while and tried to imagine all of the things that had happened there over the years, well centuries, you kinda feel very privileged to be sat inside somewhere that was once so off limits to basically the whole world! Very strange and fascinating.

We had made vague plans to meet up with Noah in Arbatskaya a trendy part of Moscow around 7, and after chilling on the roof of a shopping mall listening to a brass band playing big band tunes - glen miller-ish! The shopping mall was mad, very chic inside but the roof had loads of domes with fountains spraying water and once outside it was an area for people to chill, it was really nice, I think that’s what I thought St Petersburg lacked, all around this areas kinda felt like the soul of the city, people chillin, buskers, jugglers etc, I have very fond memories of Moscow and in particular that very chilled afternoon. We met up with Noah and wandered

the tourist street, I didn’t think it was as nice of an area as around Puskin Square where we have been the night before but it was good to check out. I think the funniest thing we saw was a group of Russian hells angel types all mingling outside a caf?bar that was blarring out Abba!!! Didn’t do much for their ultra hard image but was quite funny for us!!! Hee he! Had a wicked meal at an Uzbekistan restaurant, the interior of the restaurant and kitchen was quite amazing got some take out bread for our other train journey. Still feeling a little weary from the previous night antics we sauntered back towards Red Square which was closed as they were sound-checking for the next days festivities and then made our way back to our hotel for an early night as we were due to leave Moscow the next day and start our 28 hour train journey. We both much preferred Moscow than St. Petersburg which is so not what we expected!!!