Explore More - 2017

Above: An enchanting

Above: An enchanting sunset on Lake Onega 110 VIKINGCRUISES.COM | EXPLORE MORE 2017

RUSSIA RIVER CRUISE lives were tough in summer and even tougher in winter. Today Kizhi is essentially a museum dedicated to its stunning wooden churches, and dozens of 15th- to 20th-century wooden structures. The most remarkable is the 22-dome Transfiguration Church and the nine-dome Church of the Intercession, which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. After Kizhi our ship began its southerly journey toward Red Square and the Kremlin via the Volga–Baltic Waterway and the Moscow Canal. As we cruised in sunshine over calm blue lake waters with fir tree–lined shores life continued on board with entertainment, Russian language lessons and lectures. There was a brief pause at Kuzino to visit the fascinating 1397 Kirillo-Belozersky Monastery and the Resurrection Convent. Next stop was Yaroslavl, an old WE CRUISED IN SUNSHINE OVER CALM BLUE LAKE WATERS WITH FIR TREE-LINED SHORES city of about 600,000 inhabitants which sits 170 miles from Moscow at the confluence of the Volga and Kotorosl Rivers. Containing a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is one of the eight Golden Ring cities which were important in establishing the Orthodox Church and are so rich in historic architecture they are regarded as open air museums. Next morning as we sailed serenely by all the identifying landmarks of any large modern city, I had a light breakfast in the Panorama Lounge at the front of the ship with its uninterrupted views. I was most struck by the huge and numerous modern highrise apartment buildings. We arrived in Moscow after lunch, and over the next few days we explored the stunning, efficient metro system and its famous decorated stations, took in an evening folk music concert, picnicked in a park, cruised the Moscow River and we couldn’t miss Red Square and a tour inside the walls of the Kremlin on our last day. Viking includes virtually every “must see” aspect of Moscow, with additional opportunities to EXPLORE MORE 2017 | VIKINGCRUISES.COM 111