The frozen Gulf of Finland Saint Petersburg harbour The world’s funkiest laundromat – Stirka 40 in St Petersburg Bartender DenisExotic decoration
Alexei showing off his yoyo skills
Our bunk mate in the train to Moscow Hedwig and Saint Basil’sAnd here lieth Vladimir Ilyich UlyanovState Historical Museum on the Red Square The Red Square in Moscow St Basil’s at sunset Nikolskaya in Moscow Meeting up with Liza who studies in Moscow Ice skating in Gorky Park, Moscow Trying really hard not to look like dorksThe last Glühwein dor the seasonTaking a break from all the skatingSuper ice skating selfie Sparrow Hill, Moscow Cathedral of Christ the SaviourContemplating whether becoming a migrant bird would pay offEntrance to the VDNKhVDNKh ice rinkThe streets of Moscow USSR reminderMoscow metro Moscow metro VDNKh – Exhibition of Achievements of National EconomyVDNKhIzmailovo Market The master of shapkasInside Izmailovo Market Mr Wolf Chinchilla, fox, wolf, bunny or racoon?Make sure no bear!Pretty artillery Pretty mermaid Feeling revolutionaryCold day in Moscow Welcome, comrade!Christmas fair on the Red Square Just can’t stop taking pictures of St Basil’s Yuri Gagarin monument made from 12 tons of titanium Cathedral of the Annunciation in the Kremlin The Tsar Bell that never rung. One wonders why.The Tsar Cannon that fired off at least onceArmoury Chamber in the Kremlin Original Fabergé egg in the Kremlin Another Fabergé egg in the Armoury Chamber Very fond of my new castle The mighty teaMoscow winter skyline Another of the Seven Sisters I think we can safely say that the Russians heat with hydro power in Moscow Museum of Cosmonautics, Moscow All the pretties, all the prettiesChristmas lights galoreTheatre Square in Moscow Söyembikä – the leaning tower of KazanSweet chak-chakSaltSöyembikäKul Sharif Mosque in KazanPretty bluesInside the Kul Sharif MosqueEntry to the Kazan Kremlin Kazan winter wonderKazan city from up above Ministry of Agriculture in Kazan Sam and the iron tree Monument to the chonky catsThe Temple of all Religions Mosaic inside the Temple of all Religions The project started in ’92 and the temple is still growing Braving the frozen iceTrain station by nightClassic dinnerThe Russian train gangMade some friends on the trainChurch on Blood in Honour of All Saints Resplendent in the Russian LandLady of iceIce sculpture in Yekaterinburg Ice sculpture in Yekaterinburg Apparently they go crazy for the Beatles in Yekaterinburg Sevastyanov’s House in Yekaterinburg MatryoshkaDowntown Yekaterinburg Ganina Yama Monastery in Yekaterinburg Ganina Yama Monastery in Yekaterinburg Sliding like a proFrozen Iset River in downtown Yekaterinburg Church on Blood in Honour of All Saints Resplendent in the Russian LandWalk along the river Lenin Square Sun slowly setting over SiberiaBirch trees covered in ice and snowRosehip tea from our cool Russian mugsTo my defence, Karina woke up an hour before me and had access to make-up and a hairbrush View from the trainSiberian holiday homeSiberian substation somewhere in nowhereIn case anyone was worried that we were cold on the trainCrazy cat lady plays with one of the boysLunch timeBoard restaurant on the trainThe hot water cylinder on every trainGetting cozy on the trainThe Trans Siberian RailwayIrkutskThe alternative “lean from”“Johnny, I forgot my level at home.”, “Never mind, Bill, we’ll just guess.”Kazan Church of Irkutsk This is inside the building Your standard Russian repair jobHedwig on iceBaikal, the deepest lake on earthFrozen treasure The Baikal hovercraftsOur pilot, DenisInside the hovercraft Exploring the ice like a cowboy On a winter cruiseO Captain, my Captain!Two possums on Lake BaikalChristians gather for Epiphany Day to commemorate the baptism of JesusThe lads are getting ready Feeling refreshedBracing oneselfMummy is pretty happy……the baby not so much Epiphany Day at BaikalIce cold watersWe saw her going in for at least five times. She never dared to put her head under water though.PainfulMumma, you wouldn’t do this to me, would you?Y’all betrayed me!Fluffy boots to revive the frozen feetMinus 15 isn’t so badChillin ‘n’ griilinYep it’s coldWalking on sunshine Crushed iceFarewell, BaikalJust a little crackSunset over Baikal Magic prevailsRussian Railway NovosibirskSam and the girlsPhoto shootMashaDrawing lessonOooh that’s steeeep!!!Sliding like a proFrozen persimmonsGrocery shopping on a cold winter’s day Berries from the marketUspenskiy Kafedral’nyy Sobor in OmskOut on a runCold doggoFound myself another slideIce fishers on the Irtysh RiverClassic glissadeMaking friends with SashaSasha drilling a holeIce fishing on the Irtysh First catch of the day BaitSam’s first catchWaiting for something to bite Dinner for Sasha’s catThat fishy will go back in the waterFound a new friend Icicle and the cat Epic adventures with my icicle
