Christmas in Russia - 2006

Smolny Cathedral - St Petersburg Saviour on Spilled Blood Cathedral - St Petersburg

Inside the Hermitage - St Petersburg

St Isaacs in the snow

Saviour on Spilled Blood - St Petersburg

We had a fantastic 10 days in Russia - took in most of the major sites in Moscow, Pskov and St Petersburg, so a bit of a whirlwind. And we were travelling with a great group of people which made it even more enjoyable.

We were slightly disappointed not to get a white Christmas...in Russia! What more could we do?! But we did get a couple of days of snow at least. A definite highlight was the Russian banya - involving a traditional sauna, a bit of a spanking with birch leaves, then jumping into a lake through a hole in the ice. Highly recommended...although probably not if you're of weak heart.

The architecture is stunning and the history really fascinating. We could've happily spent a lot longer there - particularly St Petersburg - although we're decidedly over cabbage...especially for breakfast. Russia's certainly not a place to go if you're strenuously opposed to fur-wearing though (by anyone other than the animals to which it's attached). I must admit it is deliciously soft and warm - which I discovered when chased through a market by a man keen to sell me a white mink hat. I don't think his english vocabulary extended much past counting from one to twenty in US$, as he wasn't able to address my concerns about whether the animal had lived well and died without cruelty. I think we parted, me hatless, on quite friendly terms though...

Ness x

More pics from Russia

Christmas tree in Red Square - Moscow

A tube station in Moscow - so similar to Kings Cross!

It's snowing!!

Perfect for the pool room

Wandering around Moscow - Christ the Saviour cathedral in the background

It's Bob!

Cathedral inside the Kremlin

Inside St Isaacs cathedral in St Petersburg


St Basils Cathedral in Red Square - Moscow

Cathedral inside the Kremlin - Moscow

St Basils Cathedral - Moscow

Relaxing at the lake...

We've also uploaded the rest to our web album, so if you're interested you can click on the link to check them out.

Partying at our place...again - New Year's Eve 2006

Some of the pics from our New Year's Eve bash. The usual new year's drunken revelry - with some pretty fancy footwork, not to mention heartfelt enthusiasm (see middle photo), on the dance floor...

Partying at our place - Christmas Party 2006

Before everyone went their separate ways for Christmas we had a bit of a get-together at our place. We even had a tree and an eight foot blow-up Santa. It was a bittersweet celebration this year though as we had to say goodbye to Bec, Andy and Daisy who've left London for the warmer climes of Nelson/Dubai.

Ness x

Did someone say Prada? Tuscany December 2006

We thought we'd tag along on a trip to Tuscany in December with Sarah and some of her friends. After picking up a couple of cars at the airport we drove to our wee cottage amid rolling vineyards and olive groves - bliss! We packed in quite a bit of sight-seeing, shopping, eating and drinking in three days and left suitably stuffed, in both body and bags, and newly in love with all things Italian.

Of course, the wine, food, patchwork vistas and quaint villages were all well and good, but we were really only there to see the Prada factory store. Bob was beside himself. I could only drag him away by promising we'd come back very soon.

Ness x

Go the ABs - Paris November 2006

What better way for a girl to celebrate her 30th birthday than with a trip to the rugby! Obviously we couldn't pass up the opportunity to watch the ABs beat the French in Paris. Long may their form last...well, at least for the next 12 months. Despite the enormously irritating brass band who honked throughout the entire match, Stad de France was amazing too.

Ness x