Went back to Red Square the place was a live with people and children getting into the Xmas spirit. Went to GUM an amazing department store great architecture all decked out for Xmas. Did the 2 hour Green bus city tour at night lots of lights and historic buildings. Had dinner in a Russian restaurant had Borscht soup each table had different coloured pencils and the place mats you could colour in. A lot of people were doing that waiting for their dinner to arrive. Back to the hotel late. In the city the traffic lights for red and green have a seconds face counting down to changing colour and this applied to the pedestrians as well, a great idea. The Metro system works well, very clean no advertising and some amazing architecture. If an elderly woman was standing most young Russians would get up off their seats and give it to them. Did not see that happen in London.

I am having technical issue uploading photos to my blog, once sorted out I will up load them. 

Followed a friendly Russian lady to the metro station close to the hotel and got a 3 day unlimited travel card for about £5, London shame on your tube prices. The metro is very clean some great architecture and no advertising like in London. Got off at Revolution Square and found Red Square rather surreal here I was in Red Square after seeing it in the movies and on TV. It was bloody cold hence need to wrap up well -12 C. We saw the Kremlin, Saint Basil’s Cathedral, Lenin’s Mausoleum, State Historical Museum then we hopped on the Red Bus for a day time tour a must to do with a very good commentary. We did the circuit and then went to GUM department store well decorated inside for Christmas which some people love. Went into a Samsung store to look at a terabyte hard drive they wanted £200 then you but no thanks. They had a lot of ice cream shops selling famous Russian ice cream was not tempted with the out side temperatures.

Walked to the Bolshoi Ballet and queued up the Russians seem to queue up a lot. The  ballet was on tonight at 7 pm asked about tickets and there were 2 left on the ground level but not sitting together and they wanted £200 pounds each, Penny and I decided against it and we approached the ticket tout out side the Bolshoi theater and purchased 2 tickets together 5th level up seated in the front of the balcony for £100 each. I asked the ticket tout as we are dressed in travel trousers multiple pockets thermals and jackets is this dress code acceptable he assured me yes it is okay.

We had 4 hours to wait before the ballet started and we did not what the ballet was the main thing we were going to the ballet. So went to the Moscow train station and purchased tickets for Tuesday travel to St Petersburg about £10 cheaper than buying on line. Went and hopped on the Red line bus again to look at Moscow at night quite impressive a lot of cars on the road. Got off at the Bolshoi Theater found our entrance and walked in got speaking with some mature Russian ladies and they showed us to our balcony they had a great sense of humour. Got to the cloak room off with the arctic jacket I am well dressed for the ballet travel trousers thermal top and walking boots and Penny is dressed similar and no one was bothered. Asked the people next to us what is the ballet? Raymonda, my introduction to the ballet, a drop of culture. It was fantastic what a building could see where Putin sits he apparently comes here once a year. Some of the dancers were amazing and the Russian lady near us filled us in with the ballet and life in Moscow between the acts. Seated next to Penny was a Chinese lady from Hong Kong just flown over for the weekend a corporate lawyer. Penny told her we were in Hong Kong back in March and we had got engaged there. Told her that her son’s one of his best mates works there as a lawyer been there just over a year and his name is James and this lady said I know James I work with him and had lunch with him 5 days ago. What a small world?

Back to the hotel around 11 pm a long day stopped off at Burger King had a burger was not nice at all. Penny had a kebab again not the best.

The flight was 90 minutes late to depart dues to flight operations in Europe. Flew with Siberian Airlines S7. A breathe of fresh air after flying with Ryan Air some many times. We got a meal and given drinks all free and the crew were friendly. The flight was about 4 hours and 30 minutes. Another delay at the Moscow airport had to wait 30 minutes for buses to pick us up. What a shock to the system going from the warm plane to -17C. Did not need to fill out any immigration cards handed them my passport they scanned it and the visa out came a piece of paper which I had to sign and keep one half of it. Maybe the world can learn from this system. Got a taxi to our hotel 52 km away all the roads were 6 lanes wide cars weaving left and right with and without indicating. Arrived at the hotel before midnight and had to wait and hour to get checked in a lot of people checking in and the hotel check in system is slow. Staying in the Vega Hotel about 7 km from Revolution Square. The  room is comfortable great water pressure and the staff are friendly.

Leaving sunny Spain this afternoon and heading to Moscow the start of a 4 month trip through Russia on the Trans Siberian Railways then onto Mongolia and then on to Beijing. Travel through China and then on to Vietnam.

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton

Today the Journey Begins

Leaving Alicante today a direct flight to Moscow arrive there tonight expecting -15C temperatures.