Not quite Marco Polo: Moscow Friday May 21st

Well we had as good a flight as you can expect for spending so long in the plane.

When we arrived in Moscow at 11 at night, while standing in immigration we got talking to the man behind us in the queue. He sat beside us on the plane from Dubai, and to our amazement drank a whole bottle of whisky and all the planes supply of Coke. He had then to switch to Pepsi. However he was still coherent.

Another girl joined the conversation and offered to share her pre ordered taxi to the city and our hotel. It was a great start to our Moscow visit. Moscow by night is very pretty with a lot of buildings and bridges and statues lit up.

On Wednesday we found our way to the boat. The cabins are very compact, but the champagne for breakfast is an unexpected luxury touch! There is a lovely park by the boat station, and we have just caught the end of the display of tulips.

Thursday we started our touring in earnest. Red Square in reality is very impressive. Even though in a way it is familiar from pictures seeing it is another dimension. St Basil's and the other gold domed churches are real picture post card - particularly as we are having beautiful weather - touch wood!

Lunch on a boat on the Moscow River was a pleasant relaxing interlude. As we glided by we had great views of the solid Art Nouveau buildings from the Stalin era.

Then a tour of some Metro stations and they certainly leave London's Underground for dead.

The 8 lane straight boulevards are impressive roads, but the traffic is horrendous and the parking Raffery's rules but no parking meters. No one seems to drive small cars or ride bicycles or motorbikes. Petrol is about $1 a litre.