Belarus

Belarus Immigration
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Today was a full driving day from Moscow through to Bela-Russia - Belarus. The roads out of Modcow were really, really bad, and with our seat rotation putting us in the very back row of the bus, it was bounce, bounce, bounce all the way. Monica the tour director put a movie on to watch - Dr Zivago. I couldn't see it from the back seat in the bus very well so decided to use the time to get up to date with my travel blog. We stopped for a catered lunch at a hotel where we had vegetable soup, veil snitzel and a fruit muffin and coffee for afters.

Statue of Lenin
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We stopped at the Belarus border for about 30 mins while the driver did his paperwork. Because Belarus is supported by Russia there was no immigration required for individual passengers at this time - even though individual visas are required prior to entry. The afternoon was spent again on the bus and had us pulling in at our hotel at about 4pm. After a brief break, it was back on the bus for an included tour. This took us to the original home of artist Paul Chagall. The rooms in this house were so small that our group was split into two for the tour and even then our group didn't fit in the rooms sometimes. This tour was given by a young lady who did not speak english, so we would listen to what she said, then an interpreter would then tell us the information. This because quite tedious after a while as every photograph and piece of furniture was talked about.

It wouldn't want to be real cold...

Battle Monument
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It was then on to the Chagall museum. On the way we saw a statue of Lenin and other statues and monuments. At the museum, our Belarussian tour guide started to tell us the inspriations behind each and every lithograph by Chagall on the first floor. When we had been told that there was 300 in the building, there was a lot of eye rolling and impatient looks and movements as our interpreter related what the guide was saying. Some people gave up and went outside until the tour was over. I don't think anyone was up to listening to what was being said after being on a bus all day. We were all happy to get back on the bus and get back to our hotel,

Oblisk Monument
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The hotel we were staying at was the best in the city. A four star - we are not sure by who's standard. It was more like a two star hotel. I found it very cold in the room and when I enquired about it, Monica the tour director said there was no heating turned on at all in Belarus at the moment. The lifts in the building were also a joke with only four people fitting in at any one time and take a long time. On our half an hour break we were actually wondering if we were going to get up to our room and back down again in that time.

Statue outside Chagall Museum
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Dinner was included that night on the tour and we all loaded up on the bus again for the trip to the retaruant. A welcoming vodka warmed us up from the inside and this was welcomed. We made our way to the upstairs floor where a room was set aside for our tour group. A plate of finely sliced meats was provided as the apertif along with some bread and a n individual salad each. This was follwed by  chicken kiev and vegetables, then crepes for desert. It was an enjoyable night, assisted by vodka and champagne!