We get up, finish packing, have breakfast and turn in our evaluation. We are saying goodbyes to folks we met and to the staff. We made a tentative plan to connect with Sandy and Frank at 3 for a walking tour. Our ride is to come at 10 and we are ready before that, so take a walk down the shore to a souvenier shop which has an internet cafe, but learn they do not have wi-fi. Back at the ship, our driver is early, so we take the bags a long way to the car--because the area close to the ships is gated. The car is nice-a BMW with leather seats, Our driver has difficulty getting to our hotel because of streets closed for construction, but he finally drops us off at the Marriott--what a welcome relief after our cramped cabin on the ship. The king bed seems even bigger compared to the tiny beds we have been sleeping in. Customer service is a given here and the room is luxurious.
David's first priority is to get on the internet to manage end-of-the-month finances and balance books. We catch up on emails and I write blogs.We have agreed to meet Sandy and Frank at 3, and calculate we are a mile or a bit more from the central town area, so we pack up for the afternoon and head out. It is our plan to walk there and I have brought my guidebook with a suggested walking tour. We arrive early at the Palace Square, our meeting place. It is immediately behind the Hermitage. We people watch and take pictures. This is a huge central plaza filled with tourists and locals, couples and families. Some folks are driving around on two-wheeled Segways, which are devices you stand upright to ride. Lots of people are roller-blading.
Sandy and Frank appear, but they did not bring rain gear or umbrellas. The walking tour takes us to many of the same places we saw on the cruise ship's city tour, but now we have time to go inside and even see more details on the outside. We follow the tour until rain forces us to duck into a doorway. As we stand there, a young man comes out of the building and hearing us talking, asks. "What do you think of the economy in the US?" He is quick to say he is not Russian, but Ukranian, and wonders if we know where that is. We say yes and he is pleased. He says his name is Ilaquini. There follows a lively discussion of countries, economies and politics. Really a fun interchange.
A restaurant, Kazkov, suggested in the guide book, is not far away and we cross over a garden park area in the rain to find it. It features Georgian food and we have a delicious meal. I try the pumpkin soup with a hearty, coarse bread. David has a garlicky chicken dish. He decided the spicier food from this area is to his liking. After dinner, the four of us walk back to Nevesky Prospect, one of the main streets and there we part company. David and I have quite a long walk back to the Marriott. We have walked several miles this afternoon, some of it in the rain, and it feels good to be back in the cozy room to shower and get to bed--but first I must write on the blog--so we are in bed about 11.
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