We boarded the 7am train at the Lenongrad station in Moscow. Leaving
the city we saw block after block of high-rise apartment buildings,
then fir and birch forests, punctuated by villages with simple wooden
houses, or stucco houses with corrugated iron roofs. Industrial areas
were run-down and rusty, all signs of a poor country.
Travelling first class on the fast train had its perks: an attendant
who spoke English, breakfast served to us, wifi and a service that
organized a taxi to meet us on arrival. Speed varied between 188 and
248 km/hr. There were two stops: one of two minutes, and the other of
one minute. We pulled into the Moscow station in Saint Petersburg at
11 am. A repres ntative of the taxi service met us on the platform.
First impressions of Saint Petersburg. More "European". The buildings
are still substantial, but less oppressive. they have a simpler
architecture and the stucco is painted in pastel colours. But after
Mosocw's power-washing and regilding in preparation for May 9, the
city had a dingy feel. We arrived at our hotel - American - to be
greeted with glasses of champagne!
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