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Our two-week cruise along the "Waterways of the Tsars"
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Russia's greatest cities have stood along the banks of the Volga River and its network of canals for centuries. So what better way to explore the intriquing 1000-year history of this enigmatic country than aboard a river boat plying our way from Moscow to St. Petersburg.
The M/S Russ, our home for the 12-day voyage. Built in Germany in 1987, refurbished in 2011, the motorship is one of about 50 cruise ships that regularly ply the Volga.
We were welcomed onboard by the Russian tradition of offering bread....
...and by musicians playing the traditional Russian song "Kalinka." It would not be the only time that we would hear this most popular of Russian tunes.
For good luck, we adhered to the tradition of breaking off a small piece of bread, dipping it in salt, and eating it.
Our cabin, comfortable if not spacious.
Our route - Russia is massive, the world's largest nation, spanning one-sixth of the earth's land surface. But although its recorded history dates back more than a millennium, most of its most significant events took place within a narrow 400-mile long corridor from Moscow to St. Petersburg. Our cruise would take us through this region - along the waterways of the tsars.
Moscow - our starting point. From high atop Sparrow Hills, we could see the city's blend of old and new, the ancient towers and cathedrals of the Kremlin set against the backdrop of a modern skyline.
Rising from the crest of Sparrow Hills is Moscow State University. Founded in 1755, it claims to be the oldest university in Russia (St. Petersburg State University makes the same claim). Its main building is the largest of seven neoclassic towers - the so-called "seven sisters" - ordered built around the city by Joseph Stalin. The MSU Main building was the tallest building in the world outside of New York City at the time of its construction and remained the tallest building in Europe until 1990.

Russia's greatest cities have stood along the banks of the Volga River and its network of canals for centuries. So what better way to explore the intriquing 1000-year history of this enigmatic country than aboard a river boat plying our way from Moscow to St. Petersburg.
Russia's greatest cities have stood along the banks of the Volga River and its network of canals for centuries. So what better way to explore the intriquing 1000-year history of this enigmatic country than aboard a river boat plying our way from Moscow to St. Petersburg.

Russia's greatest cities have stood along the banks of the Volga River and its network of canals for centuries. So what better way to explore the intriquing 1000-year history of this enigmatic country than aboard a river boat plying our way from Moscow to St. Petersburg.
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Keywords: russia
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