To Russia with l......uggage

Our domestic flights in Turkey, and our flight to Moscow have been with Pegasus, a low cost airline...the type where you pay a low fare and then pay for all the "add-ons"...and it has been quite an  OK experience.....for short flights.

We got back to our Hotel near the airport at Istanbul and were stopped by police and a riot vehicle for a passport check outside the hotel compound. Everything was OK but we did notice a few extra police and guards around the place which made us wonder. 

Checking in at the lobby I retrieved a live bullet from my luggage that I had been saving, trying to think of a way of getting it home. I left it in my bag that we stored at the hotel (to lighten our check-in amount - budget airline!) while we were in Cappadocia .....to give me time to try and organise something. It was a momento from our Gallipoli visit and I really wanted to keep it, but the Turkish Post Office wouldn't send it for me, the clerk in DHL said it was against company policy to transport live ammunition ( bit of a cop out I thought) and the people at the front desk didn't want a bar of trying to ship it to Austraia. I was stymied, but  a couple of youngsters on the desk took a shine to it, particularly when I explained its history.....a hundred year old shell from the Dardenelles campaign...still with caked mud on it, so I gave it to them. The last I saw of it was the two of them fighting over which one would keep it......and I think the young woman was winning!

It was a Turkish bullet after all, so it probably went to a good home....but I really would've liked it for my study at home!

It wasn't this one...but it looked a bit like it....without the mud.

While all this was going on, it transpired that the hotel was fully booked with two conferences ( it is a very nice hotel and clearly well protected) and there was a problem with the two rooms I had booked in March. Would it be OK if we all shared the "Presidential Suite" for the night instead? Two master bedrooms with ensuites, a lounge room, dining room, sauna, Turkish bath, wall to ceiling mini bar and huge balcony....for the same price....well....OK....if it would help the hotel out. 

We decided that we might "treat ourselves" as well and get room service dinner delivered.....so we didn't have to leave this sumptuous suite.

Some upgrade that one!

We have been blessed with the most beautiful weather in our travels to date. For over three weeks and all through Europe and in Turkey we have had sunny and warm (unseasonally warm according to the locals) perfect travelling weather. We were actually beginning to resent carrying our Winter things...the coats and jumpers we thought we would need all the way in September/October over here......until now. Touch down at Moscow introduced us to Autumn colours, drizzle, low cloud and a top of 10 degrees....Katoomba weather!

Our hotel is opposite the Kremlin and just down the way from St Basil's Cathedral...and when we went to explore the surrounding area to find dinner we found the whole area is crowded with people, and it is lit up like a Christmas tree. We agreed over dinner that we didn't know what to expect from Moscow...but so far, and by the quality of our hotel....it appears to be a place we could really enjoy.

Looking forward to our Soviet Sojourn.