The overnight train was hot and stuffy but it was a new experience for the both of us. I did not sleep at all but Sim managed ok. We arrived dead on time at 7:10 in Moscow after stopping for a half hour outside the city in order to do so ( guidebook says this is the norm and Russian trains always arrive on time). The toilets at the train station were an experience in themselves. I was not expecting squat toilets at a major train station in the capital.

Negotiated the Moscow metro without too much difficulty and got to the hostel very early. They let us dump our bags and we vamoosed off to go kill some time. Spotted a cool little cafe to go have a second breakfast. Expensive but a very nice little treat for ourselves. The Russians do pretty good breads and excellent tea.

We wandered off to the Kremlin and Red square. Caught the changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier. Then rounded a corner and spotted the queue for Lenins mausoleum. No photos no bags and you have to go though metal detectors to get in. Its free which was surprising but they charge you a small fee for storing your cameras phones bags etc. Numerous stern looking guards then usher you round a set route into and out of the mausoleum. No dawdling allowed. I still maintain it’s a fake cos he looked pretty good for a dead guy.

Red square ( more of a rectangle though) is everything we imagined it to be. Multicoloured St. Basils at the one end just tops it off perfectly. St Basils is THE picture you see in your head when you think of Moscow. Sim and I both had big grins as we walked around imagining what it must have been like to etch ICBMs and tanks roll through the square during Soviet times.

[sim] Just managed to get V to a bunk before she fell asleep. Got to love red bull. Lots more to do tomorrow. Hope the afternoon rest has regenerated my feet. Dorm seems noisy. Dr Who or House this eve. Cool.

– Posted from my iPhone