Russian around the Baltic with some spice to finish off!

[VPS]

Oh dear. Every time we see the news there's been another terrorist issue in one of the places we are going to. That's the way it is. But last nights attack was one that is causing me to rethink one of our legs. We had planned to catch the train Amsterdam - Brussels - London. The security levels on trains are pretty much non existent. We pass through the station attacked last night. I had posted in another thread I was re thinking security on trains and this attack has ramped it.

We aren't able to extend our stay in Amsterdam as Hotel is full. We had planned the train into London then a night near St Pancras station and head into LHR later the next day for an evening flight. Now I'm thinking we might fly to LHR and stay near the airport and tube it to London if we want to venture out the day of the flight. Thank goodness for Booking.com and cancellable bookings.

Be curious to hear others thoughts about the trains and transiting through Brussels.

Last time I caught the Eurostar they put your bags through screening the same as at the airport. I went to the theatre in London last night and now you get your bags searched before you go in

PS sounds like a great trip and will enjoy following along

 

[Pushka]

Last time I caught the Eurostar they put your bags through screening the same as at the airport. I went to the theatre in London last night and now you get your bags searched before you go in

PS sounds like a great trip and will enjoy following along

That's reassuring then. I'll keep a few options open then.

 

[BacchusMarsh]

Oh dear. Every time we see the news there's been another terrorist issue in one of the places we are going to. That's the way it is. But last nights attack was one that is causing me to rethink one of our legs. We had planned to catch the train Amsterdam - Brussels - London. The security levels on trains are pretty much non existent. We pass through the station attacked last night. I had posted in another thread I was re thinking security on trains and this attack has ramped it.

We aren't able to extend our stay in Amsterdam as Hotel is full. We had planned the train into London then a night near St Pancras station and head into LHR later the next day for an evening flight. Now I'm thinking we might fly to LHR and stay near the airport and tube it to London if we want to venture out the day of the flight. Thank goodness for Booking.com and cancellable bookings.

Be curious to hear others thoughts about the trains and transiting through Brussels.

You're talking such low probability events I don't think it's worth worrying about. I don't see any reason why the tube in London would necessarily be safer than transiting through Brussels when you're dealing with tail risk.

But no point spoiling the anticipation of a trip if you know you will be worrying. I did a transfer through Lille not that long before the November 2015 Paris attacks, and there were three-men patrols with machine-guns, which was a tad disconcerting. The following year I went from LHR instead.

 

[RooFlyer]

That'll be a busy couple of days in St Petersburg! Catherine's Palace will be a zoo, even with tour group entry, away from the main line. If they say you can't take pictures in the Amber Room, take the advice of our guide and decide that there's nothing to say you can't take pictures outside the amber room (ie into it, through the tall open doors ) You''ll have to be quick.

Will you be able to go your own way at the Hermitage? Its one museum where you really could spend all day, so hopefully you can choose the bits you want to see. The exhibitions are very diverse.

If you get to manoeuvre the guide on Nevsky Prospect, try to get to Singer Café. Great tea, coffee, cakes etc and a great cathedral view.

 

[Pushka]

You're talking such low probability events I don't think it's worth worrying about. I don't see any reason why the tube in London would necessarily be safer than transiting through Brussels when you're dealing with tail risk.

But no point spoiling the anticipation of a trip if you know you will be worrying. I did a transfer through Lille not that long before the November 2015 Paris attacks, and there were three-men patrols with machine-guns, which was a tad disconcerting. The following year I went from LHR instead.

My son said exactly the same re the tube. It's all about perception isn't it.

 

[love_the_life]

In Oslo, this museum is wonderful if you get a chance to visit.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viking_Ship_Museum_(Oslo)
And in Amsterdam the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum are both great if you are into art.

 

[VPS]

If you get to manoeuvre the guide on Nevsky Prospect, try to get to Singer Café. Great tea, coffee, cakes etc and a great cathedral view.

you mean this view - agree it was excellent and I too love St Petersburg

 

[OATEK]

SPB - we are on the ship for that one but overnight. We are using drron's tour company SPB tours but not on the private excursion but a 16 coach person and that will also include Faberge Museum plus the usual. The itinerary for these two days is: ...

We went to quite a few of the same places on our recent visit in April, although we had an extra day which meant we had some opportunities you don't get on a Cruise, travelling as a small group of 5. We had one day around St Petersburg that took in St Isaacs and the Admiralty area, Yusupovs Palace (and the Rasputin wax tableau), over the river to see the Aurora, along the river and back across to visit Smolny. Then back in to the city past the Summer Garden where we went to Mikhailovsky Palace, Church on Spilled Blood and the Faberge Museum. Sounds hectic I know, but actually was fine on the day. Of all these I found the Faberge Museum the least engaging.

Day 2 took us to Kazan Cathedral on Nevsky (opposite the Singer Cafe above) as it was Palm Sunday and we got to experience an Orthodox service with priests and the choir singing the responses A capella. Very moving. At Tsarskoye Selo the Catherine Palace is grand, but the old chapel and dilapidated Kremlin a short distance away were also very engaging - perhaps that is what they mean for your walk. We then came back to the Hermitage in the afternoon.

We are booked for a return visit this time next year on a cruise so that we can get to Riga and Tallin as well as St Petersburg, all of which have significance to Mrs Oatek's family. But on our tour this year she was very excited to find a portrait of one of her relatives hanging in the Heroes Gallery in the Hermitage (Heroes of Borodino, 1812 and all that stuff).

There are a few places on your list like Peterhof that we will aim for next year so very keen to follow your report. I am sure you will enjoy it.

I did note your comment about Brussels elsewhere in this thread. We travelled by train to St Petersburg a couple of days after the Metro attack there that killed quite a few. We went past one of the stations where the floral tributes were being laid and certainly had at the back of our mind what had happened. But we took the view that it was probably safer to travel there just after an event, and that was born out by the strong showing of police doing random stop and search all around the city over the days we were there. I would expect that Brussels will be subject to a similar security focus while you pass through.

 

[Pushka]

Russia requires an expensive Visa except when on a cruise but you must either book a ship excursion or book and stay with a licensed Travel Agency. We have to be with them until we return to the ship so not much space for 'freedom'. But hey, it's Russia after all.

MrP went to Moscow back in the '80's with the Australian Shooting Team He stayed in Red Square in the well known hotel. Of course back then no mobiles so I did not hear from him for days. And curious things happened in the Hotel. For instance one team member might say to another that the shower wasn't working well. Within the hour there was a plumber trying to fix the shower even though the hotel hadn't been notified.

And then the phone calls. To call me he had to book a call but he didn't know when that call would connect. So he would go to sleep knowing that at some time the call would connect. But in keeping the line open then Svetlana might ring. Or one or another of drron's floozies would call up to organize a catch up. Yep. Organized prostitution in the hotel. Of course if he wasn't expecting a call to connect then he would keep the phone offline. Well, that's his story anyway.

 

[Pushka]

As a teen I studied Russian history and the novels I read all banged on about Faberge eggs. So I need to see that Museum and unlike drron the credit card will be taken. And I think every teenage girl knew about Rasputin and the Romanov executions. There was a great movie. And I think throw Dr Zhivago into the mix.

I would love to have seen the Russian Ballet that evening but these days, a full 2 days exploring will be enough for me which is a shame. For MrP - any excuse to miss this might be enough. Now if they played footy or cricket well .......Apparently the cruise line brings in a performance troupe that evening so that will have to suffice.

I'm a fridge magnet sucker but like to buy different ones. Have seen some fabulous Viking style ones. Apparently my paternal family stems from Thorald which is Danish and the family later settled in Oxford. My maiden name is certainly an anglicized version of that and our paternal line is tall, blond and blue eyed. Classic Dane.

 

[I love to travel]

Travelled through Brussels train station a few months ago lots of security around every nook and cranny as its quite a convulted place so it's as safe as anything can be. Plan your exit and entry points too as not all have lifts and escalators.

 

[Pushka]

Travelled through Brussels train station a few months ago lots of security around every nook and cranny as its quite a convulted place so it's as safe as anything can be. Plan your exit and entry points too as not all have lifts and escalators.

Ok. We arrive into the central station on a train from Amsterdam and have maybe 90 minutes to get to the Eurostar platform. Shall look out for exits then. And will have a chat with MrP over the weekend. Already bought the train tickets but peace of mind is priceless. I try not do too many flights on holidays as MrP is always flying for work. We loved the Eurostar London to Paris then Paris to Barcelona a couple of years ago.

 

[drron]

And then the phone calls. To call me he had to book a call but he didn't know when that call would connect. So he would go to sleep knowing that at some time the call would connect. But in keeping the line open then Svetlana might ring. Or one or another of drron's floozies would call up to organize a catch up. Yep. Organized prostitution in the hotel. Of course if he wasn't expecting a call to connect then he would keep the phone offline. Well, that's his story anyway.

Now,now.You know of course that Svetlana was a two timer I shared with cove.:shock:

 

[JohnK]

Enjoy your trip. Don't rush....

 

[RooFlyer]

Russia requires an expensive Visa except when on a cruise but you must either book a ship excursion or book and stay with a licensed Travel Agency. We have to be with them until we return to the ship so not much space for 'freedom'. But hey, it's Russia after all.
<snip>

Arrival by ferry on the St Peter Line (only) from Helsinki or Tallinn is also visa-free for up to 72 hours and you can do your own thing.

 

[Pushka]

Arrival by ferry on the St Peter Line (only) from Helsinki or Tallinn is also visa-free for up to 72 hours and you can do your own thing.

That's interesting. I wonder why that exemption.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Now,now.You know of course that Svetlana was a two timer I shared with cove.:shock:

Busy girl.

 

[Jacques Vert]

That's interesting. I wonder why that exemption.

Russian ships

 

[craven morehead]

Just catching up.

 

[Pushka]

Just catching up.

. We haven't left yet.
So discussed the security issue with the train and Brussels central station. We are going to stick with the train rather than another plane flight. That's the plan today anyway. I won't cancel the LHR booking just yet.

I do love booking.com's cancellation policy. Rooms seem to be comparable in price and it's good to have every hotel usually in the one platform.

Russian ships

Urrrggh. Having not long completed a cruise in Asia heavily marketed to Russia I'd rather pay for the visa.