St Petersburg is synonymous with the Russian Ballet, so to have experienced a night at the Mikhailovsky Theatre to see The Nutcracker is something worth bragging about. The dancers in their gorgeous costumes and Tchaikovsky's famous music played inside this beautiful theatre lived up to all my expectations. It was a festive family affair, with many children filling seats and everyone dressed up, glad to shed their winter coats and expose their fine evening wear. ...

Four nights in Moscow is not enough. In such a beautiful city you need much more time, but just to have been here at all I count myself lucky. After three nights on the train we felt utterly spoiled upon booking into the newly renovated Metropol, a beautiful old hotel just off Red Square and opposite the Bolshoi Theatre. We were served champagne in the foyer on arrival and then luxuriated in a long hot shower before dining in their main restaurant. The restaura...

Much excitement abounded as Tuesday evening approached and we boarded the train we have dreamed of for so long. Train #1 on the Trans-Siberian is very modern by Russian standards with its clean, new carriages. The cabins are similar in size to our previous two rides through Mongolia and China, but the toilets are much nicer and, as they are chemical ones, can be used even when the train is stopped at stations. No paper is allowed in the bowl though. It must go in...

After the festivities of Christmas it was nice to have a couple of more leisurely days in Irkutsk. We spent time sightseeing and shopping and resting. This beautiful city, draped in its white winter gown, is delightful. The churches are magnificent and we have seen several wedding parties. The brides look stunning in their white fur. Fur watching has become a major pastime of our group. We ooh and aah and rate the style and choice. (Perfect for the younger long-...

This has to be one of those special Christmases that will always be remembered. As the group of 15 we are traveling with have formed a nice bond it was lovely to share Christmas celebrations with them. After a leisurely morning we boarded our bus and traveled out of town to a hunting lodge where we indulged our inner child as we tobogganed down steep slippery slides, rode in horse drawn sleighs through white snowy woods, made snow angels, and then indulged our in...