Map of Our Russia River Cruise

Our ship left Moscow about 4 p.m. We first sailed from our berth on the Khimk Reservoir to the Moscow Canal, which connects with the Volga River. We were on the way to our first port, Uglich, 165.28 miles (266 km) from Moscow.

On Our way

We passed by the Northern River Station and the other river boats docked here.

Presentation of the Captain’s Crew and Welcome Cocktail

The crew was presented to us. The captain spoke in Russian, with Tanya, our Gate 1 tour guide, translating into English. We also had a large Italian group on board and their guide translated what the captain said into Italian. Additionally, we had a small group from Sweden and their guide translated what the captain said into Swedish. The captain of the ship is at the microphone.

We had champagne––very sweet. Joyce didn’t want hers so I had two glasses of champagne.

The Captain of the M.S. Lenin

Many of the women aboard thought the captain was movie–star handsome.

Tanya

Tanya, our Gate 1 tour guide. I found out later that she is actually Dr. Tanya  as she has a Ph.D. in linguistics and teachers at a university. This was her first Gate 1 season. Her English was excellent.

Our Special Treat for Dinner

Tonight, we had a special appetizer: red caviar, smoked salmon, and pancakes––how caviar is often served in Russia. No one but me wanted the caviar, so I had at least an extra helping of it. I also ate the smoked salmon, which I have always avoided. I also had a glass of wine at dinner.

When I got back to my cabin after dinner, I was unbelievably dizzy. I think the salty sandwich I had for lunch at the Gum Department Store, the champagne at the captains’s reception, the wine and the caviar and the smoked salmon I had for dinner, not getting enough sleep for two nights, the time change (Moscow was 11 hours ahead of LA time), and the movement of the boat hit me all at once. I was a bit worried. I opened my cabin’s window and took two Tums and all settled down, until I was awakened by what I thought was an earthquake (if you live in Southern California and you hear strange noises and movements at night, the first thing you think about is you are having an earthquake). It took awhile until I remembered I was on a boat. The strange noises and movements were from going through a lock. The list of locks that Tanya gave us indicated that we went through six locks that night and early morning.

Our Cruise Through the Moscow Canal and on the Volga River

I have put most of my photos of our cruise from Moscow to Uglich through the Moscow Canal and on the Volga River on a slide show: Go directly to

http://www.peggysphotos.com/russia–river–cruise–1–moscow–to–urlich/

or to Slide Shows, Eastern Europe, Russia, River Cruise: (1) Moscow to Uglich.

The most interesting sight that we passed on our cruise was the Bell Tower of St. Nicholas’ Cathedral, built in 1800, and originally in the town of Kaliazin.  In 1940, the town was flooded when the Uglich resevoir was constructed. Little of the town remains today.

Uglich

We reached our first port of call: Uglich. “Uglich” is a derivative of “ugol,” a corner. The Volga makes a sharp turn at Uglich. Uglich was founded as early as 937. Today, it has about 39,000 inhabitants.

It is mostly known as is the place where Prince Dimitry, the youngest son of Ivan the Terrible, after Ivan’s death, was banished to and then assassinated  in 1591 at age 8–10 years old  (sources state his age differently). Dimitry was the heir to the Muscoite throne. His death led to the Time of Troubles, a period of political crisis in Russia in the 17th century. Some thought that Dimitry was still alive and there were three False Dimitrys claiming the throne: False Dimitry I, II, and III.

Uglich

The church in the Uglich poster. The Church of Prince Dimitry the Martyr (Church of the Blood or Church of St. Dimitry on the Blood) built on the site where Dimitry was killed. Peter the Great ordered the church built, which was started in 1692.

I have put my photos of Uglich on two slide shows. Go directly to

http://www.peggysphotos.com/uglich–part–a/    and

http://www.peggysphotos.com/uglich–part–b/

or to Slide Shows, Eastern Europe, Russia, Uglich, Parts A and B.

Uglich Church Choir–Movie

At a museum in Uglich, we were treated to an a cappella choir singing two religious songs. Here is a movie of one of the songs they sang.

Uglich Church Choir–Movie

The second religious song they sang for us. You could buy CDs of either their religious music or folk music after the performance.

Uglich Women Singers–Movie

These two women were also singing in Uglich for donations.

Kalina Folk Concert–Movie

After dinner––I had “cutlet meat with nuts and cheese in Italian, white sauce with cinnamon and nuts, potatoes ‘Delikatesnii’ (with cheese and sweet pepper), eggplants with cheese”––it sounded better than it tasted. I stayed up for tonight’s entertainment, the Kalina Folk Concert. I have put three movies of the folk concert in the movie section: Go to Movies, Central/Eastern Europe Movies, pages 9–10. I have put one movie of the Kalina Folk Concert here.

Sunset on the Volga

Photo taken after our dinner.

Sunset on the Volga

Lights reflected on the Volga River.

Sunset on the Volga

More lights reflected on the Volga.

Sunset on the Volga

The sun is almost down.