Arriving into Moscow from Kiev at just before 0700 gave us time for a bit if a whirlwind dash around the Russian capital city. We had been to Moscow previously in 2008 on a trip that also included a visit to St Petersburg so it was nice not to have to rush and see all the major sights - although we did obviously have to see one or two! Our Hotel was located pretty much adjacent to Moscow's Kievskaja station where we arrived, but being this early in the morning w...

After the long journey from Berlin it was nice to arrive in Kiev although finding our hotel, located just of Maiden (Independence) Square was a bit of a challenge as I remember it. The entrance certainly did not look like a hotel! Our first evening was spent at the Buddah Bar, pretty close to the hotel, where we enjoyed some tasty Thai food. It was however here that I received a telephone call from the UK advising me that my dad was ill with what eventually was...

Leaving Koln on the InterCity Express (ICE) at 1027 saw us arrive into Berlin Hauptbahnhof at around 1540 and with our train to Kiev due to depart at 2100 there was a little bit of time in our itinerary for some sightseeing. You can not afford to waste a minute! Having dropped our bags in the left luggage lockers at the impressive station there was time for a currywurst (a fabulous combination) before we walked around parts of Berlin seeing some of the 'top sigh...

Koln was a handy stopping off point as we arrived after a three and a quarter hour journey from Paris Gare du Nord at 1915. We made the short walk from the Hauptbahnhof (main station) to the Hotel Excelsior passing the mighty cathedral as we exited the station. There was enough time for an evening meal, a bit of a walk around the city and then it was time for bed ready for the next day of adventure (Monday 27th June 2011) and an ICE journey to Berlin and then on...

Arriving into Paris Gare du Nord at around 2315 it was nice to meet up with a few friends who were still out finishing off their meal in Paris so it made sense to join them for cocktails before turning in for the night, after all with the one hour time difference between the UK and France it was still fairly early. On the Saturday, my 40th birthday events started with breakfast at Fauchon with Simon. Linda and Heather before we headed across to meet with Heather...