I awoke this morning as I have so many times in the past, in a bed that was moving, somewhere in Western Russia. My alarm actually jolted me out of sleep and I got straight up, having slept in yesterday's clothes, and set about waking up my passengers, some of whom were in carriages with stranger Russian's who clearly did not appreciate my early morning wake up call.

The train seemed to be lingering in the middle of nowhere for what seemed like ages, and a middle of nowhere that looked like the wrong side of the tracks to boot. I just want to be walking through Moscow again, I thought, I with this heap would get a move on. Finally, we arrived at Leningradsky station in Moscow, I herded my dwindling group of passengers off the train and then headed out.

As I had not been able to do any ground work here yet, I expected problems. My only problem it would seem was they were doing upgrade works on the station and I needed to find a new way into the metro. After a quick ten minute check I found a way around and got the group into the metro, telling them that if the wandered off here during rush hour, I would never find them again. Sometimes scare tactics really do work best for all concerned.

I bought a twenty ride ticket (much easier than trying to explain that I needed nine separate tickets with all my stuff both on my back an attached to just about everything), I then buzzed everyone through the turn styles and headed into the maze that is the great Moscow Metro.

I took them one stop on the brown line and then took them on the long underground walk to get to the blue line to go another four stops to Partinskaya station and the hotel. I think the people who ad obviously brought too much stuff were now starting to understand why the pre-departure information says to bring a soft 15kg backpack.

We arrived at our stop and exited the metro, and there I was I was back. Moscow, despite the time of year greeted me with clear blue skies and just enough of a freezing cold breeze to cool me down, after my trip through the metro in far too many clothes. It was almost like the city was saying it was glad to see me….the feeling in mutual I thought.

We walked into the Gamma Delta and shock horror, we were all allowed to check straight in, so I made the orientation tour at 12pm instead of straight away. Which I usually do to kill time because we usually can't check in.

This gave me enough time to go back to the metro station and buy the passengers tickets, I was even assisted by a young man who tried to explain to the cashier exactly what I wanted, even though I had drawn her a neat little diagram. I had so much time on my hands I even managed to rustle up breakfast, which consisted of an awesome subway chicken, mushroom and cheese sandwich before heading back to the hotel to watch TV for an hour while I ate said sandwich. I had a shower, watched some more TV and then went downstairs. I handed a note over to reception to explain to my missing passengers where we were should they turn up.

It was now 12pm and it was time to head out on the orientation tour, I handed each person a map and pointed out our metro station, the station where we were now headed and the station for Red Square. I gave them all a five ride metro ticket and then marched tem out of the hotel, pointed out the Imailovo markets on the way to the metro.

We went down into the metro and went six stops on the blue line and then changed and went one stop on the red line. We popped up right at the Church of our Saviour, which the Russian's hail as the largest orthodox church in the world, even though the largest orthodox church is actually in Sofia, Bulgaria.

I told them about the church and then pointed out the main shopping area and all the museums and then moved on over the bridge for the best shots of the church and of the Moscow Kremlin over the river. I pointed out the statue of Peter the Great, explaining that it had been given to the American's as a gift and that was why Peter the Great, portrayed as standing on is ship, actually looks more like Christopher Columbus. I also explained that the American's had given it back and that it had been voted as one of the top ten ugliest statues in the world which always gets a laugh.

I walked then right across the bridge and along the river, pointing out the padlock trees. Under European tradition a bride and groom mush share a kiss on a bridge, leave a padlock and then throw the key into the river. The Russian government has places metal trees on this bridge for this purpose so they do not have to go around with bolt cutters getting rid of the padlocks each year.

Over this bridge and further along the river, I now bring them up behind the main event, St Basil's Cathedral. I stop many times for photos before getting into Red Square and beginning my speil.

Red Square was not named because of the colour, of because of the blood shed caused here or for the Red Army. It is a b******isation of the Russian word for beautiful, Red Square literally means beautiful square and how could anyone, anywhere possibly debate that name. In front of us you will see the iconic St Basil's Cathedral, commissioned by Ivan the Terrible. Ivan's epithet was not actually "the terrible" Russian's would never have been allowed to call the Tsar by this name. His real epithet was "the severe", this other name is again a German b******isation of the Russian language. After the cathedral was finished in 1561, Ivan had the architects eyes cut out so that he would never again be able to create anything so beautiful. It is not like a traditional church inside, it is made up of many cosy little chapels and doesn't open up into a great hall in the conventional way. Tickets cost 250 rubles and it is closed on Tuesdays.

The long building next to us is the Gum centre, pronounced goom. It was built on the place where the old markets were and during communist times was the state department store as at this time all trade was controlled by the government. Now it is a western style shopping centre with all the designer brands and most importantly free and clean bathrooms. (big cheers all round)

Behind the Gum centre and to the right in the Church of our lady of Kazan and the Red Gate, during communist times Stalin had both demolished so that he could parade the red army inclusive of its tanks though the square. The church is an intimate little affair and is free to go into, it is very quiet and there are many people who do go in to worship so be respectful. The giant red dolls house looking building is the National History Museum, in here we have a history of Russia from Pre history to modern times. It costs 250 rubles to go in and is closed Tuesdays, you can also buy a double ticket for both St Basils and the museum for 400 rubles if you wish to visit both in the same day.

Along the entire left side are the walls of Moscow Kremlin, which you will be visiting tomorrow, this is the place where the city started and the place from which it was defended. Today it is home to a collection of government buildings and many churches. Finally, the pyramid like structure in front of the Kremlin is the tomb of Vladimir Lenin, embalmed against his wishes Lenin's body is on display in this building, although it is closed for renovations at the moment.

After they have taken a sufficient amount of photos I take them to Red Square metro station and stand them all in front of the map and explain to them how to get back to the metro and let them go for the rest of the afternoon.

I go down the escalator and head back to the hotel on the metro to see if the missing passengers have now checked in. They haven't, so it is time to contact the office again and let them know, there is no panicking as it is their fault no mine that they are now potentially lost in Russia….never the less I am still worried and resolve to stay in the hotel for the rest of the day and check with reception hourly to see if they have checked in. The rest of the day passes with me watching a lot of TV, ordering room service and a drunken phone call (which I make him turn into a skype call) from Tim, who I am now missing terribly. He seems pretty keen to come on one of my tours with Med Experience, so that's quite exciting….oh the mischief I'm sure we will get up to.

My roommate Susan turns up and I say goodbye to Tim, I go downstairs one more time to see if the missing passengers have turned up, with no luck and resolve that they will get my note and will call me when they arrive and headed off to bed.