Moscow
Thursday
Woke in our Hovel and headed straight into town, saw a few sights on route to the Sculpture Park which had a mixture of arty sculptures and soviet statues of Lenin etc. Also saw the MASSIVE Peter the Great on a ship statue!
Next up was the Tretyakov Gallery which was superb, full of propaganda posters and Russian art which I really liked! After this we went to sit in the gardens around the Kremlin, Marf did some art before before we went for a peak at the Grave of the Un-named Solider, Red Square and St. Basil's Cathedral. Couldn't find where we wanted to go for dinner so ended up finding a place which sold beer, kebabs and played some footy!! Swear we walked for at least 8 hours that day!!!
Friday
Went into the Kremlin, saw all four massive cathedrals, the Tsar Pushka cannon and Tsar Bell. A load of priests turned up and started doing Russian Orthadox things, the choir was actually amazing and it was pretty interesting.
Went for an amble round, saw the GUM and Transilvania music shop (very expensive)! Began to realise there were no affordable shops in Moscow centre unless you were loaded!
Had an amazing dinner at a Ukrainian restaurant which consisted of borsch, vegetable fritters and cabbage stuffed with meat...Marf had beer soup...and we drank Syberian Corona which I am really missing!
Saturday
Went to Izmaylovo Market, possibly the greatest place on earth, it was like something out of a book it was overwhelming. Everything from souvenirs to taxidermy, from fur hats to hand grenades!!! We wanted to buy EVERYTHING!!! got Russian Dolls, presents for people, Marf got a scarf! The whole place was decked out with fake castles, a windmill, a ship and it was soooo cheap but too far from home :( Its only downside was two chained up bears on display outside it...and the loos!
Had dumplings and meatballs at the cafe there before heading back into central Moscow. Went into St Basil's which was as beautiful inside as outside. I still think it looks like it is an inflatable!!! Went in the amazing book store Dom Kinigi, very annoying how lovely Russian books are and that I can't read them!
Had a good sit down for Martha to do some sketching and rest our bones!
Sunday
Went to see (un)dead Lenin in his embalmed state, was dark and cold as a tomb should be, also saw Stalin's grave! Then we began the Master and the Martguerita tour (read it if you haven't! Went to the Patriarch Ponds from the start of the book where the Devil appears, there were balloons everywhere!!
Then on to Bulgakov's house itself, there was a weird dove and the biggest most gorgeous cat (Behemoth of course). couldn't understand anything in the museum but was nice to see the place.
More ambling around admiring the Ghostbuster-esque skyscrapers!!
Lolki Polki for dinner which was delicious! However a man sat next to us (Andrei) took a shine to Martha and attempted to talk to us for 2 1/2 hours even though he spoke practically no English!! Was pretty funny, he said he wanted Martha and him to 'become like a Twix' hahaha! His two female friends seemed OK but we declined an invitation to go and see 'Rock Music' with them and headed back down the Arbat to our hovel! He did give us Vodka though!!
Monday
To continue the theme of dead Russians we went to Nododevichy Cemetery where many of the greats are buried, Gogol, Bulgakov, Yeltsin etc. Was a gorgeous place and interesting to see the interesting headstones many of which were sculptures of the deceased.
Went for a walk by the Olympic Stadium and then got a bit lost trying to get up to the Uni and walked bloody miles again! Finally got there and got to see the whole of Moscow from the hill!. went for a walk around Gory Nature reserve which was very pleasant.
Uzbekistan restaurant in the eve, had a gorgeous lamb pastry dish and a traditional lamb and rice wedding dish!! More Siberian Corona!!
Tuesday
General wandering around day, went one of the Russian Fast food places which are better than anything over here! Just wandered around really and sat in a few parks! Had a Siberian dinner or pork dumplings! Went one of the supermarkets and got supplies for the train journey (Lays crisps)! Saw some break dancing on the Arbat!
Really enjoyed Moscow, the Metro stations were as stunning as expected., the traffic was complete mayhem, Muscovite women dress to attract millionaires and give you evil looks!!
It is also worth mentioning a few Hostel things - they changed Marf's bed when we were there from a bunk to a single, they argued a lot and the wall was like in black Books where Fran's wall moves which we were expecting!! Also TERROR!!!! hahaha!
Wednesday
Headed to the station , continued my new found pastime of stealth photography in the Metro! Got our train to go to St. Petersburg (7 1/2 hour journey). We opted for 2nd class so four to a section. We had a miserable Georgian bloke and a cool Siberian lad called Vadim who was very nice and tried to dredge up his English from school. Marf drew him and he drew her, he was pretty funny!!
Got to St Pete's and found our Homestay family's flat. Gorgeous flat and a lovely family Armine, Sasha and Erica the daughter who ruled the roost! Drank tea and ate sweets before having a mosquito filled night!
Woke in our Hovel and headed straight into town, saw a few sights on route to the Sculpture Park which had a mixture of arty sculptures and soviet statues of Lenin etc. Also saw the MASSIVE Peter the Great on a ship statue!
Next up was the Tretyakov Gallery which was superb, full of propaganda posters and Russian art which I really liked! After this we went to sit in the gardens around the Kremlin, Marf did some art before before we went for a peak at the Grave of the Un-named Solider, Red Square and St. Basil's Cathedral. Couldn't find where we wanted to go for dinner so ended up finding a place which sold beer, kebabs and played some footy!! Swear we walked for at least 8 hours that day!!!
Friday
Went into the Kremlin, saw all four massive cathedrals, the Tsar Pushka cannon and Tsar Bell. A load of priests turned up and started doing Russian Orthadox things, the choir was actually amazing and it was pretty interesting.
Went for an amble round, saw the GUM and Transilvania music shop (very expensive)! Began to realise there were no affordable shops in Moscow centre unless you were loaded!
Had an amazing dinner at a Ukrainian restaurant which consisted of borsch, vegetable fritters and cabbage stuffed with meat...Marf had beer soup...and we drank Syberian Corona which I am really missing!
Saturday
Went to Izmaylovo Market, possibly the greatest place on earth, it was like something out of a book it was overwhelming. Everything from souvenirs to taxidermy, from fur hats to hand grenades!!! We wanted to buy EVERYTHING!!! got Russian Dolls, presents for people, Marf got a scarf! The whole place was decked out with fake castles, a windmill, a ship and it was soooo cheap but too far from home :( Its only downside was two chained up bears on display outside it...and the loos!
Had dumplings and meatballs at the cafe there before heading back into central Moscow. Went into St Basil's which was as beautiful inside as outside. I still think it looks like it is an inflatable!!! Went in the amazing book store Dom Kinigi, very annoying how lovely Russian books are and that I can't read them!
Had a good sit down for Martha to do some sketching and rest our bones!
Sunday
Went to see (un)dead Lenin in his embalmed state, was dark and cold as a tomb should be, also saw Stalin's grave! Then we began the Master and the Martguerita tour (read it if you haven't! Went to the Patriarch Ponds from the start of the book where the Devil appears, there were balloons everywhere!!
Then on to Bulgakov's house itself, there was a weird dove and the biggest most gorgeous cat (Behemoth of course). couldn't understand anything in the museum but was nice to see the place.
More ambling around admiring the Ghostbuster-esque skyscrapers!!
Lolki Polki for dinner which was delicious! However a man sat next to us (Andrei) took a shine to Martha and attempted to talk to us for 2 1/2 hours even though he spoke practically no English!! Was pretty funny, he said he wanted Martha and him to 'become like a Twix' hahaha! His two female friends seemed OK but we declined an invitation to go and see 'Rock Music' with them and headed back down the Arbat to our hovel! He did give us Vodka though!!
Monday
To continue the theme of dead Russians we went to Nododevichy Cemetery where many of the greats are buried, Gogol, Bulgakov, Yeltsin etc. Was a gorgeous place and interesting to see the interesting headstones many of which were sculptures of the deceased.
Went for a walk by the Olympic Stadium and then got a bit lost trying to get up to the Uni and walked bloody miles again! Finally got there and got to see the whole of Moscow from the hill!. went for a walk around Gory Nature reserve which was very pleasant.
Uzbekistan restaurant in the eve, had a gorgeous lamb pastry dish and a traditional lamb and rice wedding dish!! More Siberian Corona!!
Tuesday
General wandering around day, went one of the Russian Fast food places which are better than anything over here! Just wandered around really and sat in a few parks! Had a Siberian dinner or pork dumplings! Went one of the supermarkets and got supplies for the train journey (Lays crisps)! Saw some break dancing on the Arbat!
Really enjoyed Moscow, the Metro stations were as stunning as expected., the traffic was complete mayhem, Muscovite women dress to attract millionaires and give you evil looks!!
It is also worth mentioning a few Hostel things - they changed Marf's bed when we were there from a bunk to a single, they argued a lot and the wall was like in black Books where Fran's wall moves which we were expecting!! Also TERROR!!!! hahaha!
Wednesday
Headed to the station , continued my new found pastime of stealth photography in the Metro! Got our train to go to St. Petersburg (7 1/2 hour journey). We opted for 2nd class so four to a section. We had a miserable Georgian bloke and a cool Siberian lad called Vadim who was very nice and tried to dredge up his English from school. Marf drew him and he drew her, he was pretty funny!!
Got to St Pete's and found our Homestay family's flat. Gorgeous flat and a lovely family Armine, Sasha and Erica the daughter who ruled the roost! Drank tea and ate sweets before having a mosquito filled night!