Grand Hyatt Moscow

... br>• If you're a girl (or are just more hygenic than me) you might want to bring some baby wipes for a wipe down shower.
• If you want to feed yourself bring cup a soups and 2 min noodles. ie. indestructable food that can be cooked with only hot water. I shopped at the last minute and bought cheese, salami and a box of coco pops it all went v sweaty after a day. (I'd also bought the ticket that included meals - but in ...

Train journey to moscow:hmm!!
Not too bad. the cabin was very cosy. we were sharing with another couple. He was english she was german.
Departure was 22:00 but arrival was 06:00. It took a long time to get to sleep and a very short time before we were woken to get off. Did not get much sleep but could book in to our Hotel early morning which was a bonus. Each carriage has an attendant usually a well built middle aged woman wearing a uniform that looked ...

... eyes gazing, metaphorically speaking, over one of the richest shopping arcades in Moscow. It is perverse and I don't think I want to look at his formaldehyded body or pay him much tribute. Lenin did not prevent the political assassination of the Romanovs but more of this when we hit Ekaterinburg leaving tomorrow.

As for the nights - they are calm and peaceful and there have been no further sightings of men with gold teeth.

... 60km from the edge of Moscow - this is one of the places that make up the golden ring. A very different feel from Moscow, very religious, calmer and of course much smaller! I visited the beautiful Monastery there. Wow - I guess I did fit in a lot! I had some chilled out mornings too but also walked A LOT. It was the best way to see everything and get a feel for the place. I also took a boat trip along the river to get a difference perspective. During my stay I had some good food ...

... clean water flowing through them. Generally I think the Russians love their fountains - they are evrywhere! On another note, I found that generally the streets of Moscow are very safe (in the centre part fo town anyway). You don't see any youngsters hanging out in gangs or anyone behaving in a disturbing manner. They all behave themseves and this might be down to the large number of police presence or the fact that there are station attendants at every station - not ...

... that really happen to people? I head back to the exchange place and wait around for five minutes for someone to claim rightful ownership and decide to make the most of it when no one comes back. I arrive downtown and despite the intense security surrounding the Red Square (I'm talking about tanks and squadrons of army troops) I'm somehow able to walk right in with all my bags in tow ...

... that I had sat down to a big purple gypsy woman, with oodles of kids, and gold teeth. (Borat moment, "Gypsy woman, be not afraid, give me your tears!") I eventually passed through the arrivals area, and then proceeded to wander aimlessly through the tiny, yet busy Moscow airport. I plopped down and sat for a good 4-5 hours straight without getting up. I was tired, and occupied myself by reading another old ...

... un autre Illia) pour boire de la vodka a la russe chez eu ! Le plan parraitplutot cool et c parti on se retrouve chez eu a boire en tout 2 litres de vodka avec cornichon pain poivron et meme ravioli en fin de soiree pour faire passer l'alcool. On finira meme la derniere bouteille a 3 mais le mort restera anonyme ^^ On dormira bien sur sur place pour rentrer avec le 2eme Illia a l'auberge sur le coup des 10h du ...

... us that we were not going to have a shower in the train. She was a bit afraid about sharing the compartment with strange people ... it is normal! She was going to take another train, but probably we can meet in Lake Baikal. The train began to move at 22.30 and it will be our house during 4 days. The rooms were good: 2x1,70 m with 2 berths, savannah, blankets, pillows ans ...

... me and in his best broken English told me they had taken the man from the train. I still had no idea what was going on and why it all happened, but for now it had ended...for now! Throughout the day and into the night we moved from cabin to cabin drinking beer and vodka. In friendship I was given the big burley Russian Soldiers 'Dog Tags' (To remember him by I guess. They were going to war after all). I was well looked after but was still pretty shaken. Soon the alcohol numbed ...