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

[scubacruiserx2]

We met our guide Alexandra at the Finland train station at the appointed hour for our train ride North toward Finland . This station is where Lenin returned to Russia in 1917 after being exiled from Russia , hence the large Lenin statue in the front .

 

 

 

 

In 2009 , the statue was attacked with a hole blown in the seat of the pants .

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7976883.stm

 

 

We recognized Alex from her photo and we were soon on a train much different that our Sapsan express to Moscow . Alexandra has a charming personality and a sweet disposition and reminded us of our youngest daughter. While en route to the Dacha she showed us a video in Russian to help us understand the banya process.

 

 

 

 

After her video she answered some of our questions and speaks English with an interesting accent :

 

 

 

 

She then explained that her boyfriend helps her with her English and that he's from Australia ! After about an hours time , we were in the country and walked some dirt roads near the lake for about 20 minutes .

 

 

 

 

From the Dacha we could see the banya through the trees .

 

 

 

 

Alexandra explained to us that the dacha was rented and she requested verbal permission to explore the dacha from the tenants. They were very kind and consented to let us look around while they were making us a brunch. We shared a meal in the cozy kitchen of potato pancakes , blinis , homemade jellies and a kind of farmer's cheese . The food and the company was wonderful. The lady who lived there is a writer and she and her mom had never met , nor seen , any Americans before and yet she spoke good English . They treated us like we were good friends. The food was delicious and the toppings homemade .

 

 

 

 

 

I found this video online that gives a good explanation of the banya :

 

 

 

After brunch we made our way to the banya about 30 yards from the dacha. Alexandra showed us the area and started a fire in the fireplace to heat up the sauna.

 

 

[MicCanberra]

Hi All,

Happy New year to everyone.

I am back after a wonderful, felt like home, cruise on the Solstice.

Great pics as per usual Joe. Hope Pat is still mending quickly.

cheers Mic:D

[scubacruiserx2]

Hi All,

Happy New year to everyone.

I am back after a wonderful, felt like home, cruise on the Solstice.

Great pics as per usual Joe. Hope Pat is still mending quickly.

cheers Mic:D

 

Welcome back Mic ,we hope that you and Rosie had a great cruise and a Happy New Year . Pat is doing much better now and the doctor has given her the green light yesterday for baths and swimming . :) :D

[Bimmer09]

Welcome back Mic ,we hope that you and Rosie had a great cruise and a Happy New Year . Pat is doing much better now and the doctor has given her the green light yesterday for baths and swimming . :) :D

 

That's such great news, Tom!

 

Norris

 

[MicCanberra]

Welcome back Mic ,we hope that you and Rosie had a great cruise and a Happy New Year . Pat is doing much better now and the doctor has given her the green light yesterday for baths and swimming . :) :D

 

Woohoo. great news:D

[scubacruiserx2]

That's such great news, Tom!

 

Norris

 

 

Thanks Morris , a Celebrity cruise soon ?

[scubacruiserx2]

Woohoo. great news:D

 

Such a common thing takes on a whole new meaning when it's no longer common ! ;)

[scubacruiserx2]

Meanwhile , at our Russian Banya , Alex opened her backpack which was stuffed with presents from her mom and dad. It was filled with everything that we needed . Matching cover ups slippers , and hats ! Brand new towels , washcloths and sponges . Soap and shampoo . It was just like Christmas ! She treated us like we were in First Class on a flight - but with lots of room , a shower and a sauna . But of course , no airplane could ever have a sauna !

 

 

 

 

After opening our nice , soft presents came the last one - the veniks , used to flog each other .

 

http://russiapedia.rt.com/of-russian-origin/venik/

 

 

We began soaking them in the wet room as we prepared for the sauna.

 

 

 

 

 

Following our host's instruction , we took separate showers in the wet room followed by a joint meeting in the dry sauna - Finnish style .

 

 

 

 

After about 15- 20 minutes in the sauna came a COLD plunge in a lake or the snow ! We had neither , so a cold shower sealed the deal for us! It was very refreshing but , I was ready for the Russian Sauna .

 

 

 

This time we used water from the soaking Eucalyptus leaves to create steam on the rocks inside the sauna. The steam and the vapors from the Eucalyptus were very invigorating ! After another 15-20 minute sauna time came the cold shower and a tea break in the dry room .

 

 

In our final cycle in the sauna - we brought out the branches for the circulatory massage . I must admit that it didn't hurt and it did feel mildly stimulating ( or was it the Eucalyptus ? ).

 

 

 

After another shower , tea , rest and dressing - we were finished (or should I say Finnished ?) . I really did feel clean , relaxed and "born again" as Alexandra had said . After saying our goodbyes and thank you to the tenants , we made our way back , past the lake to wait for the train. Stopping along the way , we looked for mushrooms (Russians are very fond of mushrooms and mushroom picking ) . But we only found this poisonous one !

 

 

 

 

Waiting for our train back to St. Petersburg

 

 

Edited January 6, 2016 by scubacruiserx2

[happyyaya]

We are doing the Transantlic on the Eclipse in 2017 -- a ways off but this is still very very helpful to see! We'll do Miami to Southampton -- and then stay on the ship for a back-to-back option and continue on the Norwegian Fjiords cruise. Love seeing these pics and your experiences. We've done Celebrity -- Alaska (amazing), Baltic (Tallin is an amazing place), Panama Canal (in its 100th year), and our first cruise that included Barcelona, Rome, some Greek islands, Malta. November 2016 will be back-to-backs, starting in Singapore and going all around Australia, ending in Sydney in AM. Then in PM leaving Sydney for another 14 days around New Zealand. We are thinking of that as the trip of a lifetime! We are sold on Celebrity!

[happyyaya]

We've LOVED the chicken-apple sausage on Celebrity -- when it was done in homemade patties. Last time, they'd switched to links. I was able to get the recipe from the Celebrity chefs for the patties -- they are a favorite and made at home now for special occasions!

Did you ever have breakfast in the Aqua cafe near the pool? Anyone can eat there and they have healthy breakfast choices. Usually very quiet.

[happyyaya]

Agree! Scones are absolutely delicious! I unfortunately learned that one can get free pastries any time at Cafe Baccio....anyone can get them! Oh my....my downfall!

[happyyaya]

...and the water really does look like this! We lived in St. George's Bermuda for all of February 2015. Loved it so much that we've rented an apartment for February AND March this 2016. Such a friendly place and absolutely beautiful. Buses take you up and down the entire island -- a country of 23 miles in length and, at the widest part, 2 1/2 miles! English is the language and the dollar exchange between Bermuda and US is 1 for 1. They take US dollars. Fabulous place! We will be travelling with another couple on this transatlantic in 2017 and look forward to showing them the island! Your pictures are great!

[happyyaya]

okay....did not do the caves last February! Will definitely do them this year.

Yes -- with the buses you have to be sure and get on the right route that will take you to St. George. They don't all go all the way there. Just ask the driver. They are all so friendly and helpful!

[happyyaya]

Anyone who gets to St. George should definitely try a fish sandwich at Art Mel's Spicey Dicey. AMAZING! Read the reviews! They are not exaggerated at all!

[scubacruiserx2]

We are doing the Transantlic on the Eclipse in 2017 -- a ways off but this is still very very helpful to see! We'll do Miami to Southampton -- and then stay on the ship for a back-to-back option and continue on the Norwegian Fjiords cruise. Love seeing these pics and your experiences. We've done Celebrity -- Alaska (amazing), Baltic (Tallin is an amazing place), Panama Canal (in its 100th year), and our first cruise that included Barcelona, Rome, some Greek islands, Malta. November 2016 will be back-to-backs, starting in Singapore and going all around Australia, ending in Sydney in AM. Then in PM leaving Sydney for another 14 days around New Zealand. We are thinking of that as the trip of a lifetime! We are sold on Celebrity!

 

Welcome to the thread but it may take awhile to read . ;) And congratulations on your upcoming B2B's , they really sound like a couple of great cruises ! :) :D

[scubacruiserx2]

There is a time for all good things to come to an end , and on our last day in SPB we took one last walk along the canal to the Spilled Blood Church .

 

 

 

It seemed appropriate that across the canal a busker was playing Somewhere my Love ( Lara's Theme ) from Dr. Zhivago .

 

 

 

 

 

 

And thus , the joint American - Russian undocking process was completed via a BA nonstop flight from LED to LHR .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With happy meals to go !

 

 

 

 

Edited January 7, 2016 by scubacruiserx2

[Bimmer09]

Thanks Morris , a Celebrity cruise soon ?

 

Tom, Silhouette January 17th- 7 days E Caribbean. We're ready for it!

 

Norris

[scubacruiserx2]

Tom, Silhouette January 17th- 7 days E Caribbean. We're ready for it!

 

Norris

 

That's fantastic ! We almost booked the W Caribbean on the Silhouette Jan. 24 th but had to change dates to meet friends in Cozumel . So now we're on the Princess Regal Feb. 7th . It should be a good comparison to the Celebrity S class ( Eclipse ) from our last cruise . :) :D

[happyyaya]

That looks like the Grand Marnier shuffle --- any time that's offered on Celebrity, my eyes roll to the back of my head it is soooo delicious!

[MicCanberra]

Yum a good night is the goat's cheese soufflé followed by the Grand Marnier soufflé.:cool:

Edited January 7, 2016 by MicCanberra

[scubacruiserx2]

Yum a good night is the goat's cheese soufflé followed by the Grand Marnier soufflé.:cool:

 

A two souffle day ? Double yum ! :D :D

[MicCanberra]

A two souffle day ? Double yum ! :D :D

 

Expanda pants are so worth it.:p

[Bimmer09]

That's fantastic ! We almost booked the W Caribbean on the Silhouette Jan. 24 th but had to change dates to meet friends in Cozumel . So now we're on the Princess Regal Feb. 7th . It should be a good comparison to the Celebrity S class ( Eclipse ) from our last cruise . :) :D

 

Tom, I look forward to your review on the Regal.

 

Norris

[scubacruiserx2]

Expanda pants are so worth it.:p

 

I've never heard of them before but they sound like just the thing for a long cruise ! :) :D

[scubacruiserx2]

Tom, I look forward to your review on the Regal.

 

Norris

 

And we look forward to the review of your first Celebrity cruise !