Estonia, Russia and back to Freedom!!!

Hi Everyone,

We left Russia today and I think everyone heaved a huge sigh of relief... The place is riddled with corruption and just isn't very relaxing. It probably didn't help that our guide is Russian so he could fill us in on all the corruption, from the police to the border guards. I so wouldn't want to live there.

But first Estonia, it was a lovely place, I really enjoyed it. We went to a Medieaval Restaurant, where everything was made to medieaval recipes, had they told me there were no potatoes in Medieaval times, I wouldn't have bothered... I barely ate anything, but the venue was great... No health and safety in Estonia, the stairs were so dark it was hard not to fall down them, all 3 flights, no lifts in Medieaval times... The menu started with about 6 or 7 small dishes,

Barley & Nuts
Tongue & Honey
Saurcraut
Soft cheese
Horseradish
& some other stuff, I cannot remember, I only ate the cheese and it wasn't all that.. The main meal was as bad, Chicken or Pirk and all kinds of weird side dishes. The white bread had nuts in it and the brown bread had ham in it... Weird.. But the toilets were brilliant and I liked the setting, so all wasn't lost... And I wasn't hungry, the food put me right off eating for that evening.


Some of our lot at the dinner


Medieaval bathroom, (with modern plumbing, you can only take the medieaval lark so far..)

The city of Tallinn was pretty, with narrow winding streets, like all the other cities in this area. I love them though, they are picturesque. We visited another palace, connected to Peter the Great of Russia, it was nice, small but lovely.


Part of the great hall in Kadriorg Palace in Tallinn. It was not a large castle, but I liked it.


The outside of the castle and part of the gardens

We then headed for Russia, we stopped at a ruin of a church on the way and me and Carol & George (an Aussie couple) found a staircase leading down, we were very adventurous and Carol & I headed down. George said he had to stay up to to go for help, the big sissy!!! He did come down after we yelled it was safe...


The staircase, it was behind a wrought iron gate....


The underground room, it was awesome. It was darker on the other side of the room, with no windows... brilliant, but we were late back to the bus, oops!!

Russia was strange, you don't really feel comfortable, although St petersburg is one of the safest places and they have pretty much stamped out the Police corruption to tourists. I was glad to leave, it has a pretty cruel history, even today it is not a nice place to live. We did a city tour and we visited the church where the last Tzar and his family have been buried. It was sobering.


Our first meal in Russia. The border is miles from anywhere, so they packed us a lunch and we ate it at a service station.... I didn't think much of the meal, or the venue, but it was an experience... We all had a bit of a laugh over it!!


Russian, Peter the Great founded St Petersburg because he hated Moscow, he didn't do a bad job. It is quite pretty.


Apparently Peter the Great wasn't fussed with fancy stuff, so while his wife and familylived in palaces across the river, Peter lived in a log cabin while he was in St Petersgurg. When he died they built this brick building around it, to preserve it, you can still see it inside, but it was closed the day we where there, bugger!!


This girl was just in the park, playing with her baby bear...


We went to a show last night, with authentic Russian dancers, it was excellent, really well done.. Too many pictures to post.


The grave of the last royal family were found a few years ago and their remains were transfered to the church of Peter & Paul. There are plaques on the wall with all their names on them. DNA testing was rushed and so there are still rumours and unsatisfied people regarding the exact family members found..

We are now in Finland and I feel much happier, not to mention that I have WiFi back, and free!!

I am exhausted, so that is all for now

Cheers
Lones