Mini-Sven

Mini-Sven in Moscow

Posted 3rd September 2009 - Journey: 2007
Moscow, Russia: Distance Travelled = 51,341 miles

Good Morning!
We've been on the train and have travelled into Russia. You can see me here at the St Basils Church in Moscow. It's a 16th century stone church on one of the edges of the Red Square, it was so pretty! If you go to Moskow, make sure you visit this!
Moscow is a very interesting place, but you'll just have to visit, we didn't have much time here, straight back on the train again! Another update very soon!
lots of love
Mini-Sven

Mini-Sven in Yekaterinburg

Posted 8th September 2009 - Journey: 2008
Ganina Yama, Russia: Distance Travelled = 52,217 miles

Morning!
My Trans-Siberian trip continues Eastwards. We've come to Yekaterinburg or Sverlovsk as it used to be known, all these Russian cities have had their names changed at some point! We're at Ganina Yama, which is the Monastery of the Romanov family. This is the place where Tsar Nicholas II, his wife and all his children were executed. It's a really horrible story about how they died and were buried, so I'm not going to dwell long on it. The Russian Orthodox Church built a monastery here and it's now a very thoughtful quiet place.
Back on a happier note, next stop coming up very soon!
lots of love
Mini-Sven

Mini-Sven in Europe and Asia

Posted 10th September 2009 - Journey: 2008
Ekaterinburg, Russia: Distance Travelled = 52,226 miles

Afternoon!
You can't come this far east in Europe and not stand (or sit) across the border between the two continents. It was a very very cool thing to do! This monument is on the busy highway, so we really didn't stay here for very long. Just long enough for a photocall! Another update very soon, must dash!
lots of love
Mini-Sven

Mini-Sven in Novosibirsk

Posted 14th September 2009 - Journey: 2008
Novosibirsk, Russia: Distance Travelled = 53,105 miles

Afternoon!
We're continuing on our journey along the Trans-Siberian Railway. It's an amazing journey! We've made it to Novosibirsk. This is Russias third largest city (after Moscow and Saint Petersburg!), so I'm really doing the large cities in Russia! Of course we're not stopping long though, straight back on the train and onwards along the railway! Another update very soon!
lots of love
Mini-Sven

Mini-Sven and Lenin

Posted 15th September 2009 - Journey: 2008
Ulan Ude, Russia: Distance Travelled = 54,141 miles

Afternoon,
This is our last stop before leaving Russia. It's been a wondeful trip through this fantastic land. I'm sure we've got some amazing sites left to see though! Here we are in Ulan Ude and we found this huuuuge head of Leni, it is in fact the biggest head in the entire world of Lenin. But with some tactical photography we made him as small as me, tee hee!
Well, it's back on the train and onwards! More soon.
lots of love
Mini-Sven

Mini-Sven meets Genghis

Posted 16th September 2009 - Journey: 2008
Ulaanbataar, Mongolia: Distance Travelled = 54,423 miles

Morning!
The train has taken us across Mongolia. You hear people talk about Outer Mongolia and it being a long long way away, well, that's where I am, a long way away! I've seen some brilliant things here, different sorts of trains, a monastary, rafting, ponies and slept in a ger (a type of hut). Full on action packed fun! I like monuments though and this is a huge monument, to Genghis Khan, near Ulaanbataar. You really can't imagine how huge this thing is. Mahoosive! You'll just have to visit it to see!
Well, back on the train, a new country beckons!
Lots of Love
Mini-Sven

Mini-Sven in Beijing

Posted 17th September 2009 - Journey: 2008
Beijing, China: Distance Travelled = 55,149 miles

Afternoon!
The train has taken us now to Beijing, this is pretty much the final destination on our trip along the Trans-Siberian railway. It's been awesome, but the journey isn't quite over yet! I got a new outfit, I rather like red, but I'll probably keep it for special occasions! It's a very comfortable outfit and quite cool. We're now in Beijing and we've visited the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, where the protests in 1989 happened. The Forbidden city was the Imperial palace from the the Ming Dynasty to the Quing Dynasty. It was a very beautiful palace and it felt right to wear my new clothes.
Another update soon!
lots of love
Mini-Sven

Mini-Sven and the Great Wall of China

Posted 19th September 2009 - Journey: 2008
Great Wall of China, China: Distance Travelled = 55,179 miles

Morning!
There is something that everyone who goes to China absolutely has to do and that is visit the Great Wall of China. It is the most amazing wall I have ever seen! It was built and maintained around the 5th Century BC up until the 16th Century, which is a very time ago! It was built to protect the Chinese northern border. I guess it worked because it's still standing! It is around 7000km, which is absolutely amazing. We didn't really have time to walk the whole thing, but still wow! I wish I could have walked the whole thing, but then again, my legs are quite short!
More very soon!
lots of love
Mini-Sven

Mini-Sven in Shanghai

Posted 21st September 2009 - Journey: 2008
Shanghai, China: Distance Travelled = 55,866 miles

Morning,
My time on the Trans-Siberian Railway is now at an end. we're in Shanghai and this is my last stop on this most amazing of trips. We've been through many different countries that are so different to home. I don't really want to leave, but I know there are lots more adventures waiting for me round the corner.
Shangahi is the largest Chinese city and started off life as a fishing village! The name means on (or above) the city and became so large because of it's great position as a cargo port.
Oh well, time to end this adventure and look forwards to a new one ... now where shall I go next?
lots of love
Mini-Sven

Mini-Sven in Krakow

Posted 22nd September 2009 - Journey: 2008
Krakow, Poland: Distance Travelled = 60,933 miles

Afternoon!
I'm in Krakow, it's one of the largest and oldest cities in Poland. It's situated on the Vistula river and was the capital of Poland from 1038 - 1596. But it's not any more. It doesn't make it any less lovely though. I'm not here for long though, moving on very quickly, so many places to visit and see!
lots of love
Mini-Sven

Mini-Sven in Ljubljana

Posted 28th September 2009 - Journey: 2008
Ljubljana, Slovenia: Distance Travelled = 61307 miles

Dear all!
My latest update is from the capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana. It's been an independent country since 1991 and is really, really beautiful. Slovenia has been "owned" by many different countries, including Austria and the USSR as well as having links throughout time to Yugoslavia, Italy and Germany. It's been a real cross roads of people! The skyline was just breath taking from up here where the photograph was taken. As usual, not stopping long, too many places to go and see!
lots of love
Mini-Sven

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