Again I went out like a light last night.  I woke up bright an early and went down for breakfast.  After a while some of the others came into the restaurant for their breakfast and we went over the sights we had seen yesterday.  My group certainly seems to have covered more than others so far, although I did pick up a few things.  After the trip around the Kremlin I might follow some of their suggestions.

We made our way down to the Kremlin and joined the queues.  Firstly, I had to drop off my baggage.  Then I joined a queue to buy my entrance ticket and then another to buy my photo licence ticket.  Having done this I joined another queue to actually get into the Kremlin.  Julia and Rachel had saved a space in the queue for me so thankfully it wasn’t such a long wait this time!

Eventually I made it in and spent the next four hours in complete awe as I witnessed a breathtaking choir in full cry in the Archangel cathedral and went into each other cathedral only to be even more impressed.  The architecture is incredible and seeing the paintwork from the 15^th century was special.  Walking around the gardens it occurred to me that the Russians take their architecture seriously.  Even the army barracks are incredible.

Julia, Rachel and I decided to visit the ‘Armoury’ and, again, queued up to gain entry.  The following sketch was typically Russian.  We were called in to show that we didn’t have any tickets.  Then sent out, whilst being shouted at for not having tickets (even though you could only buy them inside the building!).  Then we were called back in to go to the ticket booth to be told that we would be called in soon to buy our tickets.  Then we got sent outside again.  Eventually we were called in to buy our tickets only to be shouted at for not buying them earlier!!

Fortunately the Armoury was well worth all the hastle/amusement.  The collection of silver and gold ornaments, carriages, military uniforms and regal dresses was stunning.  I really didn’t want to leave but our two hour slot was over and we were kicked out.

It was now tea time so we collected our baggage and went to Kuznetskiy Most to go to a restaurant called Jagganath. So Julia could have a cheap veggie meal.  I was more than willing to tag along because it meant passing the Bolshoi Theatre and the Bentley Moscow branch on the way.  After the meal we trekked back to Red Square and then had a Baltica Export just outside the Kremlin.  What a great setting!

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