GMT+3 O degres C
Hello everyone and thanks for all the comments (especially the Lardamores!) Yesterday didn't quite go to plan : we took the metro to Red Square hoping to get into the Lenine Mausoleum. As we arrived there we noticed that the entire square had been shut by the police, with many officers standing at the gates in their grey uniform, stern faces and chapkas. I ask one of them : "Lenine Mausoleum?" - "closed" and that was all the information we ever got! We walked around and noticed a crowd of onlookers and journalists near the small cathedral, as well as several official looking cars parked at the front. Looks like Vladimir was attending mass this morning!! Anyway, we had a walk around the Goum, this massive luxury shopping centre in a historical building, then headed for the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, a gigantic square building crowned by golden bulbs. You need to queue for about half an hour to get in, and most of the other people queuing are actually locals waiting to get in to light a candle and say a prayer. The inside is spectacular, covered in golden decorations and paintings, and there also is a massive crypt underneath, quite amazing for a building built in...1996! Obviously during communist times it wasn't the best era for religious buildings, but looks like religion then came back with a vengeance. We then head back towards the hostel, grabbing on our way two "blini" (pancakes) from a street stall. Later we decide to go back out to a park and a funfair, but there again everything is closed! We head back home once more, where we finally find out that the 4th of november is actually a public holiday in Russia... now we understand! Even though we didn't do much, we still managed to gather a few interesting facts about Russia.
-the police is everywhere, especially at night. Policemen walk around in groups of 5 or 6 and never smile. We had been warned, and actually found out for ourselves, that the police often make up their own rules and like to intimidate tourists, checking their passports and even giving out fake fines... i only got asked to stop taking pictures of a metro station, when it is clearly allowed and accepted... We also witnessed a discussion between a Russian lady and a policeman. She was trying to explain to him why she needed to cross the gates that he was guarding. She was talking to him and he was ignoring her totally, until he finally turned round, looked at her with desdain, shrugged, and resumed his stone faced pose. Nice!
-it seems that it is not common for Russian people to smile at you, especially if they are in their professional role. However if you meet them informally everyone is friendly, welcoming and smiley.
-crossing the road. see previous message. It is a bit of an adventue. We have now come to understand that the only way to do it is underground, for instance via metro stations. So it is very important to choose your exit wisely. Yesterday we were heading back towards our station "Smolenskaya", on the light blue line. As we came out (there was only one way out) we find ourselves on the wrong side of the 10 carriageways. Damn. Impossible to cross over, so we go back to the metro and try to explain our problem to the ticket lady : we have to take the metro again going the other way, come off at the next station and then take the DARK blue line back to Smolenskaya station!! Half an hour later and two metro tickets lighter we finally reach the hostel...that we have the joy of sharing with a group of about 20 Russian teenage girls who seem to spend most of their time taking over the internet and the showers, and chatting noisily whilst clicking their high heels ont he floorboards!! (grumpy old me..i'm getting old!) Ciao