11 September

Today I started the new routine aboard the M/S Academian Glushkov. I was up at 0630 and showered and dressed. I can’t say I cast the bedclothes aside as I very slowly got up after the alarm woke me. Unfortunately my routine and the announcements coincided in me being in the shower as the announcements came over, so I heard nothing.
I was in the dining room for breakfast by 0700 and Cindy was already there. Scot and Carmel arrived not too long after and we had a good but too brief breakfast as we had to be aboard the bus before 0800. After finishing preparations, I was out by 0745 and waiting for the bus. Unlike yesterday, the weather was showery and cool, so when I got the second seat on the passenger side, it wasn’t too much of a disappointment.
We had a slow trip to outside the New Maiden convent and cemetery, and Cindy and I were able to recognise the surroundings and the route, but the cemetery guard was not on duty at the second gate. After we passed by, we continued around the to the observation point outside the Moscow University. We had stopped at toilets (but I found out later they were squat, so I didn’t mind missing that experience) early, but at the observation point the weather was cold and blustery, so after the obligatory photo-taking, everyone was quickly back in the bus and we were off to Red Square.
Here the bus had to leave us because of the popularity of the area, so we walked from our drop-off point to outside St Basil’s. Here we had a short run-down of the history from our guide (same as yesterday) and, after being pointed out the GUM store, we were off on our own. I decided to try an ATM, after the one near the ship rejected my card. Low and behold, no problem at all, so I got some Russian roubles and was given my account balance in AUD and roubles. Just enough left to last me until my next pension payment and then I have to transfer funds between accounts (but I need Ineternt access for that, and there isn’t any on the ship). I had a good look around the GUM, which I would describe as a large arcade or mall, with different specialty shops. After a lot of photos, including the Apple shop, I decided to buy something (to say I had) so an ice cream fitted the bill (at forty roubles, about A$2.50). By then it was time to head back for the bus meeting point, so once enough of us had arrived, we walked under the road, past a series of souvenir stalls (funny about that), onto the bus and headed back to the ship. The traffic was a lot less than before, along now familiar roads (and passing the Soviet Hotel, the guide gave us a run-down on it – it was built as a showpiece in the 1950s and has since been restored to the same standard, and is seen as a boutique place to stay), and we were back to the ship well before noon.
As our ship was on the outside next to a sister ship, we were leaving the dock before they were. I asked the reception staff if we would have streamers and music and people crying, but alas, they said, none of these. We would just leave. At the appointed time I went to the gangway and watched. Some of the crew had family seeing them off and it looked like the doctor had his wife and small child seeing him off. Many smiles and such until he saw daddy really was leaving and then there were a few tears as we saw the gangway raised (okay, pulled up and stowed to the side), the holding hawsers cast off and the M/S Gluchkov gently and slowly departed the Northern River Port of Moscow.
It was soon time for lunch and, being a creature of habit, I sat in the same seat as before. Cindy did too, as did Scott and Carmel, and so we started what was to become a regular dining and chatting experience. It was a nice experience to be gliding along the canal (until we actually hit the Volga River) and watch the scenery from a warm and dry location, with good company while taking time over a leisurely lunch.
The afternoon passed smoothly as we progressed along and soon (too soon, as we had all lingered over lunch) it was time for our first Russian language lesson. We went through the basics (alphabet, pronunciations, some simple words) and were given homework of spelling our names in Russian for the next class. By the time I had done a bit of reading, a little wandering and some sightseeing, it was time to head off to the Sky Bar (the large lounge at the aft of the ship, on deck five) for the Welcome Reception. Here, apart from a shot of vodka (and a shot in the arm, once I had finished the shot of vodka), we were introduced to the main crew members we would meet during our voyage. It went well except that all the introductions were in Russian, English, German (for the Austrians aboard), French and Dutch.
After that it was dinner (funny how life very quickly revolves around food once the other mundane things of life aren’t important). Our steward is Vladimir, who is very attentive (but not overly so) and knows now what food I can’t eat. I also got a card from Katja saying I am allergic to seafood, fish and mushrooms, so I will keep that for the train. Time went very quickly, so no sooner was dinner over than we all retired to the Sky Bar for Russian Folk music, which actually ended up being a selection of classical music from composers who had Russian influences in their works. The musicians were excellent, and the piano accordionist we had during the Russian lesson ended up playing a cello during the performance. When the performance was over, I met Steve (an American who had worked in Australia and now works for a wine company), his mother (Jane) and three of her friends (Carol, Janet and her husband) – all are travelling together as the three women work together.
After that I headed down to my cabin, transferred all the photos I had taken, wrote a quick summary of the day (I ended up writing the blog much later in the week, as I was too tired at that time) and was off to sleep.