Russia: 25th August-2nd September 2007

Diana, Nicky, Debbie and I embarked on the Beetroot Backpackers tour of Moscow, Novgorod and St. Petersburg, which included an overnight train ride, ineffective guide and lots of Vodka! I found Req Square in Moscow to be a huge highlight, the Kremlin and Lenin's tomb on one side, a massive shopping center on the other, and then at either end there was a Cathedral and a scientific museum! I also enjoyed going to Gorky Park, even if it is now a tacky amusement park. Another highlight was the overnight train trip to Novgorod. It was lots of cherry-vodka-fun and Novgorod was interesting to visit as it felt much more like real Russia. (Nicky also managed to get a Special forces soldier to lead us to the Blini (pancake) store, which was an absolute classic!). St. Petersburg was much more European, and the highlights included the Feel Yourself Russian folk show, the Money is Honey night club, and just generally the city itelf. I had a great trip despite some questionable accomodation and tour guides, and thats all down to the company (thanks Andrew, Daniel, Debbie, Diana, Nicky, Joe)

   
     
 
Moscow! National History Museum St. Basil's Cathedral

Moscow!

National History Museum

St. Basil's Cathedral
 
The Kremlin Walls Christ the Saviour Cathedral The group

The Kremlin Walls

Christ the Saviour Cathedral

The group
 
Babushka's The circus Awkward Kremlin Guard

Babushka's

The circus

Awkward Kremlin Guard
 
Tsar Cannon Tsar Bell Kremlin Cathedral

Tsar Cannon

Tsar Bell

Kremlin Cathedral
 
Kremlin Cathedral Alexander Garden Red Square

Kremlin Cathedral

Alexander Garden

Red Square
 
Red Square Novodevichy Convent Novodevichy Convent

Red Square

Novodevichy Convent

Novodevichy Convent
 
Novodevichy Convent Red Square St. Basil's Cathedral

Novodevichy Convent

Red Square

St. Basil's Cathedral
 
Drinks on Red Square Vladykino Metro station Gum Shopping Centre

Drinks on Red Square

Vladykino Metro station

Gum Shopping Centre
 
Lenin's Tomb from Gum Gorky Park Cathedral from Gorky Park

Lenin's Tomb from Gum

Gorky Park

Cathedral from Gorky Park
 
Lenin Sculpture CCCP Sculpture The Moscow Metro

Lenin Sculpture

CCCP Sculpture

The Moscow Metro
 
Overnight train to Novgorod Novgorod Convent Traditional wooden architecture

Overnight train to Novgorod

Novgorod Convent

Traditional wooden architecture
 
Walls of Novgorod Kremlin Baltika Beer! Walls of Novgorod Kremlin

Walls of Novgorod Kremlin

Baltika Beer!

Walls of Novgorod Kremlin
 
St. Isaac's (St. Petersburg) The hunt for Red October Feel yourself Russian! (Daniel)

St. Isaac's (St. Petersburg)

The hunt for Red October

Feel yourself Russian! (Daniel)
 
Feel yourself Russian Feel yourself Russian The Bronze Horseman

Feel yourself Russian

Feel yourself Russian

The Bronze Horseman
 
The Church of the Split Blood Nicky and Diana The Hermitage across the Neva

The Church of the Split Blood

Nicky and Diana

The Hermitage across the Neva
 
The Hermitage/Winter Palace The Hermitage/Winter Palace Sailors!

The Hermitage/Winter Palace

The Hermitage/Winter Palace

Sailors!
 
Palace Square Admirality Gardens View from St Isaac's

Palace Square

Admirality Gardens

View from St Isaac's
 
Inside St. Isaac's St. Petersburg canals Church of the Split Blood

Inside St. Isaac's

St. Petersburg canals

Church of the Split Blood
 
Church of the Split Blood St. Petersburg canals Church of the Split Blood

Church of the Split Blood

St. Petersburg canals

Church of the Split Blood
 
MacDonald's Russian Style! The group in Money is Honey Peter & Paul fortress

MacDonald's Russian Style!

The group in Money is Honey

Peter & Paul fortress
 
St. Isaacs from the canal Kazan Cathedral Night in St. Petersburg

St. Isaacs from the canal

Kazan Cathedral

Night in St. Petersburg
 
Dostoevsky's grave Tchaikovsky's grave Nevsky Prospekt

Dostoevsky's grave

Tchaikovsky's grave

Nevsky Prospekt