Hi everyone

We are currently in Russia in St Petersburg. We got the train from Helsinki thursday evening and even got a free drink and snack!!!! (Take hint Southern Rail!!!!). We arrived and immediately it was obvious that this wasn't going to be as simple as it had in Scandinavia. Despite there being English signs at the station no one spoke English apart from the dodgy taxi drivers who were waiting outside the station with their Ladas!!!! It took us ages to find the Metro and when we did it was a mission as they are dug so deep the escalators were at least 3 times the length of any in London. When we got the other end we walked in the wrong direction for ages and when we finally got on the right road there were no signs for the hostel!!!! Once inside we were given bed sheets that didn't fit the bed and that was enough for me.....I was already tired and fed up so I announced I couldn't wait to leave Russia!!!!!

The next day I think I had convinced myself it was going to be rubbish so didn't have the best day! Despite seeing loads of amazing architecture I didn't feel like the city was very welcoming as most people (with the acception of a few) were rude and didn't want to know as soon as they heard a British accent (or maybe just an un-russian one!). We walked about 13 miles though so at least we got some exercise! We went to the Cathedral (St Issacs) and a fort on an island to name a couple....

The next thing was to go to the train station to buy a ticket to Moscow. Well that was an experience!!!!! These people were really rude and literally started shouting at us when we couldn't speak Russian and weren't even prepared to help. In the end we got a younger Russian to help with some translation....so fingers crossed we end up in Moscow tomorrow!!!!

Dinner was the highlight for me yesterday....they have a fast food chain called Teremok which sells pancakes.....really delicious....so delicious I had two!

Today we went to the Saviour of the Blood Cathedral (I think thats the name) and that was magnificent inside.....then the souvenir market where traders are literally hard selling as soon as you enter. I think these are the only people in the whole of the city that speak English! I bought some Russian Dolls and managed to barter down 150 rubbles!!!! After that we went to the Hermitage Art Gallery and managed to get very lost and tired as its huge!

Now just wasting time in the hostel before getting the train at midnight tonight to Moscow. Will update from there hopefully!!!!!

Lots of love xxxxxxxxx