Russia and Ukraine

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Russia: Final Impressions
Moscow women are a mixture of Slavic and Mongolian some more Slavic - blonder shorter, the others are tall and quite dark with high cheekbones - long legs - very model like. Some of the young girls wear heels that look like they’re on sky scrapers and some dress in very very short short skirts - to the point that their pants are about to show…. With boobs hanging out - mmmmm not a great look.
The Mullet look is still big here not only for the young boys but for older men as well.
Quite prosperous in the centre but less so on the outskirts. Anything and everything is available here.
Lenin’s tomb was a hoot - they go big for the reverential thing here -= we waited for more than one hour to get to see the great man - with soldiers standing guard every few metres, and a long way to the mausoleum. When we entered the m. we had to stop talking and be solemn and walk passed without stopping. The gm was swathed from head to toe in regal garb and his face and hands shone as with an inner light! No photos here - not a mobile phone, or large bag or anything that might conceal a weapon…..
We also visited the Kremlin and saw the area of power - now is not - parliament is in another area of Moscow..
And so we moved on…. To Kiev in Ukraine.
We travelled by overnight train with a stop at 1 am for a passport check by the Russians, and then at 4 am with another passport check by the Ukrainians…. So not too much sleep to be had. The Russians don’t allow any drinking on the trains and you can be evicted for breaching the rules…. But the Ukrainians don’t care - so when we left Kiev last night we were reveling until the wee hours - oh well some of us were!! I kicked on until about 11, Roman got to bed at 12 and the younger ones got in between 1 and 3 am. Much vodka, beer was drunk and singing was heard… Katherine, our tour leader (22) also plays a guitar so lots of songs were sung!! - This all happened in the confines of the hall in the train.
Kiev was exhausting - much to be seen and so little time - we visited all the major sights including St Sofia’s church, the Lavra, and we even got to see Giselle performed by the Kiev ballet who are supposed to be excellent!! By the end I had blisters on my feet. And we didn’t get to ring anyone or see anyone of the contacts we were given. Sorry!!

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