9 September

I woke with the mobile alarm at 0545. My cabin partner was still asleep, so I got up, washed and dressed. After that I looked out the window and saw an electrical storm over Moscow and general suburban scenery. After another twenty or so minutes the carriage supervisor put music on (loudly) and then knocked on all the doors along the carriage. Most got up then, including my cabin partner, and there was a queue for the toilets (and for the smoking areas).
Suburban stations and workers.
At about 0650 we glided into Moscow station. My cabin partner got her stuff and left quickly. I checked that I had everything and then headed out. I expected to see someone with my name held up, so looked along the platform one way and then the other – no luck. I did have a taxi driver approach me, but I said I was waiting for someone to meet me. After fifteen minutes and no-one there, I asked the taxi driver about going to the port (yes) to the boat (at the port). After another five minutes, I went with him. I was going to ring, but it was too early.
We loaded up the luggage and headed off. I suppose the fee the driver had to pay for leaving the station should have given me a clue, but after a drive of over twenty minutes (mostly at 100 km/hr, through the centre of Moscow, we finally arrived at the port. The taxi fare – R5000! Nearly all my Russian cash went in the one expenditure. After a long walk around, I finally found the boat, courtesy of an American tour guide. Unfortunately I couldn’t get into my cabin (211) as the current occupants hadn’t left it yet, and the reception said I could try again about noon. I left my suitcase there and wandered around the boat. I found a reading room on the next deck (3) and settled down to read a little, after having a quick breakfast of part of a chocolate bar (four squares stops me from starving). I had a call from the company in Moscow but they hung up before I could answer and then didn’t reply when I rang. I SMSed Colin because the R5000 represents most of the money I had in Russian currency and I can’t access too much more (I’ve nearly drained that account – and R5000 is over AUD200).
I picked a book to read, started, and then saw a power point. In went the laptop power supply and I started writing. Some of the people from the previous tour (unloading this morning) came in and I started speaking with them There was also a South African couple. Then in came a couple from Tulsa, Oklahoma, and we settled in for a good talk. The muffins used for sausage McMuffins come from there. We went through how to see Australia, New Zealand and then on my trip so far. Time went quickly and they finally headed off about 1130. I typed a little more and will go down to the reception desk at noon to see when I can get in or if the tour company has contacted them.
By 1300 I had met another two from Australia, Leonie and Amy, from Queensland. Also, my cabin was available, so I went down, showered and changed. Then it was back up to the bar where I met the couple again and we chatted while I also tried to finish the book I had got from the reading room.
Within a short time all we English speakers (which included a Dutch couple) were summonsed to the reading room for our orientation talk. After a run-through from the doctor, the Executive Officer and the rules about meals, we were asked about what optional tours we would take. I decided to take only the folk-dancing one as I would be in Moscow later to perhaps see things differently.
Not long after it was dinner, where I sat with Cindy, an investigator from Tennessee and a couple he from Australia, she from Ireland) who were shifting from to Barbados.
After dinner I retired (after finding there was no Internet access from the ship), did my photo processing and went to bed.