Riding the Moscow Metro

Possibly the grandest interiors of any public transport system in the world! With over 9 million passengers per day it is busier than New York City  and London combined.

Lit with chandeliers from end to end, lined with marble and decorate reliefs, one can't help but be impressed by its grand and opulent interior, a posh transport underground for the masses.

There are no English signs inside so have your itinerary ready beforehand or learn to read Cyrillic, use a Russian-English plan while you moving inside a Metro train (an English only plan are of no help). It's important to know that colours in the underground's signs don't necessarily correspond to the ones on the maps, it's less confusing to refer to the numbers, e.g. line 3 is line 3 whatever color is on the sign.

The Moscow Metro is relatively cheap, a single trip  costs just 26 RUB (as of 2012). Tickets are sold at manned booths within the stations or ticket vending machines. Buy a multi-trip card for 5, 10, 20 or 60 trips (10 at 200 RUB) which is valid for 45 days.

The most interesting stations in terms of decor are Komsomolskaya and Novoslobodskaya on the ring line, Kropotkinskaya on the red line, and Mayakovskaya on the green line. The last one is also one of the deepest; this allowed it to be used as a makeshift assembly hall for a Party meeting marking the anniversary of the Revolution during the Nazi bombardments in the winter of 1941.

I must admit I was intimidated to enter, the number of people moving along quickly, the lack of signs recognizable due to different characters on signs (not English, or Latin alphabet), but somehow I managed, slowly. Inside there is a high presence of security, but in crowded places like this its best to keep an eye on things, but it is the interiors which will most likely distract you from looking where your going.

Russian-English Metro Map

Links:
Moscow Metro
Moscow Metro Russian/English Map

Garden Ring Hotel - Moscow - Russia

An elegant hotel just 2km from Red Square and the Kremlin and only steps away from the Moscow Metro. Great sized rooms, a bed that really delivers a great night sleep, 5 star breakfasts with plenty of options (if you don't see what you like, they make it for you), and superior service.

The Garden Ring Hotel also offers a spa and pool. Finnish and herbal saunas, hammam and shower of experiences, salt aroma-steam and a swimming pool are excellent and a great way to unwind after a long day walking around what really is a large city to explore.

The location is ideal for business travellers and tourists, with an excellent Metro and Underground system, getting around is fast and efficient.

Possibly one of the best hotels I have ever stayed in.

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Garden Ring Hotel - Moscow
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Fastest trains in Russia

Sapsan, the fastest trains in Russia, travelling at up to 250 km/h (155 mph) and a total length of 250 metres (820 ft) for each ten-car train, connecting St Petersburg and Moscow in just over 3.5 hours.

Known as the "Peregrine Falcon" in Russian (Сапсан), the train is part of the Siemens Valero family of trains, and can carry up to 600 passengers.

Sapsan set records for the fastest train in Russia on 7 May 2009, travelling at 290 km/hour (180 mph), but the High-Speed line was built for speeds up to 330 km/h (205 mph).

The ride is smooth, seats comfortable and spacious. Depending on the class of travel, you may be offered a meal and some drinks. I traveled in first (a personal treat), though on observation seats in business and economy are both of equal quality, and there is a snack bar and catering for purchase on-board.

My 6:45am train from Saint Petersburg arrived in  Moscow  on time at 10:40am, I barely noticed we were flying on the ground. For such a short journey, save yourself some rubles and don't travel in first, splurge instead on a nice hotel.

Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood

The most impressive building in Saint Petersburg must be the Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood, a traditional style Russian church built on the spot where Tsar Alexander II was assassinated in 1881, the interior decorated with over 6000sqm of mosaics. The gold-draped onion-domed church, is one of the main attractions of St. Petersburg.

Watch this video for a tour of Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood - Saint Petersburg

Construction began in 1883 and was finished in 1906, under the rule of his son, Nicholas II. The Church resembles the exterior of St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow, and was designed in medieval Russian style.

Inside the Hermitage Museum - St Petersburg

The former state residence of the Russian emperors, the Winter Palace and the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg are one of the best places worth seeing while visiting this great city in Russia. Possibly the second best art collection after the Louvre in Paris, with over 120 rooms, the interiors are rich and detailed, artwork ranging from prehistoric to 20th century.

One of the largest and oldest museums, it was founded in 1764 by Catherine the Great and has been open to the public since 1852. On display is only a small collection of more than three million works of art and artifacts of world culture. It has the largest collection of paintings in the world.

Watch this video for a tour Inside the Hermitage - Saint Petersburg.

Out of six buildings of the main museum complex, four, named the Winter Palace, Small Hermitage, Old Hermitage and New Hermitage, are partially open to the public. Entrance is free of charge the first Thursday of every month for all visitors and daily for students and children. Buy your tickets in advance to avoid long queues and collect at dedicated internet bookings booth just inside the gates. The museum is closed on Mondays.

Hotel 3mostA - Saint Petersburg - Russia

Named after the area where the hotel is situated, "3 Bridges", Hotel 3mostA is a  boutique hotel in a great location for seeing St Petersburg Russia, just a few minutes walk to the world famous Hermitage, and just a step away from the jaw-dropping Church of the Saviour on Spilt Blood.There are shops and entertainment nearby, some open 24 hours, including the hotel lobby bar. If you can't sleep during the White Nights, there is still plenty to do nearby.

The Room

There are 26 rooms with wooden floors, each equipped with climate control system, free wireless internet access, a telephone, a 32'' LCD TV, and a small fridge. I had the Standard Double Room (room 25), about 20 square metres, double bed and bathroom with a shower only. I really liked the warm towel rail which keeps them warm and dry.

Four Seasons Terrace Restaurant

On the 5th floor, the restaurant offers panoramic views of Church of the Saviour on Spilt Blood, the most breathtaking building in St Petersburg.

Panoramic Terrace

Get the key from reception and take the lift/elevator to the last floor, leave the lift/elevator and turn left and go up the stairs, you'll find a closed metal door, walk up a small set of steps and find a rooftop terrace with chairs and some great views of the surrounding area.

I wouldn't hesitate to return to Hotel 3mostA, the location alone makes this ideal.

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Amsterdam - Losing its Edge

Amsterdam will become a different place when the new laws come into effect here bringing an end to drug tourism in Amsterdam. Soon coffee shops will become members clubs but this doesn't mean those visiting can't take or enjoy smoking pot openly. It just means it is likely to push the sales onto the streets where 'members' will buy marijuana or hashish on your behalf, after all, in the Netherlands you are allowed to have a small quantity for personal use, and the police don't check you for it, meaning it is still tolerated. However the shift seems to be to try and sell Amsterdam more than just a drug holiday, which it rightly deserves.

In many ways Amsterdam can look flashy on the  outside than what really what happens behind those doors. Perhaps it needs a bit of updating or restoring to get back in shape and back on the scene as a destination. It appeared to me on this visit that the coffeeshop experience hasn't changed in more than 20 years since I first visited, appearing rather old and worn. What it really needs is an injection and a new way of making that 'experience' really something unique.

Amsterdam seems to have lost its edge. Once a modern looking and adaptive city, inventive and updated, I noticed a shortfall of adapting to a modern world with poor connectivity to a frequent traveller. Perhaps all that pot has made locals dream too much and do too little.

Hotels and coffeeshops offer no reliable WIFI, and as most travellers know, this is increasingly important. The lack of connecting with the outside is rather difficult, as if one has something to hide when the world already knows what happens inside. We're in the 21st century and for a city I once looked on as being forward thinking now came across as stale and out of touch.

Even as I walked around the flower markets and tried to film the exotic plants and flowers I was soon told to 'stop filming' by the shop keeper, even after I explained it was to be featured in Joe Journeys. I was stopped  on the street and requested to 'delete' some footage I had taken of the shop front while they inspected  and watched on as I went to camera menus to remove the short clip. Even when I asked for permission to film inside Coffeeshop 36 they were apprehensive, explaining not to film people, even if I would seek permission to do so. After a short discussion it was decided it was best not record anything at all.

What was once an open liberal culture has become closed and conservative. If this is a direction that the Netherlands wants to go it won't make me want to reconsider another visit. After all in a growing competitive tourism market there are other places in the world that are becoming more tolerant, though of course there is so much more to Amsterdam than red lights and coffeeshops, it just seems that instead of moving forward it appears to be going into the dark ages.