Friday 7th July 2017
"The last city
founded by the Russian Empire, in 1916. Located
on Kola Bay, Murmansk being Russia's only ice free port, has always been of
great importance for trade. During
World War 2 it was fiercely defended from German attack and was vital for the
Arctic Convoys for supplying the Soviet Union by the other Allied nations, this
at staggering cost in lives. The city is the site of three commemorative war
memorials."
Berthed this morning in Murmansk. Weather again overcast but not so cold
today. Breakfast, along with an
inordinate number of Russian immigration officers. Then easy morning checking out the views over
the city from the ship and fitted in a quick trivia, for which we took home the
prize!
Soon time to get organised for our tour, "Easy
Murmansk". Passengers on official
ships tours did not require a Russian Visa, to obtain one being a long and
fraught process, and no tourist system to tour independently. Partly due to Russian officialdom and partly
Princess there was a shambolic process for returning everyone's passports and
getting bus stickers issued, certainly a popular tour, all done in a venue much
too small for everyone and not very much information about what was going
on. Eventually all sorted and off we
went ashore to join our bus.
Set off through the port and industrial areas to get to the
town. First stop at the Cultural Centre,
not quite sure why but there was a nice fountain and a statue of Kirov. Moving on through town passing various
monuments, statues and many blocks of apartments. Next stop at the "Saviour of the
Waters" Russian Orthodox Church.
Saviour of the Waters with some apartments behind
Part of a group of monuments and a Lighthouse. The church absolutely packed with Icons. Soon away again to the Alyosha Monument. A huge concrete statue of a lone soldier in a
fine hilltop location.
This a commemoration of the heroic dead of 1941-1945. Finished our tour with a 'scenic' drive back
through city to the ship, most of city seemed to consist of very drab and
scruffy blocks of apartments, with only a few more colourful examples. One interesting feature though was the bus
stops, many of which had little shops attached.
Bus stop with shop
Generally the population of Murmansk seemed much happier and
friendlier than our previous experience of Russia.
Time for a much needed cuppa.
Cloud clearing and the sun is out.
Rather late sailaway, Russians slow in completing their formalities to
allow us to sail, then off down the Kola Bay past Severomorsk where a Russian
aircraft carrier and several icebreakers are laid up.
Dinner in the Buffet followed by tonight's production show
"Motor City", a compilation of Motown hits. Time for a quick trivia before the end of the
day (worse results so far). Now hardly a
cloud in the sky, amazing, let's hope it lasts.
Clocks back again tonight to get back the hour we lost.
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