Although the photo relates to Moscow we had left Moscow and travelled via Vladimir to Sudzal. Upon leaving Moscow we left Sean and also the huge buffet breakfasts which we received in the hotel.

The train to Vladimir took a mere 2 hours from Moscow and then we were transfered to Sudzal. Vladimir and Sudzal are part of an old region of Russia known as the Golden Triangle. This used to be the old capital of Russia where all religious power was held. The region is full of old churches which are all beautifully decorated. We were left off at our hotel which had the most comfortable bed or quilt that I have slept in since I left my own dear bed in Brollagh.

The next day we had another huge buffet breakfast, we definitely did not go hungry on this trip and met our guide for a guided tour of the area. We seen an old reconstructed wooden peasant village and we went and seen a few churches. Upon leaving one of the churches there was a lot of security, we could see people in black suits with ear pieces, lots of police and a camera crew. We asked our guide was there someone important around and she said it was the Prime Minister of Russia. She didn't seem to care to much and later we found out it was the vice Prime Minister, she still wasn't too fussed.

We went back to Vladimir and looked around, more old churches and then waited for our train in the train station. As our train didn't leave until 10pm and it was now 5pm we had a good few hours to kill. But as the time passed the train station waiting area got busier. Then we realised it was were homeless people spent the night. Most were old people who probably lost their pensions when communism fell and they had nowhere else to go. Most had their belongings in 2 or 3 plastic bags and used them as pillows when they lay upon the benches in the train station for the night. It is very sad the amount of older people who are left with nothing and all they can do is beg on the street.

So we got our train and went straight to sleep in our cosy sleeper train and woke up in St. Petersburg.....