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 we could not check in but they did look after our bags for us. Our first stop was the Starlight Diner, a place we visited in 2008, as they served up decent breakfast options albeit in an American style.

We had time to visit GUM a massive department store on Red Square, we saw St Basil's Cathedral, the Kremlin and also visited Lenin's Mausoleum. There was of course time for a drink at a well known coffee shop establishment on Arbat Street in Moscow too.

After a decent night of sleep we had most of the following day spare before we headed across to Kazan station where our Trans Siberian adventure would really commence, so far it had all been about just getting to the starting point of this famous journey.

The long distance railways in Russia operate to Moscow Time and that applies across all of the nine time zones of the Trans Siberian railway too - so by the time we get to Vladivostok at 2317 Moscow Time (in 18 days time, although that is really 17 days according to Moscow Time) it will actually be 0617 Local Time. There is a great possibility of cocking up when it comes to catching a train so a handy spreadsheet with UK, Moscow and Local Timse was used with all of our travel itinerary on this trip. It certainly did come in handy as we travelled the 5,753 miles across Russia from Moscow to Vladivostock.

Train 16, the 1650 from Moscow Kazan station to Ekatrinburg, would be our home for the next twenty five and a half hours as we travel 1,105 miles and cross the Ural Mountains into Asia. We are due to arrive at 1817 Moscow Time which will be 2017 Local Time as we will also be crossing two time zones on this first train.

Our First Class compartment was spacious enough for two people and the ticket price also included meals (dinner, breakfast and lunch) accompanied with wine, beer or vodka. The choices were fairly limited, but with lengthy station stops en-route you could also get a snack or two extra if you needed it - or pay a visit to the restaurant car itself.