Huw's Bit

Morning swim and spa! This is more like it! SAPSAN high speed train to St Petersburg is fantastic! Not only high speed but outstanding 3 course meal (with vodka) served in our very comfortable, reclining leather seats! Good wifi speed as well. They've clearly been learning off British Rail(nt)! Does BR even exist anymore? Hotel smack in the middle of town - not as good as Moscow though! Different feel to Moscow - feels much more touristy! Certainly not as 'flash' so far!

Christine' s bit

Had an easy morning as pick up time at 11 .30 am for fast train to St Petersburg at 1.30pm. About 4 1/2 hr trip. St Basil and the Red Square area all lit up last night and was a pleasant night to wander around weather wise.

Another 'military operation' getting us to the station and instructions as to what train to catch, platform we needed to get on and then guide disappeared without a word! Had some trepidation about herds of people pushing to get on, but all very civilised and no problems finding our carriage and seats. Gold star for the train system in Russia. This fast train was fab - very comfortable seats, 3 course meal with unlimited drinks of juice, soft drink, tea coffee, free alcohol (limited) came with the ticket ( we didnt know). Travelling first class on trains, the only way to travel after thIs experience of the Trans Siberian and fast train system!

Very similar landscape to much of what we have seen before - miles of silver birch and pine trees and very lush green forests with occasional rivers.

Pickup at the train station was odd - someone standing on platform with our name on a piece of paper, handed over to someone else who led us out of the station, then handed over to a driver (only a few words of English between the lot of them! ) who speeds off with us in tow not saying a word, and all the time we hope we are going to the right hotel!

Hotel right in the main area and we have obviously been spoilt by the quality of our previous hotels - our room is less than half the size of our last hotel, basically a standard room. Bathroom 1/4 of the size.

Still really light at 10 pm when got back from a walk to get our bearings and a bite to eat.