I’m in Russia and its brilliant! Having spent half my life with the shadow of the Iron Curtain, the Berlin Wall, the Cold War, spies defecctig both ways and  images of Russian soldiers in tanks, and readig Soszhenitzin, you can undersatand why I might feel a little trepidation…….. This all countered by falling in love with Russia and Russians through reading Tolstoy et al, And of course my lovely Russian friend in England.

and its world cup! And far from being the anticipated nightmare its chokka with people just there to help, in the stations, everywhere, welcoming and explaining and generally making life easy – and in addition just people offering help. Wonderful! And the most extraordinary thing happened, I asked some young people the way – they are locals out to enjoy a Saturday afternoon here in town with all the excitement and insisted on taking me, plus a boy from Hong Kong, another new arrival, on a tour of the sights of Mosscow! How wonderful is that! Apart from their extraordinary generosity it was just greatt to see Moscow through their eyes.

And yes it really is all golden domes and fabulous buildings! And the most brilliant atmosphere with everybody out to enjoy the world cup.

VERY hot and sweaty – apparently its  not usually.. I’ve made a cock up over my entry thingy and worry i might no get back in after mongolia. Have also lost my glasses (so forgive all the typos!)