Bit of a blog – Legend of the Seas - Ultimate Scandinavia & Russia – June 18th 2014

[NorbertsNiece]

Downtown

 

 

Market

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Following my feet today......

 

 

Not easy to walk about without the other tourists getting the way :mad:

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Another tourist information place

 

 

One of Estonia’s principle writers, Eduard Vilde (1865-1933) lived in Tallinn

 

 

Starting to head up the hill, direction Toompea

 

 

At least there are stairs..... those cobbles.....

 

 

 

[RenoDuck]

We have seen this building from the road, the canal and now we are to go in. The Yosupov Palace.

There is much on the web about this stunning palace, the most important piece of history though, IMO, is the fact that Grigory Rasputin was murdered here in 1916. There is a small charge for photographs to be taken inside and I avail myself of this opportunity.

 

Question on the photography permit - I have been advised by my tour group that the cost is $6USD, however, it must be paid in Rubles and that there would be a stop at the ATM to obtain. Frankly, I don't think I want to pay the $5USD foreign ATM charge to my bank to get $6USD worth of rubles.

 

I had thought I wanted to be able to take pictures here, but after looking at yours (thank you for posting) combined with the payment hassles are making me reconsider.

 

Any thoughts?

[newgrange]

You could order it from the bank before you go.

[NorbertsNiece]

I used rubles to buy snacks when out and about and souvenirs and would have paid for lunch with them too. Credit cards are accepted at most places. I was the only one in the group to buy the photo permit and really glad that I did.

[NorbertsNiece]

Cathedral of the Virgin Mary

 

 

The view from the top...... check out the balloon in the distance

 

 

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Young enterprise selling strawberries and cherries

 

 

I have to have a bird somewhere in my blog. It's in the rules.

 

 

 

I now have no idea how to get down so leave the crowds and go by instinct

 

 

 

Aleksander Nevsky Cathedral

 

Edited July 2, 2014 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

Parliament building

 

 

 

 

 

Off the beaten track and tourist free!! There's a coffee shop here.

 

 

Edited July 2, 2014 by NorbertsNiece

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

 

Commemorating Estonian War of Independence

 

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

Continuing my wandering.... although I do have a purpose....

 

 

 

 

Estonian novelist Anton Hansen Tammsaare

 

[NorbertsNiece]

This is my first clue that I am in the right neighbourhood

 

 

Next door

 

 

 

There are others there. I tag along.

 

 

I can do no better than to refer you to their website here

 

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

The Twelve Tribes Of Israel embellish the surround

 

 

A stone from Jerusalem

 

 

 

I love how the tree of life lets in light from outside.

 

[NorbertsNiece]

I head back to the pier again taking a bit of a circuitous route. There's that balloon again.

 

 

 

 

There's a nice market...... it is also accessible from the other side where the Tourist Information stand is. I buy 2 amber rings here.

 

 

Back on board..... chocolate mousse has had a name change

 

 

Our neighbour is off....

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

Menu..... feel free to link to this if people ask..... felt it best to take a few pics rather than try and minimise.... I know people often ask about prices on the main board.

 

 

 

 

 

[seaofwonder]

Loving the pics! We leave in a month for a similar itinerary :) I read several Russian history books....the Romanovs and Peter the Great. Still need to read Catherine the Great. Can't wait to see these sites come to life in front of my eyes.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[NorbertsNiece]

 

 

 

 

 

They had no edamame so I got these...... not great....

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

My view

 

 

They are taking good care of me

 

 

Miso

 

 

 

Chicken kara-age, was expecting it to be much more crispy than it was

 

[NorbertsNiece]

As in the best Japanese restaurants presentation is paramount

 

 

This.

Delicious.

Izumi Spider Roll

 

 

 

I actually get up out of my seat to compliment the chef!!

 

 

Something is happening.....

 

 

Mixed seafood rock

 

[NorbertsNiece]

 

That rock is hot!!

 

 

 

 

My 'Chops' tiramisu...... :rolleyes:

 

[Lotus Girl]

Question on the photography permit - I have been advised by my tour group that the cost is $6USD, however, it must be paid in Rubles and that there would be a stop at the ATM to obtain. Frankly, I don't think I want to pay the $5USD foreign ATM charge to my bank to get $6USD worth of rubles.

 

I had thought I wanted to be able to take pictures here, but after looking at yours (thank you for posting) combined with the payment hassles are making me reconsider.

 

Any thoughts?

 

We were in SPB last month, not on this cruise but with Celebrity and DH paid with $ and it was $6. The official person didn't have change so make sure you have the right money. Given that we are British, I had some $'s with me but no $1 notes but thankfully we had some Americans in our tour group who gave us the extra $1 as they weren't going to accept anything less than $6!

[NorbertsNiece]

The view from my window

 

 

The first centrum show is still running and I catch all of the 2nd..... recommend it highly.....

 

 

 

Live music accompanies the above the ground action

 

 

Barely a ripple

 

 

Thanks for hanging in there and reading along. Your positive comments have spurred me on. Just Stockholm to go now.....

[happy trailer]

Yes and yes..... wait for Tallinn.......

 

It was worth the wait!! Checking out the link you posted!

 

Edited to add: I'm looking at their website now- wow! Thank you so much for posting the link!

 

Ruth

Edited July 2, 2014 by happy trailer

[RenoDuck]

You could order it from the bank before you go.

 

I used rubles to buy snacks when out and about and souvenirs and would have paid for lunch with them too. Credit cards are accepted at most places. I was the only one in the group to buy the photo permit and really glad that I did.

 

Thanks for the feedback on the Photo Permit for Yusupov Palace. I'm leaving shortly and have already picked up my currency for the other countries.

 

Because I was under the mistaken impression I could just pay SPB Tours for the Photo Permint, along with my tour charge, in USD and reading that I really didn't need rubles for anything else, I decided not to order any.

 

I read a later post that someone was able to pay with USD. I think I will wing it and have exact change in USD and if they take it great, if they don't, I'll still have plenty of pictures of my time in SPB :)

 

Thanks again!

Edited July 2, 2014 by RenoDuck

[SF2AA]

Thanks for the feedback on the Photo Permit for Yusupov Palace. I'm leaving shortly and have already picked up my currency for the other countries.

 

Because I was under the mistaken impression I could just pay SPB Tours for the Photo Permint, along with my tour charge, in USD and reading that I really didn't need rubles for anything else, I decided not to order any.

 

I read a later post that someone was able to pay with USD. I think I will wing it and have exact change in USD and if they take it great, if they don't, I'll still have plenty of pictures of my time in SPB :)

 

Thanks again!

 

Yes, you can pay SPB Tours with USD or euros or rubles. But they don't have change. We just did the 3-day deluxe tour with them and it was marvelous!