NCL Sun – May 30 – More Time in St Petersburg, Russia

Very tired after yesterday, so not an early start. Steve promised me we would take a taxi and not walk the long distance to the Metro. While he was checking prices at the taxi dispatch stand, Marcus (from Helsinki, who was on the other ship at the port) suggested we share the taxi. Great idea. We all took it to the other end of Vasilyevskiy Island    and arranged for the driver to pick us up there at 4:30. That way we knew exactly how much it would cost. Steve and I spent our time visiting places we had never seen. The first place was Peter the Great Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography, the first Russian museum with exhibits including Cultures of Peoples of the World and the First Scientific Collections of Kunstkamera (Cabinet of Curiosities). There was one room that housed deformed fetuses and infant skeletons and heads in jars, preserved since the early 18th century. Our next visit was to the Menshikov Palace, an interesting home of Prince Alexander Menshikov, Peter the Great’s closest friend and associate, restored to look much like it did nearly 300 years ago, filled with actual furniture, art, and artifacts from when Menshikov and his family lived there.

Walked back to our meeting location to wait for Marcus and the taxi driver. Ride back to the ship and to the boat to relax a little before dinner. When we went the restaurant, there was no wait so we went right in and were seated in same window area as other nights. Good dinner and friendly, professional service. Back to cabin but decided to leave because the room service people were nearing our room to do their night work. Up to Deck 11 to watch as the ship left port and then to the Observation Lounge to wait for the special Russian Bazaar. I checked it out a little but decided to leave the crowds that were trying to get some deals (not many that I saw). Checked out the amber sale in at Columbian Emeralds (nothing I wanted) and a quick walk through the other shop (nothing we wanted) and back to the cabin for the night. Watched “My Life in Ruins,” very funny movie about a tour guide in Greece. Movies are available on the cabin TV.

Tomorrow… Helsinki.