Archangel

Sailing along the north coast of Russia, there was a slightly choppier sea and a temperature drop to 4 degrees C. Tai Chi on deck was not possible in these conditions, but there was a session the next morning, as the visa arrangements were that guests were only allowed to leave the ship on organised tours.

An afternoon tour produced the usual confusion of ‘counting the people on the tour’. The Silversea lecturer counted one number in English and the Russian guide achieved a different number in Russian. Despite many counts, reconciliation never occurred. TSH and Diva were sure that the discrepancy was because there were no clear guidelines about whether lecturers, guides and drivers were included or not.

The terrain in this region is much flatter than so far experienced on this voyage but it was relatively warm (18 degrees C), so much so that the local buses travelled with their front grilles open for ventilation. The tour went to Malye Korely – an outdoor museum of buildings brought from across the region. Women in traditional dress greet visitors with bread and salt and then point out interesting features.  The well-fed Silver Cloud guests turned down the offer of the remainder of the bread to have as a snack on the coach back to the pier. The bell-ringing seems very different from in the UK, where one person rings each bell and it looks like hard work. The bells must be much lighter, because one person rings them all – one rope is attached to each finger!! Liberal application of repellent meant that there were no bites from the many vicious-looking insects.

On return to Silver Cloud, there were compulsory tea and cakes provided by the butler. He may be less obliging from now on because of the damage wreaked by TSH when the table collapsed, knocking the orchid plant over whilst he was removing his contact lens. He held the lens in one hand, whilst trying to save the plant with the other. The lens is OK but the plant – and the carpet – may never be the same again.

Silver Cloud’s visit was featured on local TV and people, including a street saxophonist, came to look at what must be a rare cruise ship visit. The sail-away at 23:00 was attended by what looked like half the town.