9/22/2002 Moscow, Russia (Phill)
Okay, this one will have to be pretty quick since there's only one machine in the hostel and it ain't exactly blazin'! We took the overnight train to Moscow last night, I had heard soooo many horror stories about this train that we were all on alert. Immediately the conductor tried to pull the old 'keep your ticket and therefore charge you later for not having one' trick but I saw that one pulled in China and Slovenia so we were okay. Once we got in our carrige we locked the door with the supplied lock, another lock that Lindha had and then a coat hanger for extra noise :) Totally overkill and we knew it but I think we were all a little entertained by ourselves.
The train ride was okay, it wasn't smooth at all though, not sure how many times Lindha almost fell out of the top bunk but none of us got to much sleep. By the time we arrived in Moscow this mornign we were all a little exhausted. After walking and taking the brilliant metro we found our hostel. Since I've been carying Lindha's backpack and it's built for cute little Asian girls, it was tearing my shoulders apart! So I wasglad when we finally found our place and I could get it off me.....
Out we went to Red Square, very very very very cool. Really it's everything that it's cracked up to be. Interesting side note, it's not called Red Square becuase of communism but rather that the word for beautiful in Russia is similar to the english word red. Afterwards we went to St Basils (you've seen pictures of this, trust me) and over to the Kremlin. I didn't bump into Mr Putin, but I was looking!
Russia is a strange world, dirty, corrupt, dangerous but yet totally enthrawling. You never feel totally safe but you learn to like it.
Tonight we actually ended up eating at a 'Texan' resteraunt, long story and it defiantely wasn't our first choice but it's been a long day of walking after a long night of no sleep. John and me are managing to manage our differences better, I was pretty mad at him the first day but now it's getting better. We had a chat......
Tomorrow we're going to try and meet up with some of my Australia
n friends (fom Finland
) who happen to be here at the same time, but it's a bt doubtful. First and foremost though we need to get our visa's registered. We can't leave the country without getting this done and it's proving to be a bit of a difficulty. Apparently paying a bribe to a hotel tomorrow will take care of it though, have to love the Soviets.... Hopefully the next one I'll be safely out of this country. Sent of 5 postcards yesterday and bought the other 12 today, so check your mail!