Russia! We arrive in St. Petersburg in warm sunshine and a feeling that the journey started now. Sweden and Denmark are lovely but they feel familiar. This feels completely different!

We head off to the Information Centre because we need driving insurance. We have been illegal since crossing the border. We are sent off to a huge bank with ornate ceilings and enormous chandeliers. It is the French bank Societe General. Using the translate app on the phone we get past the Russian for MOT Certificate and we have a document for £30. I hope it is legal.

When you are in Saint Petersburg you must see the amazing Metro.
It is LINE 1 in the South of the city where the stations are really awesome. Marble, chandeliers, mosaics and statues that make it look like an art gallery.

We walk to the Winter Palace and take the usual photos.
Our guide is Dimitri and he looks just like John Lennon.  More and more photos. He went to school here and the city has a host of little-known alleys and tiny short-cuts which Dimitri takes.
My SPOT messenger is stolen in the evening but everything else is safe and sound. The Russians are very good at making sure that me are safe and they tell us many stories of people having mishaps. The bike is always under their security camera or behind a locked gate.

We take the road ,in the morning, to Moscow under blue skies and warm spring sunshine.