Sunday 23rd.  October

Still in Moscow we went in different directions today. We visited some of the amazing marble caverns in 12 different underground stations, sculptures, marble floors and walls.  We did of course have to navigate the underground system to see all of these but came up to daylight every so often to delight in the Market, Hard rock Cafe for Maggie and one stop which provided beautiful river views in the sunset and other city delights.

We started the day with a visit to Ishmaeloski Market.  The vendors were very keen to sell us varies kinds of wares designed for the tourist!!  We learned to bargain and never pay the asking price. There was a variety of very beautiful items hand made by craftsmen who could show us photos of the work being done, some were just the usual tourist quality.  We spent some time choosing and bargaining for good prices and left proud owners of Russian momentos.

We got into conversation with a stall holder who described himself in Excellent English as from a small country close to Kurdistan.  A few of us braved the unknown by heading up some rickety stairs to the equivalent of a flea market where local Russians sold old items of every description, clothing, buttons, tools, scissors, old guns and ammunition, no photos allowed here!!

Maggie went to hard rock cafe on her own!!  she was really pleased when Jenny met her at the exit to the market to guide through the maze to where we were meeting for coffee.  This was a large hotel on the edge of the market with a very posh foyer and coffee shop.  

After a few more marble stations and some of Moscow’s famous buildings we returned to our hotel before going off to dinner in a German restaurant which proved one of our poorer choices! 

We headed for the railway station by minibus for the next and last overnight train journey.  This was a real leap up, the carriage has swags and tails curtains, and each compartment had a TV, chargers, slippers, water and nibbles and we were on the cheapest tickets!  We were invited to order break fast to be served at 7.00am.  It was not any easier to stow the luggage here though and took a good 30 minutes to struggle everything in before collapsing on the seats with legs across the luggage and climb to the top bunks had not got any easier!!  So to sleep!!

Monday 24th October 

After breakfast we started to get the cases out and prepare to disembark.  Our minibus driver, Sergai, met us on the station platform, his face was a picture of disbelief when more and more luggage kept coming out of the carriage but eventually we made or way to the vehicle and got packed in.  To our amazement and delight our rooms were ready and we were able to unpack and shower before heading for the Magical city of St. Petersburg.  Every corner we turned found an even more beautiful scene.  Across the day people used the hop on hop off bus to visit, Christ the Saviour of the Spilt Bood, calals and bridges, Churches, a rolls Royce shop, the Singer Sewing Machine shop, now a book shop where the coffee shop overlooked a Fountain courtyard and Kazan Cathedral.  We ate at Toni’s New York bar which was the most successful meal so far, they served Russian food, everyone served at the same time and with no mix ups.  10 /10.  We returned to the hotel really tired and headed for an early bed!!

Photos to follow!!!!!