Hi there, just a short blog today as spent a lot of time travelling. Left St Petersburg and headed to the station for the 11.10 ‘Sapsan’ to Moscow. Sapsan means Falcon in Russian, the fastest flying bird.
They take security pretty seriously in Russia these days, x-Ray bag and body check on way into station and again on to the platform, was booked in 1st class as only an extra £20 and well worth it I think.
Our hostess welcomed us aboard the train, and I took my seat.
Train was great, complimentary slippers, headphones, lunch of, red wine, pork fillet with vegetables in a sundried tomato sauce, which was super, then coffee and ice cream.
Negotiated the subway, bought a 3 day ticket for £5 and checked in to the hotel circus.
Hotel is ok, room is good, excellent location 200 m from metro which is 2 stops from red square, so great really for £50 per night.
Now, in the last 2 minutes I have had a real smile on my face!
About 6 months ago I contacted Alexander at Angel Taxis in Moscow as they offered a tour by private taxi to Star City, about 30 miles away. This is where all Russian cosmonauts do their training before spaceflight and is a restricted area, but a small number of tourists are allowed to visit. So I duly filled out the application form, copy of passport etc. After numerous emails back And forth in last 6 months, Star City would not confirm my request, Alexander just called me to say it was confirmed earlier today that I could go on Tuesday. This place has that big swimming pool for astronauts to train under water to simulate zero gravity, full size International Space Station, and that centrifuge we saw in the James Bond film. So am pretty excited to be going, plenty of photos for the blog I hope.
Anyway, was a bit tired after 800km journey to Moscow and noticed a sign to ‘sports bar’ next to my hotel. So thinking a beer was now in order down the steps I went into what is now a French restaurant.
But they were really quiet and pleased to see me and the waitress poured me a lovely cold pint of Grolsch.
Feeling quite refreshed and having eaten chicken and garlic potatoes only half an hour earlier I asked for the menu as it seemed a lovely restaurant and maybe dinner tomorrow.
Now, many European languages have a common history and shared words, which speaking English in a French restaurant in Russia may cause some confusion.
So let’s set the scene, I am sat at the bar reading the menu, the French speaking manager is greating guests and the lovely very beautiful young woman with strawberry blonde, almost ginger hair is behind the bar opposite me, studying the wine menu to learn more about French wines.
So I look down through the menu at the normal starters and salads and come to the main courses.
One strikes me as something I might like,
“Codfish in Cocotte with leek and white wine sauce”
Cod, leeks, white wine, can’t go far wrong with that I thought, and quickly converting 450 Roubles and coming up with £6 I thought this could be good, only £2.50 for mixed vegetables and so a lovely dinner for under £10.
So looking again at the menu I did not know the meaning of Cocotte,so having my phone with me I forgot Google had let me down with the map yesterday and Googled ‘Cocotte’
Well, try it yourself but I am sure you will get the same result,
Cocotte
Noun
1, a small heat proof dish in which individual portions of food can be cooked and served.
2. A fashionable prostitute.
Chuckling to myself the girl behind the bar noticed my smile and asked if all was ok?
Yes I said, I was just looking at the cod on the menu.
Ah yes she said no one can do it it like me in the kitchen! her beautiful lips pouting in a very seductive French way, my heart raced,
“And only 450 Roubles?” I enquired
Oh yes! Was her reply, very good value,
Well I shall leave it there for the moment but have no doubt where I will be for dinner tomorrow!
TTFN
Bibbley
Uncle Bob's Scenic Tours 