1st impressions on arrival: like Moscow but smaller, even hotter (41 degrees and counting), the skirts are even shorter and the heels are even higher.

My best friend Katz and I have looked around the Kremlin and the main mosque within, a handful of beautifully ornate orthodox churches, a market and a monestary. Listened to Tatar radio (like a weird mix of chinese+indian music), ate Tatar food (eg chak-chak, a weird deep-fried stickey sweet, doesn't taste of much but it's nice). Btw they serve sushi and mojitos EVERYWHERE here.

anyway, gotta go, more later

written by  Maria89 on August 1, 2010 from Kazan', Russia
from the travel blog: England to China overland
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Went to dinner in a snazzy little jazz club (Forte) with him the other night, the food was good, the band was better. Followed by an oreo maddness in TGI Friday's (traditional Russian experience. For my family, anyway).

Been enjoying nostalgic Russian food that I don't get in England, such as shproti (little tinned fish, kinda like sardines but not), ryazhinka (a yougurt-like drink) and my personal favorite, pryaniki (this one's the hardest to explain...little dense sugar-coated spiced cakes, i guess. I've gone through almost a whole pack in a day).

Have been trying and failing miserably to order train tickets for the last 2 legs of my journey, irkutsk-ulan bator and ulan bator-beijing. I don't think it's possible to order international train tickets in Moscow, but I don't wanna leave it til i get there...

Was super-touristy today: hung around Red Square, went to the historical museum (more to get away from the heat and noise than anything), road on the metro lots.

Btw it's too hot here. 38 degrees and counting. Guess I better get used to it though, it's only gonna get hotter as I head east.

One last thing: saw a 10 ruble coin for the 1st time today. I didn't know they existed. Twas quite exciting.

written by  Maria89 on July 25, 2010 from Moscow, Russia
from the travel blog: England to China overland
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-Missing the overnight ferry to Amsterdam cos all the trains from Cambridge Harwick were canceled. Had to stay a night in Harwick then get the morning ferry on Fri, breakfast on board.

-Checking in to a 32-bed dorm at the Flying Pig, an awesome central hostel.

-Eating antelope stew in a cute Ethiopian restaurant

-Hanging out with some of Rhi's friends who were house-sitting for a puzzel-maker, eating pancakes+solving puzzels on the roof in the sun

-Borrowing the puzzel-maker's bikes to explore Jordaan+9 streets+markets (bought flowers+cheese+other touristy stuff)

-cycling to the beach, swimming+sunbathing

-seeing Morcheeba live!

I think that's about it for now, more later!

written by  Maria89 on July 20, 2010 from Amsterdam, Netherlands
from the travel blog: England to China overland
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