FUN-travel: St. Petersburg, Russia – Day 4 – Princess Baltic Cruise
July 29, 2014 by Susan Clarke
Day 23 – Wednesday, July 23 – St. Petersburg, Russia – Princess Cruise – Day 4 – blue skies w/scattered clouds in distant – high 70’s – sunrise 4:43 – sunset 11:14
Peterhof Gardens
What I LIKE
- 6:25 – wake up to hot cappuccino from my love
- 7:00 – ready to go
- 7:15 – head down for cappuccino to go
- 7:30 – arrive theatre & tour takes off – not hurry up & wait
- 7:50 – tour bus departs for Peterhof Palace & Gardens
- – didn’t see this when here last week on purpose
- – Princess gave us $100 credit for excursion
- – this is only one we will take (way overpriced)
- 9:00 – arrive & walk to entrance
- 9:30 – inside tour begins
- 10:30 – garden tour begins
- UNESCO site – overlooks Sea of Finland
- – designed by Peter the Great
- – one palace entrance by carriage & the other by gondola from the sea
- Features Grand Cascade – fountain depicting Samson prying open lion’s jaws
- 11:00 – fountains turned on
- – all gravity fed & no pumps – pretty spectacular
- 11:30 – back to bus
- 12:00 – souvenir stop – need to spend left over rubles
- – end up spending more money for sweet painting of church on spilled blood
- (wanted Moscow St. Basil’s but not there)
- 1:15 – arrive ship – stop for salads @ small bar on way in
- – shrimp & chicken curry
- – take to go – eat on balcony w/glass of wine so I can…
- 2:00 – take nap
- 7:30 – dinner @ same dining room Symphony Deck 5
- – warm crab & artichoke dip just so so
- – Caesar salad is completely different from 1st day
- – nice & crisp w/much lighter dressing – VG
- – fish/scallop/shrimp skewers w/mango lime salsa & pad thai
- – more just so so
- – attempt to get some hot chili or sirachi sauce
- – neither on board
- – Spellbound 2012 Napa Petite Sarah (Mondavi wine) VG!
- $5 upcharge on wine card
- 9:00 – Wheelhouse bar Deck 7 – martini & glass of wine for…
- 9:15 – Princess Live jazz show – piano, guitar, drums & horns – VG
- 10:00 – down to Deck 6 for Motown – no one there
- – head to room
- – over & done
Peterhof Cathedral
What I DON’T LIKE
- 4:25 wake up
- 5:25 wake up
- 7: 35 to 7:45 – have to stand in line for passport control
- 12:45 – have to stand in line for passport control again to get on ship – what a joke!
- Favorite waiter Jigger has no tables again
- Food’s inconsistent
FUN-fact – Peterhof Palace & Garden was the most well organized tour for handling large crowds. Each room had an attendant that controlled the flow and made it a very enjoyable experience. And just as an FYI – it looks a lot like Catherine’s Palace inside. I wouldn’t pay to do both.
Not so FF – The Netherland’s response to the downing of the Malaysian Airlines plane has been extremely moving and they should be commended for their handling of this terrible situation. Each passenger is being given dignity and respect with military honors as they arrive by plane from the Ukraine.