Hi everyone, we finally arrived...after years of wanting to do this, months of planning, packing up our life, renting out our flat, quitting our jobs and living out of boxes at our parents' houses...our trip has started!

St. Petersburg, so far, is amazing- beautiful city, stunning buildings and lots to see. We wandered along the famous Nevsky Prospect and visited the unbelievable Hermitage museum.

Today we met with the group we'll be doing the trans siberian with and they all seem lovely- steve's just back from the pub with them! The hostel is fine- my dad's first intro to mixed dorm style accomodation- though we did just have a power cut so our head torches you all laughed at came in extremely handy!

We'll be in touch soon- PS. dad's laptop and phone are not working here.

Lots of love

Shanita, Steven and Brian xxx