Total Eclipse : A pictorial review of the Tradewinds Transatlantic crossing 2015

[scubacruiserx2]

Cheers, same goes from me to all the readers as well.

I had forgotten about the fireplaces and the amber room.

Thanks for the reminders.:D

 

You're welcome Mic , that's another reason I like photography - my camera has a photographic memory . :)

[scubacruiserx2]

[upwarduk]

I continue to be amazed at the likeness oo the Tsar to our George V, even though I knew they were cousins.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year everyone.

[MicCanberra]

You're welcome Mic , that's another reason I like photography - my camera has a photographic memory . :)

 

Lol, :D

so true,

[scubacruiserx2]

I continue to be amazed at the likeness oo the Tsar to our George V, even though I knew they were cousins.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year everyone.

 

Thank you Jackie and the same to you ! You can see the strong family resemblance in this photo , and read the interesting story below , from wiki .

 

 

 

 

 

When Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, George's first cousin (their mothers were sisters), was overthrown in the Russian Revolution of 1917, the British government offered political asylum to the Tsar and his family, but worsening conditions for the British people, and fears that revolution might come to the British Isles, led George to think that the presence of the Russian royals would be seen as inappropriate.[68] Despite the later claims of Lord Mountbatten of Burma that Prime Minister Lloyd George was opposed to the rescue of the Russian imperial family, the letters of Lord Stamfordham suggest that it was George V who opposed the rescue against the advice of the government.[69] Advanced planning for a rescue was undertaken by MI1, a branch of the British secret service,[70] but because of the strengthening position of the Bolshevik revolutionaries and wider difficulties with the conduct of the war, the plan was never put into operation.[71] The Tsar and his immediate family remained in Russia, where they were killed by Bolsheviks in 1918. The following year, Nicholas's mother (George's aunt) Maria Feodorovna (Dagmar of Denmark) and other members of the extended Russian imperial family were rescued from the Crimea by British ships.

[scubacruiserx2]

If you go to Catherine's Palace be prepared to possibly experience long lines and a crowd inside . This photo is from Cruisecritic contributor Atwell .

 

 

 

 

Our last visit there was in 2009 . In 2011 , our guide suggested that we do something different by visiting Pavlovsk , about 2 miles from Catherine's Palace explaining that it would be less crowded . Our first stop however was the Feodorovsky Cathedral , which was the official church of the last Tsar , near Catherine's Palace .

 

http://www.alexanderpalace.org/palace/fsobor.html

 

 

 

It's off the grid of most tours and there was restoration work being done when we visited , but the church looked great .

 

 

 

 

Here is a video clip of the consecration of the church , with the last Tsar and his family from a 1912 movie :

 

 

http://media.awesomestories.com/media/user/a64f107d8a.mp4

Edited December 25, 2015 by scubacruiserx2

[MicCanberra]

Nice, If you get a picture of Kaiser Wilhelm, then you have three peas for the pod.

[MicCanberra]

Those queues can be killers, this is where the good guides will get you straight in at a pre arranged time.:D

[scubacruiserx2]

Nice, If you get a picture of Kaiser Wilhelm, then you have three peas for the pod.

 

 

We three kings ...

 

 

[MicCanberra]

He needed the goatee as well.:p

[scubacruiserx2]

Those queues can be killers, this is where the good guides will get you straight in at a pre arranged time.:D

 

Yeah , if you are only visiting for a couple of days you don't want to spend much time waiting in long lines .

[scubacruiserx2]

Pavlovsk began as a gift of land from Catherine the Great to her son Paul I (Pavel in Russian ) after the birth of her grandson , Alexander I , to Paul and his wife Maria Feodorovna . In 1780 , Catherine loaned her official architect , Scotsman Charles Cameron , to design and build the palace .

 

 

 

 

Our guide was right , there were NO crowds ! Pavlovsk also has the distinction of being the end point of the first public railway line , running from St. Petersburg to Pavlovsk in 1836 .

 

This was NOT that train , but it was the largest crowd that we saw .

 

 

 

You can read more about the palace here :

 

http://www.saint-petersburg.com/pavlovsk/pavlovsk-palace/

 

 

The Egyptian Vestibule lies at the base of the main staircase .

 

 

 

 

The staircase leads to the Italian Hall on the second floor

 

 

 

 

A domed ceiling

 

 

 

 

And a Gobelin's tapestry

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

The picture gallery

 

 

 

The throne room

 

 

 

 

Statuary

 

 

 

Size wise , the State Bedroom was relatively small , although ornate .

 

 

 

 

Outdoors was the Garden of Maria Feodorovna

 

 

 

 

And the Pavilion of the 3 Graces

 

 

[scubacruiserx2]

 

 

 

Happy New Year to all of our friends , and many happy cruises !! :D :)

[scubacruiserx2]

New Years is The top holiday in the former Soviet Union and modern Russia , combining elements of Christmas , New Year's , Thanksgiving ( feasting ) and St. Patrick's Day ( drinking ) . In an article from Russia Behind The Headlines , December 26, 2014 , JOE CRESCENTE reveals the top 10 requirements for a stereotypical Russian New Year .

 

 

The New Year’s holiday in Russia is special. It is far and away the most important holiday of the year and accordingly many traditions are associated with celebrating it. Many of these rituals are quite specific to Russia and differ from how other people around the world celebrate winter holidays. RBTH has collected the top 10 things you need, or else it isn’t Russian New Year’s.

 

 

 

Dred Moroz and Snegurochka

 

The West may have Santa Claus, but he can hardly compete with “Ded Moroz” (Grandfather Frost) or his granddaughter, “Snegurochka” (the Snow Maiden). Unlike Santa Claus, Ded Moroz is not afraid to show his face and often stops by holiday parties with Snegurochka to deliver presents in person. Ded Moroz maintains his residence near the town of Veliky Ustyug (in the Vologda Region); Snegurochka supposedly resides in Kostroma, on the Volga.

 

The “yolka”

 

Christmas trees were banned shortly after the revolution but were reintroduced as the novogodnaya yolka (New Year’s tree) in 1935 as a secular holiday symbol. Trees tend to be small and are often made of plastic, but they are still symbolic and important gathering symbols for Russians.

 

A New Year's Eve movie

 

 

Many countries have popular traditional holiday films, but few can match up with the song and steam of the Soviet classic, The Irony of Fate or Have a Nice Bath (1975). Zhenya is engaged and plans on spending his New Year’s Eve with his fiancée. However, he first must go to the sauna, as per tradition with his friends. They all get intoxicated and Zhenya ends up on a plane to Leningrad. He drunkenly tells a taxi driver to take him to Third Builder’s Street, where he lives in Moscow. Remarkably the building looks the same and his key fits. He passes out in the apartment and is awakened by the unsuspecting Nadya. They fall in love, and Russians still can’t get enough of this film.

 

 

Salads

 

New Year’s just isn’t New Year’s without the salads. We’re not taking about light green salads either, but mayonnaise-infused and protein-thick works of art. Russians consume 2.5 kilograms of mayonnaise annually and nowhere is it celebrated more than on the holiday table. Olivier salad is usually made with mayonnaise, potatoes, carrots, pickles, green peas, eggs and chicken or bologna. New Year’s literally doesn’t exist if this salad is not on your table. Selyodka pod Shuboi, or “Herring under a Fur Coat” is a layered carnival filled with herring, potatoes, carrots, beets, onions and mayonnaise. The beets give the salad its purplish color.

 

Mandarin oranges

 

Supposedly this tradition began back in the reign of Nicholas II. However, it was discontinued for decades due to the Soviet Union’s difficulty in growing or importing them. It was revived around the 1970s and remains a staple on every Russian New Year’s table.

 

Champagne and caviar

 

Nothing said “proletarian” in the worker’s paradise more than champagne and caviar. While these items were in shorter supply during the Soviet period, it was then that they became part of the New Year’s tradition. The champagne is usually the “Sovietskoye” variety, available everywhere from Kamchatka to Brighton Beach. The caviar is usually red and served on buttered bread.

 

A midnight date with Putin

 

Regardless of their political affiliations, Russians around the world tune in to hear the Russian president offer his wishes for the upcoming year. Once he finishes, the clock tower on Red Square chimes, fireworks burst into the air and the New Year officially begins.

 

Not leaving the house until AFTER midnight to visit friends and walk around the city

 

For Russians, New Year’s is a family holiday and celebrations take place with close relatives on the evening of Dec. 31 with traditional toasts to say goodbye to the passing year. Phone calls are made to relatives that live far away. It is only after midnight that people begin the real partying. Many clubs only begin their main events at 00:30 or lat

 

 

Fireworks

 

As one person told me, it isn’t New Year’s if you don’t see the equivalent of a small country’s budget blown up in fireworks. The first New Year’s holiday I spent in Russia, in the industrial city of Tolyatti, involved hours of celebrating at home before going out after midnight with the whole family to see the citizenry declare war on the central square. The fireworks display was intense, loud and bright and is an integral part of any Russian New Year’s holiday.

 

 

 

 

New Year’s Eve is just the beginning

 

Perhaps the best part about Russian New Year’s is that it’s not back to work the next day or even the day after. In 2015 Russians have until Jan. 12 before they have to report back to the office. That’s 11 days to shake off their hangovers.

 

 

And so , the first toast of the New Year is always "To the New Year, to the new happiness!" (С Новым Годом, с новым счастьем!). Happy New Year everybody , and to the new happiness in 2016 . :) :D

[upwarduk]

Thank you for the cultural lesson!

[perfect match]

Happy New Year! I hope 2016 is a healthy and happy year for everyone, filled with many fun-filled days at sea! :D

[scubacruiserx2]

Thank you for the cultural lesson!

 

You're welcome Jackie , brilliant insight ! We try understand other cultures by staying and visiting before or after our cruises - if we can . Certainly , the Russian romantic comedy The Irony of Fate , touches on many aspects of Russian culture . Another RBTH article poses the question , Want to understand Russians? "Watch the film 'Irony of Fate'" .

 

 

http://rbth.com/literature/2013/08/29/want_to_understand_russians_watch_the_film_irony_of_fate_29339.html

 

 

This screwball romantic comedy deals with a number of issues and stereotypes , while also poking fun at the Soviet government . In the animated prologue of the movie , an architect designs an imaginative building for people until the politicians and bureaucrats alter his design , making boring , uniform buildings and rooms that all look the same .

 

 

 

 

 

In the main plot , a engaged man gets drunk with his friends at the banya (public bath ) in St. Petersburg ( Leningrad ) and winds up on a plane to Moscow instead of going home . When he wakes up (still drunk) in Moscow , he takes a cab to his address in Leningrad , where the building , room and furniture looks exactly the same as his own in Leningrad . And , of course , his key opens the lock ! After passing out , he is awoken later by a beautiful woman - who is not his fiance . And while many things in Russia look similar , the people are not all the same . We have one more piece of culture that we would like to share before leaving Russia for the UK - The Dacha and the banya . :) :D

[scubacruiserx2]

Happy New Year! I hope 2016 is a healthy and happy year for everyone, filled with many fun-filled days at sea! :D

 

Thank you Nancy and get well soon ! :) :D

[scubacruiserx2]

What is a Dacha ?

 

Near and dear to the Russian heart and culture , the Dacha ( small summer house ) is also used for weekend visits to get away from the city . In this article from the Telegraph , which was originally published by RBTH , we learned about the Dacha .

 

 

At summer’s peak, many Russians don’t venture far. The reason is dachas, their country houses. August brings the harvest for their small garden plots, but a dacha is much more than just an economic benefit: it embodies a culture dating back to Communist times.

 

Cultivating happiness: growing your own fruit and veg is an integral part of the dacha experience

Cars filled with people, pets, old clothes, refrigerators, mattresses and whatever could be useful when away from civilization: it looks more like mass evacuation, a flight from the city. And that’s what it is. People are fleeing from tedious urban routines to a place where they can feel genuinely free for at least a couple of days: the dacha.

The dacha is a unique phenomenon in the life of anyone who lives in the boundless expanses of the Russian Federation. A small plot – 0.15 acres – with a few currant bushes, apple trees and a vegetable patch, a little wooden house with no telephone or running water and a discreetly located outhouse.

 

 

In the last decade, of course, Russia has seen its share of over-the-top country palaces with columns, balustrades and similar excesses, but these fruits of wild imagination have nothing to do with real dachas.

In the old days, to have a dacha was a privilege. They were given only to society’s elite: senior officials, writers and scientists. In the 1960s, however, Soviet authorities let every family have a dacha. Ordinary citizens could apply for a small plot of land and would receive it for free. All development, including construction of a home, was left to the owner.

Now, the Soviet man, raised on a negation of private property, could own his own piece of earth. Perhaps this was even the beginning of the Soviet Union’s eventual collapse.

Be that as it may, going to the dacha in the days before mobile phones was like visiting an uninhabited island. A person received the legal right to temporarily escape the total control of society. “I was at the dacha,” was the excuse used to explain any long absence: a sort of internal emigration.

The old Soviet habit of storing vegetables and preserves for winter remains, especially given rising food prices in major cities. Cucumbers one has pickled oneself, like jam made from one’s own raspberries, can’t possibly be compared to anything from the shops.

During the Obamas’ visit to Moscow, Michelle won respect from the Russian press for “working the White House like a dacha” with her kitchen garden. As their visit demonstrated, a great way to earn Russians’ esteem is to till your own soil.

Practical aspects aside, the dacha has another purpose, and that is spiritual. Russians, who tend to think globally and worry about the fate of the world, are sometimes powerless to organise their own free time. As a result, all their agonies end on the couch in front of the television.

The dacha solves this problem once and for all. No one has to think about how to entertain themselves at weekends or waste time arguing with family members. “We’re going to the dacha” says it all. At the dacha, everyone finds an occupation after his or her own heart.

The husband bangs a nail into the wall, the wife weeds the vegetable patch, the children and dogs are left to their own devices. The dacha brings families together. And, in the end, “I was at the dacha this weekend” sounds a lot better than “I sat at home watching TV”.

 

What does your dacha mean to you?

The dacha is also home to a culinary ritual known as shashlik (shish kebab) – a Georgian dish that has metamorphosed into a speciality at dachas throughout the former USSR. Because shashlik tastes best in a group, it’s an excuse to invite friends. Making shashlik is so absorbing that it’s all you talk about.

First you choose the right meat, then the right recipe for the marinade. The fire has to be started and allowed to burn down until it’s almost out, but still smouldering. If you catch it at that moment, there’s a chance the meat will roast evenly and not burn.

Meanwhile, the fire keeps threatening to go out, compelling family and guests to furiously fan it with pieces of cardboard. You’ll be so involved, you won’t even notice it’s time to go back to the city.

 

 

And while most cruise ship passengers will not get to experience it , we as travelers to Russia , found the Dasha and it's Banya , to be one of our favorite experiences in Russia . :) :D

[cruise47]

To the OP Happy New Year. You should be a Russian History Professor.

[scubacruiserx2]

To the OP Happy New Year. You should be a Russian History Professor.

 

Thank you and a Happy New Year to you . We do hope to make one last visit to St. Petersburg with our grandson in June . The Eclipse has a 3 day stay in SPB with its Baltic cruise from Southamption while Princess Regal offers a 10 Baltic cruise from SPB . Our next cruise is in February on the Regal , so it may help to clarify our choice . But while both ships have good rooms available , some friends in the UK have expressed interest in the Eclipse and we would love to cruise with them . :) :D

[upwarduk]

And while most cruise ship passengers will not get to experience it , we as travelers to Russia , found the Dasha and it's Banya , to be one of our favorite experiences in Russia .

 

Maybe this is what our guide Luba was referring to when she told us that the weekend starts mid afternoon on a Friday, when 'families go to the country.'

She took us on the underground at 5pm Friday and it was deserted. This would have been the height of rush hour in London.

[scubacruiserx2]

Maybe this is what our guide Luba was referring to when she told us that the weekend starts mid afternoon on a Friday, when 'families go to the country.'

She took us on the underground at 5pm Friday and it was deserted. This would have been the height of rush hour in London.

 

Having a good and knowledgeable guide as you did is of paramount importance , especially in St . Petersburg . And avoiding the traffic on the Metro and the outbound traffic from the city was an excellent plan ! :) :D

[scubacruiserx2]

This is a description of how our visit to the country would work :

 

RUSSIAN DACHA, BANYA AND COOKING

 

This tour is for people who would like to see what Russian dachas are like, to try homemade Russian food and to experience an authentic Russian banya.

A dacha is a uniquely Russian concept of a holiday house, and it has an important place in heart of Russian culture. The development of the concept of a Dacha is strongly connected to the Russian history.

A banya is a Russian bathhouse often found on a dacha. Russians love taking banyas; it's their temple of cleanliness and health and it holds an important role in Russian culture. All Russians have an opinion about the best way to use a banya: how hot the sweating room should be, how long you should stay in there, what kind of branch you should use for beating & massaging your body and so on.

Russian cuisine is very delicious. On this tour you can watch or participate in the process of cooking it and then enjoy it!

 

This is a half day tour (about 8 hours). We will meet at Moskovskiy Railway station which is located in the centre of the city at 8:25 a.m. From there we will take a 1 hour train ride to a historically significant part of the countryside, in which important battles in WW2 took place (the cost of the train tickets is included in the price). During the train trip I will tell you about the history of dachas, information about banyas, and will try to answer all your questions.

After we arrive, we will go to the dacha (about a 20 minute walk, if the group is small it's possible to go there by car instead). There you will get a warm drink and a snack (we cater for vegetarians too), and then you will get to experience a real Russian wood cabin banya. The entire process takes about 1 hour including washing, steaming, relaxing, and optionally being beaten with а bunch of green twigs (this incredibly good for your health, and Russians love this!). You will get the washing equipment for free.

After the banya, we will have a lovely Russian homemade lunch in the Dacha house, which is still in the process of construction but is already quite nice.

Then if you would like you will be taken on a 40 minute tour of an old and picturesque neighboring village with a German cemetery from WW2. You will listen to some information about the history of the place, see the cemetery and also a beautiful nearby orthodox church. This tour is also included in the price.

And then we will make our way back to St. Petersburg by train. We'll arrive back in St. Petersburg at about 5 p.m.