There is nothing quite like looking out your office window and seeing land after 7 days or more of gazing out the same window and seeing nothing but tossing white caps and rolling swells. This is a tender port, which means we’re still drifting around somewhat, as we lack the stability of being actually tied up to the dock – but the sea is at least calm, and the harbor is sheltered. It’s lovely to have the floor stable underneath us for a change!
In an event I’m told is very unusual for well – Siberia – the sun is out, and since my windows are on the starboard side rather than the port, my view isn’t cluttered by the actual city. Nothing but mountains and water and a troller making its slow progress past us. Honestly? It looks for all the world like Alaska…
As for the port itself, I can’t really say much. Crew shore leave was denied in this port. Alas, after seven days at sea we’re allowed to see land but not actually set foot on it. Not because of anything we’ve done – it’s not as if the Russian authorities decided to punish us just for being crew – no, it’s to do with time. Between the fact that this is a tender port, and the fact that Russian immigration is insanely strict and complicated (they do a face-to-passport check both coming AND going from the vessel AND they check to the manifest for each individual) – it was difficult enough to get all the passengers off the ship, let alone trying to deal with us, so the Captain was forced to confine us all to the ship…for another three days.
Sigh so close and yet so far.
I think we’ll all be kissing land in the next port…