Look what I found!

It gets everywhere... We found a great fast food place which sells a range of trad russian dishes including beef stroganoff, and a wide range of drinks including Scotland's other national drink. Also tried Russian wine last night, which wasn't as bad as you might expect. The t-shirt was a birthday pressie, proclaiming the People's Republic of Partick. Also got a Colonel Gadaffi 40th anniversary watch. I guess this tells me what my friends think of me...

Chilling in St Petersburg...

... in more ways than one - it's baltic today (I'd reckon below zero with the wind chill) but it's clear and beautiful.

The city is built at a fairly low level - after the Hermitage was completed at three storeys, it was decreed that this was the perfect height for a building, and nothing in the city could be built higher. The streets are wide, and many of the buildings appear to be the original c19th fronts, which is pretty impressive given the battering it received during the war.

The feel is, as many have no doubt said before me, very european - it reminds me most of Amsterdam, with its network of canals and islands. My favourite part is the Church of the Spilled Blood, so named because it was built on the spot where Alexander II, the reforming Tsar of the c19th, was assassinated - one of those great "what would have happened if..." moments in history. I think the turquiose and green domes are even more striking than the domes of St Basil's in Moscow, though perhaps St Basil's suffers from having rather impressive neighbours!

Oh My Goodness!

I'm in the Mikhailovsky Theatre in St Petersburg, about to watch Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty. I'm so excited I think I'm going to burst!

If it's saturday, it must be St Petersburg...

I guess this is not a bad way to spend my fortieth birthday. It started in style on the sleeper train from Moscow with Russian champagne and caviar, courtesy of my lovely friends, and we're now taking in the Hermitage, before the ballet tonight. I think i'm turning into a proper grown up at last!

Only 36 hours in Moscow

...is not nearly enough. Especially when it has rained half of today (well, makes me feel at home). It truly is an amazing city. The skyline is a curious mixture of skyscrapers, ranging from c1930s style (New York-esque) to concrete blocks, interspersed with golden onion domes at regular intervals.
We have only had time to do the basic tourist stuff - the Kremlin, St Basil's, the Metro (which is almost as impressive as Glasgow's).



The last member of our party has joined us (though his luggage is elsewhere. Seems to be a theme for this trip...) He is on special Government business, though he says he can't tell us any details, or else he'd have to kill us. Code name Mikhailovskiy. Don't tell the KGB.

Me and Vladimir

Just been to a sculpture park which contains a selection of statues of soviet leaders, known as the graveyard of fallen sculptures. Tried to see Lenin at his mausoleum this morning, but he wasn't receiving visitors - think he was getting ready for May Day...

Moskva

Well we've arrived in the big city at last, and what a contrast to our rural travels through Siberia - I think Moscow may have more high rises than all of Scotland!

Our companions joining us from the UK have made it through the dust cloud... only just - I think flight restrictions were only just lifted in time for them to lift off last night, just waiting for them to join us before we go and explore the glories of Moscow. And after a week on the train, I think the first stop will be the Banya for a decent wash...!