When you hear about Russia, what images come to your mind? Grand Palaces, matryoshka dolls, vodka?

Since studying Russian history at school and in my endeavour to visit as many countries as possible during my lifetime (I've currently visited 42), I've always wanted to visit the largest country in the world and to see the Red Square, St Basil's Cathedral and the Winter Palace with my own eyes.

I made the bold decision to go on a 10 day trip of Moscow, the Golden Ring of Russia and St Petersburg and my decision to venture on this exciting adventure alone received a mixed reception which ranged from "wow that sounds incredible" to "why on earth would you want to do that?" The trip was a matter of survival: I was alone in a country far away from home which I had never been to before; I could only speak one word of Russian "