I woke up fairly early this morning and went down for breakfast.  I was the only one there until John came in and told me that while I was in my Banya last night he and Snowy were being arrested by the police.  The infamous corrupt Moscow police struck again.  Neither of them were prepared to pay a so called ‘Westerner Tax’ and were arrested.  The Muscovite police don’t earn much so they try to con western travellers into paying made up fines.  Having refused to pay again at the police station they had all their photos erased from their cameras and were then unceremoniously kicked out onto the street.

Having checked out of the hotel I caught the metro and went straight back to Red Square.  I joined the long queue for Lenin’s tomb and got talking to a couple from New Zealand who helped pass the time in the baking hot sun.  When we got to the head of the queue we found out that we could not take bags in with us.  Mark, one of the Kiwis, very kindly volunteered to wait outside with our baggage.

Seeing Lenin is an experience that is almost impossible to describe.  Seeing someone who had such an effect on the world is incredible.  Having left the tomb I walked along the wall of graves and saw where Stalin is buried.  Again, very difficult to comprehend.

On our way back to meet Mark we walked through GUM where all the wealthy Muscovites go to shop.

Having collected my bag and camera I bid the two Kiwis farewell and went down to St Basil’s cathedral.  Considering its age the artwork inside each of the shrines was almost completely intact.  Afterwards I made the long trek down to Novossky Monastery to have a look at the architecture that left such an imposing impression when on the ferry cruise on Sunday.  It certainly was worth the long!

Having made the trek back to Red Square I went back to the Sbarro shop for another cheap meal and then found the one Internet café in Moscow to send emails home.

Having sent all my emails I went back for one final look at Red Square.  Whilst there I met John and Snowy who were doing the exact same thing as me.  We decided to go for one last Baltica Export on the way back to the hotel.

Sadly, there are not many public toilets in Moscow.  Very quickly after finishing the beer, on the metro at this point, I realised that I needed the toilet.  The metro journey back to the hotel proved awkward and I had to jump behind a bush to relieve myself.  Unfortunately, a train went past and everyone on it got a full view of exactly what I was doing!  Hmm, slightly embarrassing…

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