Some pictures of Moscow taken last weekend..

We were in Moscow for 12 days visiting a client and on the Saturday had a chance to wander a little. The Holiday Inn Sokolniki is in the North-East of the city and there is a metro immediately outside - about 80p per trip - the trains are ancient and the doors slam shut which is not amusing when half of the team is on and the other half isn't. The underground is mainly marble and chandeliers!

We visited St. Basil The Blessed Cathedral...

And tried to get into the Kremlin but found we should have got tickets outside before going in. It was after 4pm when we found the shop and decided to return the next day. I didn't go but my colleague did. Sunday 27th April 2008 is Easter Sunday in Russia - a big event and he found that the Police run a very simple scam on business tourists (wearing an overcoat gave him away); the 'Give me 1000 rubles and I won't take my gun out and shoot you' scam.

It worked but they only got 100 rubles - well done that man!

Fluffy and Chalky

Two new additions to the Hermanns tortoises brood. Born 2nd April 2008 takng Colin and Simon's offspring up to 5 since Christmas 2007.