On 7/6/2011 7:15 PM, rosie wrote:
> On Jul 6, 9:49 am, Janet > wrote:
>> We are home. I am still trying to adjust to the time business.
>>
>> OB food: it's not what we are used to. Kept thinking of Barb as there
>> was some kind of beets in just about everything. DH wanted cold borscht.
>> The gave him some barely warm borscht but there seems to be some kind of
>> regulation that all food must be cooked to a specific temperature. We
>> would consider it incineration. All meat was a form of pot roast,
>> including "steak Diane" Chicken and fish were over-cooked to our taste
>> as well.
>>
>> The soups were yummy, especially the cream soups. Breads were good.
>> Different kinds of blinis were delicious. Salads were good though did
>> not usually match their English descriptions on the menu. Pasta dishes
>> were excellent.
>>
>> All the river boats in Russia are chartered by the cruise lines and
>> owned, operated and staffed by Russians who work for the ship's company.
>> We were served by delightful young people who had a surprising fluency
>> with English. The young people who accompanied our tours and assisted in
>> the entertainments and activities were also cheerful, helpful and fluent
>> in English.
>>
>> The sight seeing is amazing. From Red Square in Moscow to the Hermitage
>> in St Petersburg and all the small towns in between, we were treated to
>> Russia at its most scenic.
>>
>> I have over 4 GB of photos to sort. I'm still suffering jet lag. Ask any
>> questions you want and I'll try to answer.
>> --
>> Janet Wilder
>> Way-the-heck-south Texas
>> Spelling doesn't count. Cooking does.
>
> I am glad to hear how much you enjoyed your river cruise. We had been
> looking at a Russian River cruise and had heard both positive and
> negative experiences with the trip. Did you cruise on Viking?

I was trying to decide between Viking and Amawaterways. I used an online
travel agent who specializes in river cruises only and she suggested AMA
over Viking. AMA charters the nicest boat on the itinerary. I've never
cruised with Viking, prior to this one we have cruised with Uniworld. I
don't like the way Viking does business with their "two for one" sales
that aren't really sales. I have also seen a lot of negatives about
them on the boards, but that may be because they are the largest line.
>
> Tomorrow we fly to Istanbul and then do a Black Sea Cruise. Hopefully
> is will be as good as it sounds.


Bon Voyage.


--
Janet Wilder
Way-the-heck-south Texas
Spelling doesn't count. Cooking does.