10-07-2013 Moscow (last day)

10-07-2013 Moscow

LAT Post

    Our last day in Moscow and I will be glad to get home.  Too much rich food, long walks (runs), stairs, beer...and no sewing time!  Today we started out on a tourI was really looking forward to.  It was to the Kremlin and the Armory within the Kremlin.  It took us a good hour and a half to get to the Kremlin...traffic as usual was horrid!  Bumper to bumper for miles...drivers need a lot of patience here ..and they seem to have it.  We arrived at the Kremlin and had to walk about two blocks to the gate where you go in.  All of the Kremlin surrounded by a red brick wall that is about 12 feet high.  The entrance for visitors is through a metal detector.  Once inside the gate the hike to the building that is the armory is around 10 city blocks..on some cobble stone roadway.  The armory is the building that houses some fabulous art, jewelry, carriages, amour (hence the name) icons, furniture it was three long flight of stairs up and they were marble with mostly no hand rails..pretty nerve racking for us that are balance challenged.  The guide we had did not take into consideration that we had some people that could not run a marathon, such as Wayne from Canada who walked with a cane!  Then she would stand IN FRONT of a piece of art blocking the view and talking on and on so those of us at the end heard part of her talking and part of thr group behind us and we were never in front of an item that she was talking about...we think we would have done better on our own looking at those items that interested us and skipping those that did not like the amour!   But all bitching aside we did see some fabulous items and it was worth it.  Linda and I wanted to stop and look in the gift shop and there was no way that was going to happen...Tatiana had us on a death march to the next thing to look at which was an orthodox church. Oh hummmm...seen one seen them all they have rules that they are to be decorated in just a certain way .. The outside of the buildings is really the most lovely anyway.  Well we saw a bell and some cannons and then started the death match back to the bus. Another 1+ hour ride back to the boat ??then Linda and I went down and settle our bills for tours, laundry, bar etc.  mine was the best as I had bought less tours and did not go to the ballet that cost 265€. $300+ ...but they loved it so that is good! Linda and Patsy signed up for the nunnery (not me for obvious reasons for those who know me).  I guess it was suppose to be interesting and historical...but really... Anyway they did not go the death march in the morning did us all in.  We had a nice dinner with everyone being together...said our "nice to meet ya...s" and took off for bed....tomorrow is a long long day of travel.  15 hours....but at the end we will be home again!

LMR Post

     Last day of the cruise - left early for tour of the Kremlin and the armory.  Only 10 Faberge eggs and it was packed with people and our guide rushed us through I actually had to run.  The gift shop looked lovely but we were not allowed any time to stop much less to shop!  Returned for lunch - hamburgers and then had to settle our bills, cash only from this time forward.  Good timing as my bill was already too high.  So much for prepaying.  Farewell dinner tonight, some people are leaving at 2AM!  This is because the traffic is so bad and airports are an hour and a half away.  Till next time---