Let's just say I was pleasantly surprised! I was actually shocked as to how beautiful the buildings and the cities are. Not what I think of when I thing of communism. I think dark brown, square block, no ornamentation. Russia is quite the opposite. Beautiful buildings covered in carvings and lots and lots of GOLD.
St Petersburg is gorgeous with so many beautiful buildings. The food is also great. Very much meat and potatoes but so yummy. We also went to the ballet, which was good. Lots of point and tu-tus so can't complain about that! The most beautiful church I have ever seen is in St. Petersburg; the church on spilled blood is simply glorious. The onion domes on the outside and the most amazing intricate mosaic tile work on the inside is breathtaking. I've seen a lot of churches in the past year and this one takes the cake for beauty hands down!
The overnight train from St. Petersburg to Moscow was great too, hot and cramped and loud but such a great experience. I shared a cabin with 3 others on my tour, our tour guide and the cutest old man. I asked our tour guide to ask the man (I thought he only spoke Russian) if he liked train travel and did it often. He responded in English and we had a great chat about travel (his second trip ever for pleasure only, he was probably around 75 years old), he asked where I was from and turns out he worked in Seattle years ago as a physicist. He was a lovely man and bid us safe travels and a great time in Moscow when he left the train. That's why I love travel. You never know who you'll meet and what experience will stick with you.
After checking in to the hotel in Moscow and having a run in with the police (our guide, for not buying a drink in the cafe we were sitting in, everything was fine in the end) we went out on a walking tour of the city seeing the Red Square, Lenin's mausoleum (we couldn't go inside since it was closed for the season, apparently they were applying a new layer of wax to his body) the GUM shipping Center and of course St Peters Basilica we headed back to the hotel with sore feet ready for bed! Our next day started off with a tour of the Kremlin which is quite the impressive fortress. We finished the day with a tour of some of the most beautiful subway stations I have ever seen. Honestly they are works of art, many meters (65) under the ground! Amazing! We toured an soviet bunker 65 meters under the ground and it is amazing to think that there are hundreds of these bunkers and this is only the one that is open to the public. Some are still classified.
Moscow was by far my favourite part of the trip it is what I think when I think Russia. It just seemed authentic and very Russian! Let's just say I can't wait to go back and I want to more than ever take the Trans Siberian railway.
