DAY TRIP TO MOSCOW: Travelling to the Russian Federation during the current Covid-19 pandemic is difficult, especially if you have a United Kingdom passport. So, what do you do if you want to visit Moscow, but can't enter Russia without fourteen days of quarantine? Go to Moscow, East Ayrshire.
Oh those Russians! RUSSIA VISA BLOG; The trials and tribulations of applying for a Russian visa. As I had booked my visits to Russia independently, I decided to apply for my Russian visas as well. The Russians don't allow UK citizens to apply online, and insist we visit an approved office so they can scan your fingerprints. I tried giving one of the girls a bit of chit-chat, but was shot down immediately. They are not permitted to talk about the weather or any of these other 'ice-breaking' subjects. They are professional. If you love red tape you're in for a treat. Click >> H E R E << for my Russian visa blog. If you are planning to apply for a Russian visa, this might save you some money and time.
MINSK to MOSCOW: My Minsk train had started in Brest, in southwest Belarus. One berth was already occupied, and the air smelled of stale drink. The man opposite me would wake every hour and pour himself a small vodka and then return to sleep again. Our train crossed the invisible border between Belarus and Russia, having passed through immigration and customs when leaving Poland.
MOSCOW and the Trans Siberian: All of the travel guides tell you to try and talk to the locals. It will make the journey more enjoyable. One guy in his teens could perhaps speak a dozen words in English. All other people in my carriage were Russian as this was bound for Irkutsk. All other passengers were in the Chinese carriages, bound for Ulaanbaatar and Beijing. I was surprised at how beautiful western Siberia was in summer.
The Trans Siberian and IRKUTSK: I was quite surprised at how quickly four nights on a train passed. I set a routine early on. Have a wash, breakfast, read, listen to music or listen to a podcast. The trains stop at stations every 5 hours or so. As a result, your day can be broken down into 5 hour segments, with a 20-30 minute reward of a walk along the platform. That was when I met English speaking passengers. It was also a great way of buying local food.
LAKE BAIKAL: This was on my 'must do' list, so I caught a Russian train to Slyudyanka. The day was surprisingly cool, and the water quite cold. A local told me it was filled with fresh melt water from the winter show and ice. I was determined to stand in the waters of Lake Baikal, and I succeeded. You will see from my awkward stepping over the stones to the water, that cold, hard stones, and feet with blisters don't go well together.
IRKUTSK to ULAANBAATAR: The border crossing from Russian to Mongolia was a little tense, with military-style uniforms with bit Soviet hats, snarling officers and even a sniffer dog. For some reason I was singled out for a quick bag and compartment inspection. I must just have one of those faces.
SAINT PETERSBURG: St. Petersburg is a beautiful city with gold onion domes on it's churches. This is Russia’s imperial city, and it is a true rival to other great European cities. Russia's second biggest city offers canals, museums, restaurants and street musicians. I catch Russia's high-speed Sapsan train from Moscow and visit the 'must see' sights.
MOSCOW: The world's most beutiful metro system. Built between 1950-1954, this is Moscow's 'circle line' which is a tourist attraction in its own right. It may be Europe's busiest Metro, but by waiting until after evening rush hour, I was able to 'station hop' - explore a station, wait no more than two minutes and catch the next train to the next station... repeat.