10-04-2013 Uglich

10-04-2013 Uglich

LAT Post

We landed in Uglich early and after breakfast we quickly chose the tour we wanted to go on.  We wanted to visit a Russian home and skip the churches and go to the markets to shop.  We were introduced to our local guide and divided into a smaller group that would fit into the guides home (15).  We arrived and went into a room that had one long wall solid with bookshelves, one wall with like  day bed, one wall with nice windows and the fourth with the door had paintings hung.  There was a table set with small plates, a knife and fork, a cup and a shot glass.  There were cakes cut in small pieces, slices of a dark bread and sliced pickles.  He welcomed us, introduced us to his wife, and told us about his children, a son in college and a daughter who is 10.  He showed us some of her art work which was really remarkably good.  Turns out he is quite an artist himself as the paintings in the room are his,  He and his wife are jewelers and used to work in the watch factory but now do icon type art with small wire ..  he talked about life in the city, the cost of things, the wages etc.  He then asked us to pour ourselves some moonshine whiskey take a piece of the bread and a slice of the pickle.  You take a deep breath, slug down the whiskey shot and follow it by the pickle placed on bread! Not sure about the bread and pickle but the whiskey was quite tasty.  We spent about an hour there he asked us to sign his map next to the place where we live ,,it appears he has had company from Oregon before us.  Some of our group was from the UK and some from the states.  We were then returned to the main part of town and near the market and near the ship.  We did a little shopping at the market that had many vendors selling tourist type items,  The ship then took off a noon for more sailing that will now last thru tomorrow afternoon when we arrive in Moscow.  Had a farewell to the crew dinner and went to bed early,

LMR Post

Made it to Uglich which is the last stop before Moscow.  We were on the first visit to Russian home,  Went to see Vladimur and Rita.  They had been watch makers and jewelers.  The family was all very talented.  The son was now in Moscow and the daughter a 10 year old in school in Uglich.  Had toasts with moonshine, pickles, and some cakes,  Saw their garden and heard lots of stories,  Then we went shopping!  It was a major shopping experience...lots of scarves, jewelry, dolls. clothing etc.  Captains dinner at night with a fixed menu including such things as scampi and caviar.  Had the crew parade at 9:45 where they were all acknowledged,  Then we saw a video of the first few days of the trip.  Lots of hysterical shots ..good videographer.  Also had the final history class of Putin's effects on the country.