My travelling adventures...

Have had a brilliant time here!!! went to Peter & Paul Fortress - just like a castle - all dec.'d out inside and it was really good (the gardens were beautiful - good for snowballs!!! - would be gorgeous in summer with all the waterfalls going) but I was more impressed with the history of the place - eg never used as a fortress, Catherine the Great holed up there in one of the 'cabins', and how the Nazis used it as a base during their seige of Leningrad/St Pete... And had big fluffy snow flakes coming down - beautiful!!!

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Howdy!  Well had my last night on the train (sniff sniff) and it was absolutely BOILING - only -3 in St Pete and there is brown slush everywhere - can't just step out into the street cos you'd be ankle deep in it! But it still is snowing slightly...

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Actually not actually sure if it was vodka, anyway perhaps I should start at the beginning... Went for dinner in Moscow, and then to this underground pub which you would never have a chance of finding unless led by a local (Angela)... - of course I had a cocktail - white russian (it had to be done!)... and then I went without Angela to attempt to order a drink... they were going to give me 3 shots of something, and then we went round in a few circles (vodka and baileys was mentioned) and I ended up with these 2 flaming shots and the Russians round the bar, clapping their hands telling me to 'drink, drink' - so when in Rome... :)  you do tend to have the most fun when you have a few communication difficulties - it makes any food you order a surprise (at the food markets I ended up with grapefruits instead of apples - I didn't realise til i was on the train) - but it is definitely good to be able to go back to the group for some english...

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Howdy! Well I survived the 4days on the train!!! - it was great - lots of chill out time, watching the gorgeous countryside pass you by... - the first train journey from Beijing seemed to take the longest - time just seemed to fly by....  Us girls all treated ourselves to a shower on the third day of the train journey - it was lovely - well worth the 50rubles ($1US = 28RuB)... Stocked up this Russian style instant mashed potato - has all these different flavours... and treated ourselves to some treats from the platforms as well... Also went and had a meal in the dining carriage - where Vladameer was serving - he was very drunk and trying to pick up any female...  The next day - he was still drunk - he found us in our carriage (I was sharing with Pauline and Justin... Celia ended up flying back to London to recover from her bug...) - anyway he sat next to me - is pretty scary when this 50ish russian man is trying to pick you up... - running his tongue along his gold-encrusted teeth - luckily Justin was there to help save me, claiming he was my brother and telling him 'nyet' (no)...

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• seeing the Great Wall of China - impressive
• staying in a Ger camp in Mongolia - awesome
• watching the sun set over Lake Baikal - PRICELESS

LOVED Lake Baikal - absolutely gorgeous place - Listvyanka was such a nice little peaceful village - had delicious thick hot chocolate as well!  Little village markets at the end of the street selling oodles of smoked fish and other little knick knacks - thought I should support the local community altho I ws warned that souvineers would be a bit more expensive there - but I got a Lake baikal tshirt - need it for the train as it does get hot and I only packed long-sleeved tops... and a ring - was fun - just had to umm and ahh a while and she reduced the price for me! (you can't usually haggle in Russia - only if it is expensive...)...

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