Arrived in Moscow, had some problems with the letters so I got off at the wrong metro station and walked around for almost 40 minutes before I realised my mistake. Finally I got the hang of the metro system and found my pre-booked room and Sia, my travel companion arrived just after me. It was a funny place called Galinas Flat, a private home on fifth floor where she had a double room and a dorm with five beds where we slept. The kitchen was very small and well not the cleanest I have seen but it was allright and the shower was nice and warm so I found the place ok. Except of course for the bedbugs that attacked me. I got more than 200 bites all over the body and they started itching badly after 5 days and got swollen and painful so I had to see a doctor!
The next five days we were doing all the tourist stuff:
Walked around the Kremlin ( we were looking for a place to eat breakfast but didn’t find any so we walked for three hours in snow and on an empty stomach!!!)
Saw Kremlin inside: the Armoury, the different churches, chapels and cathedrals. Very nice, I liked the floor to ceiling paintings in all the churches.
Walked on The Red Square at nighttime AND daytime. I swear I could feel history being created. I think it was amazing to stand there after reading and hearing about it for so many years.
Saw Lenins tomb. Found it a bit funny with all the soldiers guarding it and making sure nobody stopped in front of the grave but walked pass in a slow decent stride. I don’t think the soldiers would’ve found it amusing if I suddenly started laughing so I kept a (partly) straight face.
Visited a famous monestary and a graveyard where a lot of famous Russians are buried.
Went to the Bolshoi for a ballet. Very nice experience. Only my second ballet so far but I actually think I’ll do it more often!
Walked around in a very empty Gorky Park and followed the river Moskva so now Scorpions “Wind of Change” means something when they sing: I followed the Moskva down to Gorky Park…
I must say I have never met a more cold and unsmiling population than in Moscow. Sometimes they were not just cold but really rude. They even beat the French in reluctance aginst speaking another language than their own :-)!
On the way to the train station, leaving Moscow for good, we met the one and only friendly, smiling local and he helped us find the right train and offered us coffee. Thank you!