Well, here we are against many of them, if not all the odds, in Yekaterinburg where the Romanov's met their sad fate in the basement of a house. We have just visited the memorial to them and seen the most moving statue of the family with Nicolas cradling his young son. Driving west has been fascinating as Asian Russia starts becoming European Russia at pretty much this point. The roads are pretty dull with only the odd pot hole or rough patch to liven things up, at which point, without our hydraulic suspension, we bounce along and it becomes just like steering a boat in choppy water. Some things however remain the same and the Russians STILL haven't invented a word for either service or smile. Their inability to even have a stab at either beggars belief and is a constant source of amazement and amusement to us. It seems to be a primarily urban thing, as the country folk are full of waves and heart lifting huge grins and thumbs-up.
We occasionally get pulled over by the police and have found that the best way to totally confound them is to be terribly cheerful and say 'yes thank you' to everything they say - however stern they are being. They eventually give up, maybe take a photo, and let us move on. Another car was fined 3000 rbls (£60) and when I asked why they said they didn't know, but the policeman had a gun! Fair enough, but we'll stick to our strategy for the moment and see how we go.
Today has been another 'rest day' in the loosest sense of the word. More like playing with the car all day day. We have however continued our mechanical education and changed our oil, adjusted the clutch (much better, but not perfect so we keep fingers firmly crossed) and put the side panels back on the car. Right couple of tinkerers we're becoming....
Just got back some clean clothes from the laundry - a worryingly exciting moment, and I can only feel sorry for the filters on the hotel's washing machines. Thinking of hotels, they are extraordinary places. The facade and lobby are always glistening with polished marble etc. You then take a smart lift up to the 4th floor and enter a prison wing with dilapidated floors, grey flaky paint and a bathroom you only enter in desperation. Anyway, it's a thousand times better than a tent in Mongolia, so no complaining.
All really well, and we are taking each day at a time and enjoying it all. Michael and Robin, if you read this, we miss you a lot - any chances of re-joining us in the Baltic states???
4 comments:
Hi, Tim. I am truly amazed at how well you have done, Changing oil and adjusting a clutch! Right, when you get back we have 2 lawn mowers and the tractor to be fully serviced!! I can see myself being made redundant! Carry on, We are all missing you. best wishes S & S
Hi Bro, thanks for that hilarious account. Astonishing P is holding up. Must be the expert combined driving skills at work. Perhaps you'd like to try crossing the Nullabour (no trees) plains while you're over here?!
And to my little bro, this is giving us all a lot of pleasure - maybe Gran would be p... ing but think of the old boy with his face creasing up... Have a great friend who spends most of his life mining in Tsikastan (however you spell it) so have new found respect for him. Great stuff. Now to K ... and darling Jack whose birthday I FORGOT so a lot of grovelling XXX
Have at last worked out how to blog so would have been useless under your bonnet. well done for keeping the Hampshire flag flying after M&R fell out. Robin en route to America's Cup today, tough life, eh?. Massage Priscilla home and see you in a few weeks. Best wishes Burghie PS russian for wishbone is "byionka" but this could also be a bit of a chicken.
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