Moscow Centre and shopping streets.

We waked up with a beautiful Sun..... Yes, its Summer in Moscow. After our breakfast again direction Metro and we took the train to the Centre.

Our station in the centre is Borovitskaya, three hundred meters from the Red Square. We walked to the shoppingstreet by the Nikolskaya Kempinski Hotel. We took a coffee there. In that nabourhood is a nice pedestrians area. The first shop was an enormes buiding like Galerie Lafayette a Paris. It was a collection shops only for children. One big paradise, on the groundfloor was a kind of theatre for the kids and on the 4 other floors only kid clothes, toys etc.

The weather in Moscow is not like in France..... We started the day with Sun but when we came out of the Children Paradise, yes, it started to rain again. We walked slowly and a bit protected to the next shop. The second famous shop, the HUM, not the GUM. Here are all the famous marks presented. A very rich collection of all the great names from the mode world.

Dry again, coat of again, because the temperature is nice above the twinty degrees. We walked behind the Bolsthoy Theatre to the Tverskaya. In the meantime was it lunch time, so, we search "our" My My.

After the lunch we walked to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. An enormes building out the communistic period. 1951. Our route was through a beautiful street for pedestrians, the Arbat.

After the ministry were we crossing the Moskva River to the Europa Square. A place with a big Fountain, we were happy that the Sun was shining between all the clouds.

Back via the Rostovsky Most, a nice bridge over the river, back to the Kremlin, to our Metro station. So, not so much culture today, but a day relaxed,

We area writing this report in the Centre, because when we are back in the Hotel, than we have our diner and direct after that we are leaving for the train.

So our dear friends, we don't know when we have internet again and when we have electricity again, because there's no 220V in the train. We hope to write soon the next report.

Moscow city, Red Place. 5th day. Quatorze Juillet.

Today a day without guide. Today is it in France the famous "quatorze Juillet", so we make our own party, we visit the city Moscow again.

We took early our breakfast and so we were before nine o'clock in the Metro. Without a guide is the right train and station a little difficult. So we made a photo from the stationnaam, than we can find easy our hotel back.

the big suprprise today was the opening from the tombe de Lenin. It was exeptionel, because the tombe is normal closed. Today was he open from 10h jusque midi. At nine were we lining up. In no time was the line about 300 meters long.

Exact at Ten started they with controling the people, better than on a airport. We started a nice historicel tour... We came from the sun in the black tombe, the stairs were also black.... It was a slowly and difficult expedition, special for some very old people.

It was a typical experience. Lenin in the lights, light rose.... Pity, photos are forbidden. You must take self once the line. But be fast, because its the last year that you can see him. Only on Thursdays.

After the visit walked we a bit over the Red Place. We made some photos and than was it time for the GUM. The modern shopping Mall for the 'new rich'. All the important companies like Dior, Bose, louis Vuiton, Dyson, etc are there. You can ques..... We visit Apple....

Lunch by MY MY, thats Russian for Boehh, thats what the cow says. Its an original Russian restaurant, with the original kitchen. We took Borsht, Haring with Beans and Red beets with a nice Russian Beer. Not bad at all.

the afternoon was for The Kremlin. We were visiting all the churches in the Kremlin,

1. The Annunciation Cathedral

2. The Dormition Cathedral

3. The Archangel Cathedral and

4. The Church of the Deposition of the Robe of the Holy Virgin. Also forbidden to make photos. But we were amazed, so many beautiful icoons, its a fantastic tresor what they have there.

We walked via the Secret Garden to the main exit from the Kremlin. When we entered the Red Place, a surprise, the whole place was closed for a military exercise. It took an hour to come back to the other site of the place because we had the plan to go to the Bolshoy Theatre. But... we did it. The way back with the Metro was a bit complicated, but also that we did. The result was that we at about six o'clock entered our Hotel. Tired but very content.

tomorrow a last day Moscow. We are leaving tomorrow the city by train at midnight.

Train to Moscow, fourth day

Sunday evening at 23h came our driver to pick us up for the train. After 15 minutes were we on the station. The hostes received us and showed our cabin.

Super luxe, everything was there, even tv. On the table was food, water and sweets. We were so tired that the only thing what we wants to do was sleeping. But no, the hostes came after a half houre to ask what we want for our breakfast the next morning.

After that we were sleeping directly.we awaked about 6h45, after a primitive morning wash cam a servend to bring our breakfast. Un ommelet, tea, two sorts of bread and a juice.

At 7h55, right on time, arrived we in Moscow. Dimitry was waiting for and brought us to the hotel. our guide for today, Marina, was allready there, so after a small half houre were we again in action.

She brought us by metro to three beautiful old stations. Than the Red Square, with the Kremlin, the Gum, the Pokrovsky Cathredal, the Lenin mausoleum and the National Histical museum. After a lot of explanations was it time for the changing of the guard by the monument of the second worldwar.

The wind was strong and cold, so, we were happy that we were diving in the metro again for again three other beautiful stations. (See the photos.) when we came out of the ground were we by a shpping mall, a real modern shopping mall with all the shops you wish. On the fourth floor was a Resaurant Area, there bought we our lunch.

Our last activity was a boat tour over de Moscow River to the Cathedral of Christ theSaviour. The weather was cold and windy. A nice trip and a nicer Cathdral. We visit the Cathedral who was build after the Perestroika. Befor was the Cathedral destroyed by order of Stalin. A beautiful church with a enormes space insite. The altar is even a small church. Pity, photos are insite forbidden.

Around 16h30 were we back in our hotel. It was again a cultural day. an intersting day with beatiful views.

St Petersbourg and Peterhof

We started the day at about nine o'clock. The sky was grey again, but.... no rain. but when we opened the door from the hotel.... we noticed: its winter today. Cold....

You know before it is in the north not the same weather as in France, but anyway, you don't expected 8 degrees in the Summer. Karina was laughing, for her was it normal. So, we put all our clothes on, shirt, vest and jack. Ready to go!

The program today is the Peterhof, the Summer recidence from Peter the Great. We likedit to go by public transport and that was a good idea. First wevtook the bus to a Metro station.

The Metro in St Petersbourg is the deepest in the world, our guide brought us to the deepest station, about 89 meters below street level. After two different lines and about twenty minutes later were we changing te Metro for a bus. After again twenty minutes were we arriving bij the Summerpalace.

Peter the Great was so impressed when he was visiting our Versailles that he wanted the same in his city. he started to build a park. Than he search the best architect on that moment the Italian architect Domenico Trezzini. He build a small Summerpalace, a two storey yellow building, with 7 rooms on each floor. It was in 1714 ready And he was giving it to his wife.

She was not so happy with it, so she asked for more rooms..... So, there was again alot of work. Peter build for the family a small palace on teh site of the see, he caled it "Mon Plaisir".

His youngest doughter, Alexandra, was a Tuberculose patient, so hi dicided to make a Bath house for her and also for the rest of the family.

In the year 1723 was everything ready and was also the garden (10.000 hectare) in a good shape. Peter the Great was a happy man, his family was happy with there Summer residence, so in the Summer 1724 was the whole family moving to this palace. It was only for one Summer, he died in 1725.

We visit the garden with unbelievable number of golden statutes, the small palace "mon Plaisir" and the impressing Bath house. You can see the photos on the photo page.

we finished the day with a visit on the Peter and Paul church near the Peterhof. By coincidence was it today the day of St Paul. In the garden was a choire singing Orthodox songs.

Then was it time to go back to the city. We walked a bit and at 19h00 was it "apero-time". Also time to write the this small article for today.

In one hour we order our meal and we rest in the restaurant till about 22h30, our chauffeur is picking us up later for the train to Moscow, which is leaving at 24h00.

Tonight are we sleeping in the train to Moscow.

Saint Petersbourg Day 2

We awaked at about 7h30. You dont believe it but the sky was grey and it was raining.... not a few drips, but RAINING! We took firts a good breakfast in the hope it should be better after a bit time... But unfortunately.... It was raining harder. ??

At nine o'clock arrived Karina, our guide. She was prepared for the normal St Petersbourg weather, she told us that it's normal here, they have rain about 310 days a year.... ??????????

So, we started our program. Karina had some parapluis for us. We walked to the "The church of Savior on the Spilled Blood", a long name for a beautiful church who is build on the place were they killed Emperor Alexander II in March 1881. what a beautifull archtecture. You can see the photo on the "foto" page.

Than we took the bus to the Peter and Paul Fortress. The first structure in St Petersbourg, build to protect Peter the Great's northern city from the threat of Swedishattacks and now the emblem of the city and the resting place of the Russian Tsars.

In the middle of the fortress stands the Peter and Paul Cathedral, the place for all the emperors from Peter the Great till Alexander III. A Cathedral with a very unusual design for a Orthodox church. On the top is a golden angel who is holding a cross. Its the highest building from the city, 121 meters high.

Also we visit the prison in the fortress. 72 cels for politic prisoners, one of them was the brother of Stalin. He died in that prison while his brother was succeeding for there ideals.

Than is on teh site of the prison the Mint. Still the second factory in Rusland where they make the Roebel mints.

After a typical Russian lunch walked we to the stock exchange. Magnificent archtectural ensemble, buit after the turn of the 19th century on the Vasevsky Island. The builing has an ancient Greece archtecture style with two grandiose colums, build as lighthouse for theships of the Neva River.

On the day of culture and history for us was the next subject the St Isaaac Cathedral. We reach it by bus. This Cathedral was the front linien during the second World war. We know it as the battle of Leningrad. The church has still a lot af marks from the battle. The Cathedral is built by the French arcitect Montferrand. He was 40 years under construction and finished in 1858. all the colums are made of single pieces of red granite..... each colum weight about 80 tons. A beautiful Cathedral.

At 3 O'clock, yes, it was time fot the Hermitage. we were very happy with our Karina, she had the tickets already (waiting time 1 houre), we passed the row for the entrance and so we were directly in the museum. Ach, you must have so your network... Ha, ha...

We walked about three houres through the museum. And realy, its thruth, its very impressing. It is a very impressing art collection. We were visiting the firts floor with many rooms from different times. There are about 2,7 million pieces of art. When you want them see them all then you need 11 years .... Good luck. We were after three hours so tired that we needed a beer.... But they have an enourmous collection from par example Rembrand, 26 maste pieces, more than the Rembrand collection in Holland. There is also al lot of Frensch art, from Renoir, Cezanne, Manet etc. we were impressed!

In the meantime was it about 7o'clock, tired in our legs and head were we walking back to our hotel To write our experiences.

it's now later again... We were eating in a beautiful Russian "market" restaurant. You don't believe it may be, but we had also a red wine... From Greorgia! Nice, fine, a beatiful nose, a round taste, but...... a bit sugar. But, better than a simple limonade!

So, this was our first total day in Rusland. Tomorrow we are going to the Summer palace from Peter the Great, about 70 km from the city. Now we prepare our beds for the last night in Saint Petersbourg.

Our first day.

Early in the morning, at 5.30 h were we leaving Coudes. There was not so much trafic, so we were on time on the airport Charles de Gaule à Roissy.

The flight was comfortable with the doughtercompany from Aeroflot; Rossia. Flighttime 2h50min.

Our guide was waiting and he brought us to the hotel, middel in the centre and only 300 meters from the Hermitage. A very beatiful start from our trip. After installating in our room started we the hunt for money, roebels! The best way to take them from an ATM, so we took 3000 rbl out of the wall.

The hotel was locared on the Nevsky Project, the main street from Saint Petersburg an also the most impotant street. We walked to the river, crossed the bridge and visit the beatiful place in front of the Hermitage. We where amazed about the number of people in the streets on friday Evening. A lot of young people.

We closed the day with a nice dinner in a Spanisch restaurant..... Yes, in Rusland! tomorrow we planned a Rusian restaurant..

the weather was nice, dry and about 22 degrees. at 11h00 were we back in our room.