All the Sights and More

Blink and you would miss it!! (Cairn marking the Asian-European boundary in the Urals
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We finally arrived in Moscow after another 3 days on the train. From Irkurtsk to Moscow is the more updated and more comfortable "Baikal". I took pride of place at the window, to watch the beautiful scenery pass by, and to let David and Toni know of anything that they should have a look at for example the cairn that marks the crossing between Asia and Europe in the Urals!!

Our hotel in Moscow was once the pride of Moscow being 4(?) star accomodation for the 1980 Moscow Olympics, well unfortunately that is not the case in 2007. We took the Metro to the Red Square, and were astounded at the beauty of St Basils Cathedral, the Kremlin and GUM department store all illuminated in the twilight. I thought I would have my photo taken against this backdrop, but Toni thought she'd play it safe as they had been warned that the Russian Police didn't really need an excuse to see if I had a current visa!!

Even the guards looked like wax dummies!!.

Watching the scenery go by
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The following day Toni and David went on a sightseeing tour of Moscow with Nadia (a local guide) who took them to the Kremlin to tour the cathedrals, palaces as well as the Armoury (Like the Tower of London) which houses priceless treasures of Russian history, St Basils Cathedral, Alexanders Garden, Red Square, Moscow State University and other sights. That evening Sveta took them to "The National Russian Dance" show which was spectacular, there were over 17 costume changes.

The following day David and Toni ventured back to red Square to visit Lenin's Tomb. They queued with all the other tourists (mostly Russian) and were eventually ushered into the tomb, to view a very waxen looking Lenin. (Is it or Is it??) Even the guards looked like wax dummies!!.