Milan Wel Hotel Moscow

... walking sticks, all very expensive-looking--but one rather perplexing object was a drinking vessel which was, for lack of a better description, a chicken king. It had a human head with crown and beard, and was wearing kingly robes, but the body was rotund and bird-shaped, and it had little bird feet and everything. It looked more like the world's most expensive novelty bottle than an actual drinking vessel.

At this point, the tour ended, and ...

... gear. The horse acts were cool although Im sure they wouldnt have gotten through OHSW rules in Australia as the horses were in kicking range of the first few rows! Unfortunately there were a couple of animal acts that made us all uncomfortable but apart from that it was a brilliant night.

Andrew and Jenny ate at a souvlaki place last night, and on their recommendation we had souvlaki for tea at a 24 hour place near the ...

... generally awful - we just paid a company to get us invitation letters from hotels we never had any intention of staying at as Ritchie had had previous experience. Then you have to register your visa within 72 hours of visiting any particular city - if you stay in a hotel this simply involves paying them an extra fee, but if you are staying with a friend then you and the friend need to report to the Police Station with your passports and get ...

... we aren't sharing with English people as we are getting to experience a more authentic trip. Victor (like most Russian people) appeared stern at first but he's actually really friendly. I think it's the language that makes them sound quite aggressive as it's very stern sounding. Later in the night we starting playing Dominos with Victor as it's a pretty universal game so easy to explain the rules. A Russian guy ...

... but the menu was unappealing and the prices very high, so we settled for a open smoked salmon sandwich in the carriage and drank the bottle of red we had bought before at the local supermarket. We pulled into Moscow staion at 9-30pm. It was very exciting to spot the Lenigradskaya Hotel next to the station. This is the hotel we had stayed in 28 years ago when we were here for the Olympics. It has obviously been renovated and is now a Hilton!!. Our drive to our hotel through the ...

... the Great and Peter the Great, among others. We walked by Dostoevsky's prison (it was being renovated, so we couldn't go in his cell) afterward. It was a long walk back to our apartment, but we were able to walk along the beach which was nice. There was some very important person who kept flying on and off a huge yacht in a helicopter. After the nice walk back to Nevsky, the main ...

... of a hindrance. Plus, we've had the massive disappointment of waxy Lenin's tomb being closed to visitors at this time - apparently these days it's seen as a bit of a national embarrassment, but we wanted him to be 1st on our list of dead, stuffed Communist autocrats (oh well, at least we have Mao to look forward to). The Muscovites we've come across are generally a miserable old bunch as well - suppose that's what years of authoritarian rule ...

We had our first taste of the Russian Train system on an overnight train from St Pete's to Moscow. All in all I thought it was pretty good. I had a top bunk and slept through the night...this beats traveling by bus or with Ryan air any day! Anyway, Moscow is a fascinating city. There is plenty of history in this place and the likes of the Kremlin and Red Square are so distinct to this city. Red Square was impressive but I thought it ...

... having troubles publishing it. I asked if he knew of any history books about Siberia (i'm interested in the history of my family). He gave me a title "East of the Urals". Couldn't find it in Moscow. Might have to look it up on the net when I get back home. Anyway, sick of writing about Moscow. To BARNAUL! Priviets a tous, Nous somme a Moscou, la capitale! Cela ne fait que 1 jour, donc c ets difficile de juger. Mais de ce que je vois, je prefere St ...

... there with a huge sword at my throat my hazy mind would finally wake up enough to think; 'Hey, this guy is really drunk. If he even trips a little this blade will go through my windpipe'. Then thoughts of one of his drunken buddies jumping on him from behind would enter my head and then thoughts about where my head end up once it left my body. I tried on several occasions to go back to the safety of my room and sleep but minutes later it was filled with soldiers carrying me ...