617-04:00Nice of you to share for future travelers! Your p...Nice of you to share for future travelers! Your pics look very interesting!Robbiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13506964994589004458noreply@blogger.com