You don't know how lucky you are...

The sun came out!
Originally uploaded by Josie R

Hello from Russia. In just a few hours, I'll be hopping on a train bound for China, but I've spent the last couple days exploring Moscow. I told some of you already that walking into Red Square and seeing St. Basil's on Monday morning has been one of the highlights of my trip. I felt like a little kid at Disneyland, and honestly had the feeling that if I had to turn around and leave Russia right that minute, it would be ok with me, I'd seen what I really came to see.

It was a bit of an adventure getting here. I had a hard time leaving Istanbul, as the ticket agent at the counter was not happy that I had no return ticket, and didn't understand how I was planning to get from Moscow to Bangkok (where my next ticket is booked from). I spent a long time trying to explain and finally after talking to a few people, they apparently decided I was harmless and let me pass. I was starting to get a bit nervous as my flight was already boarding and I still had to clear passport control. When I got to the passport desk, the agent there was very disturbed to see that my entrance visa to Turkey was stamped as November 13, 2007. He kept showing it to and asking, "What does this say?? Eleven. Eleven. This is not right!" I was at a loss for how to get out of that one. He called his supervisor who said it would be okay for me to pass, but if you look at my passport, I officially left Turkey before I ever got there. Arriving in Moscow was a little tough, not helped by being exhausted after an overnight flight and no sleep, but I made it safely to my hostel, with only a little argument with the cabdriver over how much I'd have to pay him.

I'm feeling a little apprehensive about this long train trip, but I'm hoping it's going to be a lot of fun. The people that will be joining me on the train are all very nice. I am the lone American in a crowd of Brits and Irish who have booked the same package that I have. There are a few of us that have sort of been doing our own thing rather than following the pack, and that's worked out nicely so far.

I don't have much time to write and I'm trying to decide what important things I should tell you about Moscow.... Hmmm... I saw Lenin yesterday; that was a surreal and rather odd experience. There are Russian police (army?) guards all over here, and they are maybe the scariest guards I have ever seen. They certainly take their jobs seriously and their #1 job seems to be to make sure that you don't sneak your camera into any building. It's nearly impossible to take photos here. Also, Moscow is VERY expensive; I've spent more money here than anywhere else, and my accomodation was already taken care of. It's cold here too! 1 degree celcius yesterday, which is just about freezing. It's supposed to be -10 to -20 C in Mongolia, and I don't even want to think about that.

Despite all of the warnings regarding crime here and everything else, I have felt very safe. Our tour "guide" and I use that term very loosely did give us a few warnings about pickpockets on the train, etc., but I think my favorite piece of advice from her was, "Be afraid of gypsy mobs." Ummmm.... OK, I'll be on the lookout.

Hope you are all doing well.

Dosvidenya! (Oh, and Happy Halloween!!)