Well Rosy & co are back in Kras after two absolutely awful journeys in 3rd class railways carriages, and having also found it very difficult to get enough to eat while they were staying at Lake Baikal. "The msot comic holiday from hell ever" It was between seasons, so a lot of places and trips they had hoped to visit were shut, and service in restaurants was surly and slow everywhere. It sounds as though Rosy did all the talking and did a grand job making unhelpful sniggering waiters, drunken soldiers and all sorts back off, by shouting at them, all night if necessary. Seriously, the soldiers on their return journey managed to split them up a bit and tried to negotiaite with Nick to buy one or more of the girls, by pinning him up against the outside door of the carriage. Scary.

But back in Kras they now have three weeks which they are determined to enjoy. She says it is unusually mild today (+2) and she is planning to buy socks and mittens for us all for Christmas from the old ladies who sit in the streets knitting them out of goat wool - no welfare state. They set out for Moscow on 14th by train - 2nd class this time, so they will be in two compartments of 4 - it will take two and a half days, and they will have to take all their food and drink for that time. But Rosy has done that sort of thing before so will guide the others. The main problem is finding a hotel they can afford in Moscow, but they have a Lonely Planet guide and Philly has contacts there. So I'm sending enough money for them all so that at least they can stay together!