Back in the US, back in the US, back in the USSR

Well since I told everyone I was doing this blog I can't back out now!!

Moscow has certainly changed a lot since the days of threatened nuclear apocalypse, as is only to be expected. Right now many things actually seem more expensive than in the UK, what with exchange rates as they are. But something that hasn't changed is the grandeur of the city, where every building is built to be noticed. The best example is the fantastically colourful and whacky spires of St Basil's Cathedral, which was described by a Russian girl I met on the train as 'barbaric.'

The train ride here was suprisingly easy. The bunks were just about long enough and folded up very cleverly in the tiny compartment. We got to talk to lots of lovely people, with varying degrees of mutual understanding. For hours after we got off the train me and Maria still felt like we were rocking from side to side. But right now it's good to be staying in the same place for 3 nights, and to have access to a shower!

We stopped for a few hours in Warsaw, which seemed like a nice place (see Ewa people who aren't from Warsaw can still like the city!). What really caught my attention was a old terrace of crumbling, extremely dilapidated, abandoned tall brick buildings, with pictures of dark haired girls, bearded men and sorrowful children hanging on the walls. I realised this must be the old Warsaw Ghetto, where 1000s of Jew lived and died in WWII. It really hit home to think this could easily have been my family.