Glenn & Shirley Spunnaugle
Kent & Sharon
Dennis & Cherry Good
Warren & Sue Wainwright
Don & Eve Strassburg
Jack & Leona Koefoed
Arnie & Marion Lyon
We had a wonderful 13 day river cruise in Russia from St. Petersburg to Moscow with 6 other couples -- Arnie & Marion Lyon, Warren & Sue Wainwright, Don & Eve Strassburg (all from CA), Glenn & Shirley Spunnaugle (OK), Dennis & Cherry Good and Jack & Leona Koefoed (both from British Columbia).
Had a great time together! It was special to be with the workers and friends in both St. Petersburg and Moscow. Both cities were so beautiful and interesting. We toured St. Petersburg and all its sites and beauty, including the famous and gorgeous Hermitage, Winter Palace, beautiful churches, a canal cruise, Russian performance of Swan Lake ballet, a Russian folklore ensemble performance, and much more. Then we cruised on Lake Ldoga & Svir River with a stop in the quaint village of Mandrogy. We ladies participated in a Nesting Doll painting class there and decorated our own nesting dolls. Fun! Cruised on through Lake Onega with a stop in Kizhi Island, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with an amazing wooden structures and the Transfiguration Church built completely of wood without a single nail and has 22 timbered onion domes! Continued on through the Volga-Baltic Waterway and its pastoral country-side with a stop in Goritzy to visit some old churches filled with beautiful frescoes and icons. Continued on with a stop the next day in the picturesque city of Yaroslavl with its ancient monuments and beautiful churches. Had time to explore the market and shop. Gorgeous painted boxes, etc!!! Our last stop before Moscow was a walking tour in Uglich and tours of some beautiful and unique churches. Cruised on along the Volga and through Muscovy territory and along the Moscow Canal, and docked in Moscow. Loved the city of Moscow!!! We were there for 3 days and saw so much -- their amazing Metro with elegant stations, famed Bolshoi Theater, Red Square, the Kremlin, St. Basil's Cathedral with its colorful onion domes, and enjoyed a classical folklore concert (fantastic!) on their traditional folk instruments, the famous Armory Museum, the famed GUM department store ( a gorgeous store and mall!), etc. Enjoyed being with Enid & Lyle Dean in their apartment for yummy supper and visit and fellowship. Even met up with Ken & Kathy Newman (TX) for a day together, as they were there the same few days as us on business. Hated to leave and say good-bye to all after our grand time together for two weeks
in Russia!!!
ST. PETERSBURG
Here we are in St. Petersburg!
The whole gang!
Swan Lake ballet
Beautiful onion domes!
Russian folklore performance
Scrumptious Russian pies!
Canal cruiseCRUISING...
MANDROGY
Painting our nesting dolls.
Painting our nesting dolls.
Our finished products!
Nesting dolls
KIZHI
Unique ancient wooden architecture!
CRUISING ALONG....
ONE OF SEVERAL LOCKS
YAROSLAVL
Gorgeous painted boxes!
One of many statues
in city
Bought a Russian cup & saucer
UGLICH
MOSCOW
Gorgeous shopping mall!
Lunch with Ken & Kathy Newman
Super market on lower level
& typical apts. above.
Former KGB bldg.
Entering Red Square
Billboard for Mercedes
Lyle & Enid Dean
Ongoing saga of Talarico sign...arrived in Moscow in our ship cabin!!!
Ask Kent!
Saying good-bye at the ship...
Farewell Russia and a wonderful time!
