Cruising from Dubrovnik (Croatia) to Istambul (Turkey)

Just few weeks after my luxory Russian cruise I left for Mediterranea to start a journey with a ship with Finnish flag. "Kristiina Katariina" is a nice, clean and friendly vessel but you cannot compare it with "Volga Dream" by any standard.
We spent first evening and the next day in very charming Dubrovnik. It's old city and the massive fortress, partly destroyed 1991 in the war against Serbia and Montenegro, have been totally rebuilt. Colourful small cafes, restaurants and boutigues make an amazing temptation for all visitors.
Next day on Sept.12 the boat already was in the harbour of Durres in Albania.It was a small town, not especially atractive, non-communicating and no credit cards. In all the opposit of Dubrovnik. In one our I had seen most of it, and went back to the ship for a nice cool beer on sunny deck. We then had a beautiful day at sea just to relax before Piraeus in Greece. There was a hot day, I did not like to go to Athens because even hotter there and crowded with other million tourists. And I have seen Akropolis several times. After a small sightseeing in Piraeus by my own, as always, I was back onboard. Then next day there was Mykonos, this unbelievable island with its wind mills, pelicans and nice bars. During my big trip four years ago I spent nine days there.
We then had an other beautiful day at sea before arriving to Istambul at noon on Sept.16. I have been in this very interesting city also before, so I left all museums and tourist attractions to other people, and was just strolling there without any special goal. We then still had an other day in Istambul before flying back home in the evening. Nice trip but nothing special to remember.

Lake Onega

Next morning on August6. we sailed northwards of lake Onega (Finnish Äänisjärvi)to reach Kizhi island. We arrived there after lunch and went ashore to admire beautiful and very decorative wooden churches from 18th century, masterpieces of old handwork.
In the evening we left Kizhi and turned to South to be next day on Vytegra channel further to lake Belozero and river Sheksna before joining the Volga.
It was great to experience this magnificent river before arriving to old vice-capital of Russia, Jaroslavl. This city has been in worldwide news this week because of the flight catastrophe which killed the entire team of Lokomotive Jaroslavl icehockey players. Many of them World Champions, Olympic stars, Russian champions and wellknown during their carrier in NHL.
Jaroslavl is a very beautiful 1000 years old city with around 640.000 inhabitants.
We visited the market place, some old churches and palace, where young ladies played amazingly music from 18th century, when suddenly two young girls invited me and an other gentleman to dance polonaise with them. After a short hesitation but inspired by the young beauty and backing audience I managed to do my part very well, according to my friends.
Next day we visited a small town called, Uglich, and it's so called Blood Church, which was built in memory of the murdered 10 years old son of Czar Ivan the Terrible.
Early next morning we landed near Moscow to hurry to the airport, and did finish this
excellent and very friendly Russian cruise of seven days and 1300 km.

Trough different waters

We left St.Petersburg during the dinner along Neva-river towards lake Ladoga and the Pähkinälinna fortress, built by Novgorodians in 1323 and, where the first peace treatment of many between Sweden and Russia was made also in August 11,1323. By midnight we reached the fortress, and started to cross Ladoga, the largest lake in Europe. Next morning we had reached river Syväri (Russian Svir), where Finnish and Russian troops had heavy fights in 1944. The river brought us trough beautiful almost uninhabited landscapes to lake Onega, second biggest in Europe. That evening our group had a marvellous crayfish party on the deck under sky with a lot of Vodka and wine.