After a fairly lazy sleep in, we pack and catch the train back out to Munich airport. A busier airport I have never seen. Just looking at the departure time tables made my head spin - you could literally go anywhere in the world from here, and there were people everywhere. But we patiently lined up, were served by a very nice lady and got our boarding passes to Moscow.
I have wanted to Moscow since for ever. I couldn't believe I was finally on my way. By the time we got there it was dark. We easily passed through Immigration and fought our way through the marauding lines of taxi drivers - all offering the cheapest fares. Before we left Perth we had booked out accommodation and transfers through a company specialising in travel to Russia, so we had a car waiting for us when we got there which took us straight to our hotel - not quite in style but better than a taxi.
Our hotel was a massive monument to Stalin's ego. It was huge, but the weirdest thing for us was that we had to pass through metal detectors every single we time we came in the front doors.
Jen decided to have a bit of a rest, so I nervously went for a wander down the river. I couldn't believe I was walking along the Moscow River - it was completely surreal - an incredibly long was from home. I wandered round for an hour or so and went back to see Jen at the hotel. We looked for a place to eat in the hotel but all looked a bit dodgy so got room service which proved to be even more dodgy. Watched a bit of Russian TV and went to sleep.
Today was going to be a cracker. We had a very interesting breakfast in the hotel restaurant, and then made our way to the famous Russian subways - again a monument to Stalin's ego. I love working out new things like how to pay, where to get off, interpreting signs from a different language. It's what makes travel so much fun.
We got off the subway at the Kremlin - I couldn't believe I was going inside the Kremlin. Our first stop inside was the Armoury where the treasures of Russia are kept. So much history.
We had a look inside all the churches (and were lucky enough to have a Russian choir singing in one - just beautiful), wandered the gardens and soaked up the atmosphere of being in the Kremlin. In true Russian style though the soldiers/police made sure no one walked off the path, and if you had to cross a road you were only allowed on the marked crossings. They would chase people, blow whistles and tell you off if you dared to cross other than were you were told - very funny to watch.
After that we went round the corner to Red Square. Now I have heard some people describe it as just a parking lot - but to me it was amazing. The history that happened in that place is incredible. I loved every minute I was there. We went in St Basil's, wandered the shops at the GUM dept store, and took heaps of photos. Unfortunately, the day we chose to go was the one day Lenin's tomb was shut - I should have researched that one a bit better. I would have loved to have gone inside for a look. Anyway we wandered around some more, bought some tacky souvenirs from the Soviet Union days, and made it back to our hotel - a great day.
Before we left I made an Internet booking for a flight to St Petersburg on Aeroflot (I love an adventure) but we had to swap the receipt for the tickets. We got a rough address of the closest Aeroflot office but it took us hours to find it. A blessing in disguise though - we got to wander the streets and suburbs of Moscow, which was really interesting. We got our tickets and kept walking along the river, visited a few churches along the way and made it back to Red Square, got some dinner, bought some more souvenirs, tried unsuccessfully to find the Bolshoi Ballet and went back to the hotel.
Up early the next day. Our car came and picked us up to go to the airport for our flight to St Petersburg. I can't wait - I love doing things like this - dodgy airports, dodgy planes, can't speak the language - I love it.
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