Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Our visit today was to the Kirilo-Belozersky Monastery founded in 1397 by Saint Cyril and located on a small lake near the tiny town of Kuzino.  A collection of mostly large three-story buildings made of six-foot thick brick walls covered with plaster, the monastery is now an excellent museum of medieval times...that is with the exception of six monks who still live here praying and taking care of the massive grounds with its multitude of flower beds.

Once back at the Rurik, we had a small Viking and ancient RUS culture presentation in a newly-built two-story log house.  A large bearded actor became Erik the Viking told us about "his times" and then selected four passengers whom he elaborately dressed as prince, princess, and two Viking guards; of course all the men were bearded meaning Harley didn't have a chance to perform!

We've come to the conclusion that the Russian government, and probably Putin in particular, have been working hard to make Russia a most inviting and interesting place.  There are numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites and we're learning so much history through our visits, lectures on board and reading A Brief History of Russia which Harley has read cover-to-cover.  Fascinating and we're so glad we've made the trip.

This evening we participated in a vodka (pronounced wadka) tasting up in the Panorama Bar on the front of the ship.  Restaurant manager Frank, a German sommelier who is married to a Russian woman, took us through six different Russian vodkas telling us how they're made and what makes them different.  Fortunately, we also had Russian snacks of pickles, herring, crackers with fat & tomatoes, etc. which are designed to prevent hangovers (which they did): salt & fat is the trick.  Our favorites are Russian Standard (a relatively new brand made by a St. Petersburg billionaire who bought out 51% of Campari [which apparently owns many well known alcoholic beverages in addition to Campari itself] so has to have the marketing and manufacturing reach from the beginning) and a Prestige brand called cranberry vodka liqueur which tastes very much like Grand Marnier.