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Last night I was just leaving the hostel to go to the train station when Alena one of the hosts in the hostel pulled up in her car and said she would take me to the station, so that was a lovely start to my journey to Moscow. I found the right platform but very nearly got on the wrong train !!!! but I realised my error and queued up to get on the right one, I showed my ticket and passport (even Russians have to show their passports to buy a ticket as well as board a train) and looked on my ticket for the bunk number.
I was chuffed as I read the Russian word for wagon and soon found my "wagon 3", next was to look for bunk 17. I found it and sat down with 6 other people, the old man sitting in front of me was not pleased when I gestured that I wanted him to move his suitcase over so I could fit mine in. I sat down and everyone looked at me like I was an alien, very unnerving I can tell you. It continued and I realised that there were 4 bunks
in our little compartment and 6 people. Then one of them got up and waved bye bye so then there were 5. Now even though I was a foreigner in this strange land I could work out that 5 people will not fit into 4 bunks !!!! My fellow travellers had clearly decided I was the cookoo in the nest, by the way they continued to look at me like I had just made a bad smell, but I held my head high, reminded myself I was British, and gave an air of " this woman is not for turning" .............. however I thought was a good idea to get out my ticket ............................. it was then
T realised I was sitting in bunk 17 and my bunk was in fact 15, next door !!!!! OOOOPPS.........
I slowly gathered my things, with as much dignity as I could muster, and slinked next door. There I was greeted with smiles from the 2 young girls and 1 lad that were already there. Straight away they said hello and were made up when they realised I was from the UK. We all made our beds and settled down for the night.
Ten hours wasn't that bad and I did manage to get some sleep.
Then I arrived at Moscow station and had to find the hostel, I had to change metro stations once and found it reasonably quickly. One thing I've noticed is that men are not gentlemen in Russia, nobody helped me drag my case up several sets of stairs (no lifts) until I was practically on my knees when I gave a pleading look to a man who looked right through me, then just as I could have cried a man offered to helped me, needless to say he was not Russian but french !!
Hostel in nicer in appearance to the other one , lots more room and nicer decoration, but the staff don't appear to be very helpful at all, except one girl Dasha, who wants to help and learn some English. I had a quick shower then off to explore the area. I went to the biggest church in Moscow called Catherine Cathedral, that looked beautiful, but alas I wasn't allowed in as I had uncovered shoulders, which is fair enough. However the girl infront of me wasn't allowed in because her shoes had
lots of sparkly beads and glitter on them ........ I had a little giggle to myself thinking about Marilyn, she would NEVER be allowed into a Russian church.
Then I walked over a bridge across the river and there were brides everywhere .... yes brides and grooms all having their photos taken, there were 6 bridal parties all posing for photos. Most of them wore the traditional long dress like we would wear then I saw one who had an amazing short short dress with long train behind, very Russian bride me thinks !!!
Then there was a massive clap of thunder and I rushed back just in time before the heavens opened and it was torrential for about an hour, I had a cuppa and read me book.
I'm off to me bed now, so night night for now
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Big mama
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Internets down, dog ran away, house fell apart and ran out of tuna! Na but seriously Internets down n my mobs decided to pack in. ... Sounds Like ur having a great time, see you soon Miss you! Quick catch up ... Ellas walking properly n were buying her 1st shoes Tomo in Exeter Clarks Her best friend is Disney they hug n kiss and I wake up to them both chatting to eachother in the mornings