1-3 December

The Sapsan (Russian for Peregrine Falcon) is the high speed train that covers the 635 km between Moskovsky Station in St Petersburg and Leningradiskaya Station in Moscow in about 3 and a half hours. So we were in Moscow just after midday with time to tour Red Square before dinner.

Memorable images of soldiers and tanks parading before Soviet leaders did nothing to prepare us for the sight of the illuminated GUM building and colourful Christmas markets complete with ice-rink and fairground rides all leading to the fairytale building of St Basil’s Cathedral.

Once again Nigel was out early the next morning before most people were out of bed.

We retraced his route together at a much more civilised hour.

Peter The Great’s monument looks like it would be right at home in Disneyland.

Our brief excursion on the underground unexpectedly brought us to the Bolshoi Theatre. Sue was not impressed with Nigel’s claim that this was the best seat in the house.

We did not need a lot of persuading to move indoors for caviar and champagne.

For his last early morning foray, Nigel was rewarded with a fresh covering of snow to create some beautiful images of St Basil’s Cathedral.