St Petersburg & Moscow (2.-9.4.)

Every now and then we thought: Why for god's sake did we sign up voluntarily for that roadtrip to Russia? 50 (!) hours on the coach in a period of 7 days including two overnight drives (St Petersburg--> Moscow--> St Petersburg) where the coach's continous bumping up und down due to the amazingly poor quality of the "motorway" between the two main Russian cities didn't actually really rock us to sleep. But then again, what the cities had to offer compensated all the stresses and strains of the journeys and we learned to appreciate the advantages of travelling Russia in a large group and with professional organisation by experienced people. Because Russia IS different!
Here some photos and I'll write more about our impressions and experiences later. First evening in Russia - trying Russian food: Ucha and PelmeniBallroom at Catherine PalaceThe Hermitage Monument to Nicholas I on St Isaac's squareView from the top of St Isaac's cathedralThe impressive Church of the Saviour on BloodQuai of the kissing couplesSt Basil's cathedral in Moscow
Red Square (Krasnaya Ploshchad)
Maria, Matt, Emile, Renske, Michael, Pierre, Christine and IInside St Basil'sAt the Kremlin The Churches inside the Kremlin
Statue of Peter ICathedral of Christ the SaviourLocks to protect the love of freshly married couplesMoscow metro "underground palaces"Red Square at night before our departure