`You know what I like about Europe the most? It's the little differences. I mean, they got the same s*** there that we've got over here, but there it's just a little different` - Pulp Fiction


So here we are, stood looking out over the biggest country in the world. It's a very big moment for us. Tommorrow morning, if everything goes to plan, we're going to be in St Petersberg. Within two weeks we'll be in China.... China!

Who'd have thought?

It's very much the end of our first stage of travel. Europe, even scary Eastern Europe where they eat folk, is pretty user friendly to the discerning bakcpacker - hence most travelpod updates have been about great times and drinking, and not nightmare misadventures. I do believe that the balance will shift as from tonight.

But I consider it my duty to you, the faithful Travelpod few, to make sure there's still time for anecdotes about the abuse of alcohol on an International scale. There may just be more horror stories of culture shocks, language barriers, and toliet fun and games.

But it's all good - it's why we're here.

Estonia, by the way, is lovely. Although I do feel a little over-saturated with beautifully quaint medieval towns, and feel that if I see another one any time soon I'm going to build a McDonalds on top of it. It's not that it's not lovely, because it is. We've just very much done the medieval town thing now. Which is handy, because China beckons.

We accept that St Petersberg and Moscow are technically part of Europe, and therefore we won't be drawing a line under Europe until we get on the Trans Mongolian Express. There are things that have to be taken to account - we must recognise those few individuals who have contributed positively to the last seven weeks, and probably throw a few top fives of best moments into the mix (because we like making top fives of stuff). And, of course, there's the European s***head Cup to win (I'm currently trailing with 116 wins to Vinny's 122) as we're starting again from zero in Asia.

We're getting ready to do the proper travel thing. We have taken travel advice for Russia and become as scruffy as we know how. The list of things I am not looking forward to includes the Russia border crossing and brushing my teeth in St Petersberg, as their tap water contains crippling parasites (you'd kind of wonder why bother having taps, wouldn't you?). We're ready. We're prepared. We're excited.

We're off.

xx