friendly driver tour

Friendly & Flexible Driver

When Sarah booked a ride with a local transportation service, she was pleasantly surprised by the friendly and flexible driver who greeted her with a warm smile. The driver offered to adjust the route to accommodate her preferences. Having a driver who not only navigates the roads with expertise but also prioritizes customer comfort and satisfaction can truly enhance the overall travel experience.

From personalized service options to a keen focus on safety measures, the discussion on the significance of a friendly and flexible driver promises to shed light on the crucial role they play in ensuring a seamless and enjoyable journey for passengers.

• Friendly demeanor for a welcoming experience
• Flexibility in accommodating passenger needs
• Seamless communication for stress-free travel
• Safety prioritized for a secure journey

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Booking Flexibility

For travelers seeking hassle-free booking, this driver offers unrivaled flexibility in adjusting travel plans effortlessly. With no payment required upfront, last-minute changes are accommodated seamlessly.

The service provides various starting times availability, ensuring convenience for passengers with differing schedules. Whether a traveler needs to depart early in the morning or later in the day, the driver can cater to their specific requirements. This adaptability allows for a stress-free experience, knowing that adjustments can be made without hassle.

Driver Qualifications

How does the driver’s friendly demeanor and experience enhance the journey for passengers? The driver’s professional demeanor and local knowledge play a crucial role in ensuring a pleasant travel experience. Here are five key aspects that highlight the importance of the driver’s qualifications:

Professional Demeanor : The driver’s friendly and accommodating nature creates a welcoming atmosphere for passengers.

Experience: With a professional driver who’s experience, passengers can feel assured of a comfortable and safe journey.

Knowledgeable about the Area: The driver’s familiarity with the local area allows for efficient navigation and interesting insights during the trip.

Ensuring Comfort: By providing a pleasant travel experience, the driver enhances the overall journey for passengers.

Safety Priority: Drivers who prioritize passenger safety contribute to a secure and reliable travel experience.

Service Offerings

With a variety of transport services available, this driver offers customizable packages tailored to individual needs. Travelers can enjoy a hassle-free experience with the option to personalize their service offerings.

Along with transportation, additional services are available upon request, ensuring convenience and flexibility. Whether it’s a simple ride from one point to another or a more elaborate journey with multiple stops, the driver aims to cater to the unique requirements of each passenger.

Customer Support

Catering to passengers’ needs extends beyond the journey itself, ensuring a seamless experience with dedicated 24/7 customer support available for any inquiries or assistance required. Travelers can rest assured knowing that prompt responses and assistance are just a call away, guaranteeing peace of mind throughout their entire trip.

• Round-the-clock availability for customer inquiries
• Swift and prompt responses to resolve issues
• Dedicated support team for personalized assistance
• Ensuring customer satisfaction through attentive service
• Seamless communication channels for a hassle-free experience

With 24 /7 assistance and a commitment to prompt responses, passengers can feel confident that their needs will be met promptly and efficiently, enhancing their overall journey experience.

Safety Measures

To ensure passenger safety, the driver strictly adheres to safety protocols and maintains the vehicle in top condition. By following safety protocols and keeping the vehicle well-maintained, passengers can trust in a secure journey with this driver.

The emphasis on safety ensures a reliable service that prioritizes the well-being of those on board. From regular vehicle check-ups to adherence to traffic regulations, the driver’s commitment to safety is unwavering.

Passengers can sit back and enjoy the ride, knowing that their well-being is the driver’s top priority. With a focus on secure travel and a dedication to maintaining a safe environment, passengers can trust in this driver for a comfortable and worry-free experience.

Travel Plans Adjustment

Passengers can easily modify their travel plans with the driver’s flexible booking options. Making itinerary changes or trip modifications is a breeze with the following features:

• Flexible Cancellation: Allows for hassle-free adjustments.
• Quick Rescheduling: Easily change pick-up and drop-off times.
• Last-Minute Updates: Accommodates sudden changes in plans.
• Multiple Destinations: Options to add or modify stops along the way.
• Customized Routes: Tailored trips based on passenger preferences.

With these convenient options, passengers can enjoy a stress-free travel experience knowing they can adapt their plans as needed.

Additional Service Options

When exploring different travel plans with the friendly and flexible driver, passengers can easily enhance their journey by considering the array of additional service options available.

Customized experiences are a highlight, allowing travelers to tailor their trip to their specific desires. Whether it’s arranging a scenic detour, selecting preferred music for the ride, or even planning a unique stop at a local attraction, the driver is open to accommodating special requests to make the journey truly memorable.

These additional service options go beyond basic transportation, offering passengers the chance to create a personalized and unforgettable travel experience. By communicating their needs and preferences, passengers can work with the driver to craft a journey that suits their tastes and interests, ensuring a one-of-a-kind adventure.

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Common questions

How does the driver handle unexpected changes in the itinerary or route during the journey.

When unexpected changes occur in the itinerary or route during the journey, the driver proactively handles them, communicating any challenges effectively. Ensuring passenger comfort and safety, the driver navigates with expertise and addresses any disruptions promptly.

Are There Any Special Amenities or Features in the Vehicle That Passengers Can Request for a More Comfortable Ride?

Passengers can request special amenities for a more comfortable ride. Comfort features like Wi-Fi, refreshments , and adjustable seating can be arranged. Special requests cater to individual preferences, ensuring a pleasant and customized travel experience.

What Measures Are in Place to Ensure the Driver Is Punctual and Arrives on Time for Pick-Up?

To ensure punctuality, the driver undergoes rigorous training in time management. They utilize GPS tracking for efficient navigation and possess strong communication skills . These measures guarantee timely arrivals, enhancing the overall passenger experience.

Can the Driver Accommodate Special Requests Such as Making Stops Along the Way for Sightseeing or Shopping?

The driver can accommodate special requests for customized experiences , offering flexibility. Personalized service includes making stops for sightseeing or shopping, ensuring convenience. The journey is tailored to meet individual needs, creating a memorable travel experience.

How Does the Driver Handle Language Barriers or Communication Challenges With Passengers Who May Not Speak the Same Language?

In handling language barriers, the driver demonstrates cultural sensitivity by using language interpretation and nonverbal cues like gestures. This ensures effective communication and a pleasant journey for passengers who may not speak the same language, creating a smooth travel experience.

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To sum it up, a friendly and flexible driver can truly enhance the overall travel experience by providing booking flexibility, exceptional service offerings , and top-notch customer support. Their focus on safety measures and willingness to adjust travel plans as needed ensure a hassle-free journey.

With additional service options available, passengers can enjoy a personalized and comfortable ride every time. Choose a driver who prioritizes customer satisfaction and safety for a memorable transportation experience.

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Perfect 2 days 1 night out of Moscow - Angel Taxi - Day Tour

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• Angel Taxi - Day Tour

Angel-taxi was recommended to me by my husband who used their airport transfer service back in... read more

Alexander and all his team at Angel Taxi are very kind and responsive. I have been traveling... read more

Perfect 2 days 1 night out of Moscow

I strongly recommend whoever that’s visiting Moscow to engage Angel Taxi for a day tour or overnight tour outside Moscow for the reasons below. So many that I have to make them into few paragraphs. Also provided a summary of our tour with Angel Taxi :) Easy booking process vide email - I sent an enquiry through Angel taxi’s website and from there, we started corresponding via emails. They asked about your interests, anything specific that you want to do, and propose a customised itinerary based on your preference (which I totally love it because it’s not the kind of tour that the itinerary has been decided and you just got to go with the group). Basically they can even arrange for you to go fishing if you so wish. Initiative to recommend - We totally appreciated Angel Taxi’s initiative to recommend us to visit Sergiev Posad I.e. not just providing us with quotation for what we requested for. We originally wanted to visit Suzdal and Vladimir only but at the strong recommendation of Angel Taxi, we decided to visit Sergiev Posad as well. No regret for that decision! They will also recommend the best itinerary for you and advise you on what’s possible and what may not be possible based on the timing / plans you have in mind. No booking fee/deposit required - Given that we are based overseas (in Malaysia), I was very pleased (and surprised, to be honest) that they do not require booking fee/deposit which allow us to save money on making international transfer. They obviously placed high level of confidence in the customers that they will not cancel the tour last minute. Ability to handle last minute request - We reduced our group from 4 person to 3 person and decided to change the type of car (from a minivan to a sedan) around 1 week before our actual tour. Granted it was peak season due to the World Cup and we made our request fairly last minute, Angel Taxi managed to get a sedan for us. In fact, throughout the tour, we could see the tour guide working very hard trying to accommodate customers’ last minute request. But please manage your own expectation accordingly.... The Tour (Day 1) - Angel taxi arranged for a car to pick us up at Moscow airport and we started the first day by heading with Sergiev Posad. Once we got there, we chose to check in the hotel first. The hotel was arranged and booked by Angel Tour as well - see point below on the hotel. After that, we met up with Alexander (our guide from Angel Taxi) and started with visiting Troitse-Sergieva Lavra. Alexander gave very detailed explanation and will allow you some free time to take photos after explanation time. The UNESCO world heritage site is so beautiful and the history to each of the buildings is something that should not be missed. After lunch, Alexander brought us to 2 different shops that does handmade wooden toys and Russian dolls. If I remember correctly, they are among the oldest in Sergiev Posad. The wooden toys and crafts are special and fairly cheap, it’s a good buy as souvenir. We then went to a house museum run by an old man. He collected many things over the year that he decided to open his house (turning it into a small cosy museum) for the public to visit. It’s very interesting because it allows you a glimpse into the past - how Russian used to live, how were the tools used etc. He even has a huge carousel in his garden and 2 squirrels :D Hotel - The Hotel was spacious with a comfortable King size bed and a bath tub in the toilet. The only downside was at night, we waited for almost 2 hours for hot water (we were originally told to wait for 30-40 minutes) but there was still no hot water. The water was freezing cold which made it almost impossible to shower. What we learnt after that was, we should have texted Alexander about the problem (regardless the time) and he would bring us to a place with hot shower! Anyway, we won’t attribute this hiccup to Angel Taxi as it is out of their control. Having said that, at the request of Angel Taxi, the hotel packed us nice and huge breakfast for the next day as we had to start our journey at 5am. The Tour (Day 2) - Because of the distance to Suzdal and it was a Friday and we have to go back to Moscow on the day itself, we had to start our journey at 5am. An early start was good as we were well-rewarded with the BEST bell-ringing melody (by nun). It’s like a song, with the morning fresh air and colourful flowers around it, made us feel calm and peaceful. Really thankful to Alexander for managing the timing as we would have missed the bell-ringing if we started our journey any later. We then went to another cathedral with similar Bell-ringing, but this time by man. After that, we also got to enjoy a short session of choir. We managed to visit the Church of the Intercession of the Holy Virgin, Bogolyubovo as well. It’s a small church located in the middle of a field, around 15-20 minutes walk across the field to get to the church. All in all, we couldn’t have enjoyed all of these on day 2 without Alexander being familiar with the timing of each event and managing the timing.

We had taken a three hour tour to Food City moscow. Mostly for translation services. Excellent work done by Alex for us. Specially with his vast experience of different cultures. Service was top notch and puntual.

We decided to take this tour during World Cup, 40 min drive from Moscow, it worth it !!! Recommended for Aviation enthusiasts, a lot of aircraft on display, it is a 2-3 hour tour if you like aircraft as I do, looking at them as from different angles as possible, the guide Alexander, excellent English, something we were looking for after 3-4 days on Russia, very friendly and with all the knowledge needed, now he also knows our western sarcasm, LOL. Museum (indoor) is small but very complete did enjoy it and very friendly ladies, I just wanted to see aircrafts on display and almost ran outside. Definitely will return and maybe schedule it with an airshow which happens every 2 years !!!!

We had the most amazing time touring both St. Petersburg and Moscow. Angel Tours was simply amazing, very professional and extremely informative regarding places to visits given we knew very little about their history. All the tours were booked online from the USA. Once we arrived in St. Petersburg, they help answer all our questions, including assisting in finding our luggage which was lost at the airport. I do believe that we would not have found our luggage if Angel tours had not helped. It was very difficult communicating with the carrier. They also help us to board the train from St. Petersburg to Moscow. Thanks to them, we had the most wonderful time visiting these two beautiful and fascinating cities which I would strongly recommend visiting.

Excellent tour! We would highly recommend this day tour from Moscow to the Monastery of St Sergius and other attractions in Sergiyev Posad. We were collected at our hotel by a friendly driver, Igor, and met our guide, Alexander, in this lovely Golden Ring town. It was Sunday and the feast day of the Holy Trinity. We couldn’t access the churches until the afternoon so Alexander took us to a wooden toy making shop and also a very quirky private museum, full of old tools and memorabilia. The visit to the monastery was wonderful. It is an amazing place with many churches inside the walls. Alexander is a great guide and very knowledgeable. June and Michael Gregg

We used Angel Tours and Taxi Service for a number of transfers in and around Moscow. All the drivers were very polite, friendly and professional and the communication and updates from Angel Taxis was greatly appreciated. My teenage son and I also did a tour of the Monino Aircraft Museum with Alexander and his was excellent. Very informative and detailed. I would highly recommend this company for tourists visiting Moscow.

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Welcome to Friendly Tours and Travel

We are looking forward to our 13th year of traveling with all our great customers and can't wait to make many new ones. We hope you will be able to join us on a new adventure!!

Happy Travels

Rick, Vicky and staff

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China and EU-candidate Serbia sign an agreement to build a ‘shared future’

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China and European Union candidate Serbia signed an agreement on Wednesday to build a “shared future,” making the Balkan country the first in Europe to agree on such a document with Beijing.

After meeting in Belgrade, Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Serbian President Vucic announced they would “deepen and elevate the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Serbia,” and “build a new era of a community with a shared future between China and Serbia.”

Xi launched the term “community for shared future” over 10 years ago. While it may not denote a specific initiative, experts believe it has an underlying significance as another term for an alliance.

“Eight years ago, Serbia became China’s first comprehensive strategic partner in the Central and Eastern European region, and today Serbia is the first European country to build a community of destiny with China, fully reflecting the strategic, special and high level of China-Serbia relations,” Xi said during a press conference after signing the agreement.

Vucic said the two countries “are moving from strategic relations, through which we had managed to raise our bilateral ties, to the joint future of our two countries.”

“That is the highest possible form of cooperation between two countries and I am proud that I was able to sign this today as the President of Serbia,” he added.

It was not immediately clear how the EU would respond to Serbia getting even closer to China. Russia’s war on Ukraine has pushed the integration of six Western Balkan countries, including Serbia, into the EU at the top of the 27-nation bloc’s agenda.

China has claimed neutrality in the Ukraine conflict, but has refused to call the Russian assault an invasion and has been accused of bolstering Russia’s military capacity. Serbia has condemned the Russian invasion but has refused to join international sanctions against Moscow.

Xi arrived in Serbia to a warm welcome on Tuesday evening from France, where he had a high-stakes state visit dominated by trade disputes and Russia’s war in Ukraine .

Thousands of people chanting “China-Serbia” and waving flags were bused in from across Serbia to attend a welcoming ceremony for Xi on Wednesday in front of the Serbia Palace, in the new part of Belgrade where the talks were held.

Serbia’s populist president addressed the crowd from a balcony, calling Xi an “ironclad” friend. He said his visit to Serbia was “historic” because it opened the path for even closer ties.

“We are writing history today although it doesn’t seem so to many,” Vucic said. “We thank President Xi. He hasn’t come to Europe in five years and he has again chosen our little Serbia.”

At the start of the official meeting on Wednesday, Xi said “we are first-hand witnesses that the Serbian people view Chinese people as ironclad best friends.”

“This is truly a two-sided and truthful friendship ... I truly hail this and it really made an extremely deep impression on me,” Xi said, according to the state RTS television.

Xi is traveling to Hungary later on Wednesday. Like Serbia, Hungary is seen as one of China’s more friendly partners in Europe.

Signs of pro-China sentiments were visible throughout the Serbian capital. A huge Chinese flag was placed on a skyscraper along a roadway leading into the city from the airport. Smaller Chinese and Serbian flags could be seen downtown and along a highway.

China has poured billions of dollars into Serbia in investment and loans, particularly in mining and infrastructure. The two countries signed an agreement on a strategic partnership in 2016 and a free trade agreement last year.

Some of those agreements, such as the free trade pact, are not in line with EU conditions for membership. Although Serbia formally wants to join the 27-nation bloc, it has been steadily drifting away from that path.

Serbia, a landlocked nation in the heart of the Balkans, has been a key country in China’s Belt and Road initiative designed to increase Beijing’s influence in Europe through economic investment. Critics say it could serve as a Chinese Trojan horse and gateway to Europe.

Xi arrived in Serbia on a symbolic date — the 25th anniversary of the bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade by U.S. jets during NATO’s air war over Kosovo, when three Chinese citizens were killed.

The incident has helped forge close political ties between China and Serbia.

Chinese companies run Serbia’s biggest copper mine and a steel mill, and are also building scores of roads and highways across the country, along with a railway toward northern neighbor Hungary.

In 2014, Hungary and Serbia concluded an agreement with Beijing to modernize the railway between their capitals of Budapest and Belgrade, part of a Belt and Road plan to link up with the Chinese-controlled port of Piraeus in Greece to the south, an entry point for Chinese goods to Central and Eastern Europe.

The more than $2 billion project is expected to be completed in 2026, after numerous delays.

In 2022, shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Serbia took semi-secret delivery of a sophisticated Chinese anti-aircraft system flown in on Chinese Air Force Y-20 transport planes.

The arms delivery over the territory of at least two NATO member states, Turkey and Bulgaria, was seen by experts as a demonstration of China’s growing global reach.

Wanquing Chen and Ken Moritsugu contributed from Beijing, China.

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I tried it: These user-friendly wedges make short-game shots much easier

Cleveland's Smart Sole Full-Face wedges help make shot selection easier.

Ryan Barath/GOLF

Of all the parts of the game that vex golfers, one of the most frustrating can be shots inside 50 yards and around the green.

Thankfully, the game-improvement sharpies at Cleveland Golf have worked hard to help turn those weaknesses into strengths and give golfers more confidence around the greens with the help of the new Smart Sole Full-Face wedges.

Cleveland Smart Sole Full-Face Custom Wedge

The key to the Smart Soles is…yep, the wide soles, which are designed for forgiveness and ease of use. As a golfer who values control and versatility in my short-game shotmaking, I wasn’t convinced the Smart Sole wedges for me. But, like many other clubs that I have tested , giving this wedge a shot opened my mind to how smart design can help make the game feel a lot easier.

For another opinion, I also brought in a second, less experienced testing subject — my wife, who is a 16 handicap.

Let’s get started.

Of all the options available, I decided to test the 50-degree gap wedge because that is the loft option that I prefer to chip with around the green and also is a club with which I hit a lot of full shots. On full shots, the Smart Sole design performed exactly as I would have expected, offering a ton of confidence to strike down aggressively into the ball without worrying about chunking it.

I found this especially useful considering early-spring ground conditions have been much softer than usual; it felt like the club moved effortlessly through the ground.

On chip shots, the Smart Sole really shined. On tight lies, all I had to do was sweep the club into the ball and the club glided through impact. Out of fluffy lies, the club was even better, because the wider sole prevented the club from digging and kept contact much more consistent in the middle of the face improving my distance control.

Clubs like this make me question why I don’t add more game-improvement-style clubs to my arsenal!

Now, for my co-tester.

With her slower swing speed and less aggressive transition into the ball, the first thing my wife asked when I handed her the Smart Sole Full-Face wedge was, “Do I hit this like my normal gap wedge?” To which I quickly replied, “Yep.”

This is what makes a club like this so handy: You don’t need to change anything about the way you swing it because the club is designed to universally simplify the way you hit shots when approaching the green.

After working her way around the practice green and hitting shots from the fridge and rough, and then pitching from around 50 yards away, my wife’s verdict was brief: “It makes me feel like I can make confident swings from basically any lie and the ball is going to get up and I’m not going to stub it into the ground.” She added, “It’s not the most traditional-looking wedge, but it is a club I could very quickly get used to if I keep hitting shots like this.”

So, yes, if you’re a golfer who struggles with shot selection and is looking for a solution around the greens, these clubs are definitely worth trying.

As a secondary option for those golfers who love the look of a full-face wedge but prefer something that offers a bit more versatility when it comes to sole design, Cleveland also has the RTX Full-Face wedges that come in lofts from 50-64.

Cleveland RTX Full-Face 2 Custom Wedge

The Cleveland Smart Sole Full-Face wedges come in several lofts: 42-chipper, 50-gap wedge, 58-sand wedge and 64-lob wedge, to help create bigger gaps and help golfers separate the highest lofted clubs to make shot selection easier.

Want to overhaul your bag for 2024?  Find a fitting location near you at True Spec Golf .

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Ryan Barath is GOLF Magazine and GOLF.com’s senior editor for equipment. He has an extensive club-fitting and -building background with more than 20 years of experience working with golfers of all skill levels, including PGA Tour players. Before joining the staff, he was the lead content strategist for Tour Experience Golf, in Toronto, Canada.

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On European Tour, Xi Jinping Heads to Friendly Territory in the East

After leaving France later Tuesday, the Chinese leader landed in Serbia and will visit Hungary, two countries whose authoritarian leaders offer a haven for China as tensions grow over the war in Ukraine.

By Andrew Higgins

Andrew Higgins, who has visited Chinese projects in Hungary and Serbia reported this article from Warsaw.

When China’s leader, Xi Jinping, last visited Europe’s formerly Communist east in 2016, the president of the Czech Republic hosted him for a flag-bedecked, three-day state visit and offered his country as an “unsinkable aircraft carrier” for Chinese investment.

That vessel has since sunk, scuppered by China’s support for Russia in the war in Ukraine and bitter disappointment over projects that never materialized. Also capsized are many of the high hopes that took hold across Eastern and Central Europe for a bonanza of Chinese money.

So when Mr. Xi returned to the region this week, after a visit to France, he headed for Serbia, arriving there late Tuesday before moving on later in the week to Hungary — two countries whose long-serving authoritarian leaders still offer a haven for China in increasingly turbulent political and economic waters.

“The Czechs, the Poles and nearly everyone else are really pissed at China because of the war,” said Tamas Matura, a foreign relations scholar at Corvinus University of Budapest. “But in Hungary that is not a problem, at least not for the government” of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Mr. Matura said.

Nor is China’s Kremlin-friendly stand on the war in Ukraine a problem for President Aleksandar Vucic of Serbia, who, like Mr. Orban, has maintained warm relations with Russia and China while securing billions of dollars in Chinese investment.

In an interview this week with Chinese state television, Mr. Vucic gave a foretaste of the flattery that will dominate Mr. Xi’s visit: “There are thousands of things that we can and should learn from our Chinese friends,” the Serbian president said.

“Taiwan is China — full stop,” he added.

Milos Zeman, the Czech president who welcomed Mr. Xi in 2016, was replaced last year by a former senior NATO general, Petr Pave l. Mr. Pavel has angered the Chinese government by talking with the president of Taiwan, which Beijing claims as part of its territory, and saying in an interview that China “is not a friendly country.” Chinese investment in the Czech Republic has slowed to a trickle.

Meantime, Chinese money has poured into Hungary and Serbia, cementing close ties underpinned by a shared wariness of the United States.

China’s showcase infrastructure project in the region, a high-speed railway between Belgrade and Budapest, has been slowed by regulatory and other issues. Of the about 200 miles of track planned, only about 60 miles are operating after five years of work — a sluggish pace for a project that Beijing sees as a key part of the Belt and Road infrastructure program, Mr. Xi’s pet foreign policy initiative.

But promised Chinese investment in other projects has raced ahead, totaling nearly $20 billion in Serbia , according to its minister of construction, transport and infrastructure, and totaling nearly as much in Hungary, including loans, the terms of which are secret.

Ivana Karaskova, a Czech researcher at the Association for International Affairs, an independent research group in Prague, said Hungary and Serbia look to China “not only for economic gains but also to demonstrate to their domestic electorate that they pursue an independent policy.” That demonstrates to the European Union and the United States that “they are not the only game in town,” Ms. Karaskova said.

China, she added, “understands this dynamic” and Mr. Xi will use it to try to reverse a steady souring of opinion on China in Europe, both among ordinary citizens and in institutions like the European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union.

A s urvey last year of Eastern and Central European countries by Globsec, a research group in Slovakia, found that “negative perceptions of Beijing have soared,” particularly in the Baltic States and the Czech Republic. Even in Hungary, only 26 percent of those surveyed had a positive view of Mr. Xi, compared with 39 percent with a negative view. The rest said they were undecided.

But Hungary under Mr. Orban, no matter what the public thinks, has become a “safe political space” for Beijing, Mr. Matura said, and can be counted on to try to soften European Union policy on China and protect it from the fallout from the war in Ukraine.

The merging of economic and geopolitical interests is particularly pronounced in Serbia, which aspires to join the European Union but has balked at joining the bloc in imposing sanctions on Russia and frustrated E.U. efforts to broker a settlement over Kosovo. A former Serbian territory, Kosovo declared itself an independent state after a NATO bombing campaign, a status that Serbia, supported by Russia and China, has refused to accept.

Mr. Xi’s arrival in Serbia on Tuesday coincided with the 25th anniversary of a mistaken strike by NATO warplanes on the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade during the 1999 bombing campaign. Three Chinese journalists were killed.

That incident, which many in China believe was not an accident, created a “strong emotional bond between Serbs and Chinese,” said Aleksandar Mitic of the Institute of International Politics and Economics in Belgrade.

As part of a series of government-sanctioned events in Belgrade ahead of Mr. Xi’s visit, Serbian Communists on Monday unfurled banners reading “Welcome President” and “Kosovo is Serbia — Taiwan is China” outside the Chinese Cultural Center in Belgrade, built on the site of the bombed embassy. They demanded that the street outside the center be renamed “Chinese Victims of NATO Aggression Street.”

Hungary, too, has bristled at what it sees as bullying by Washington and Brussels, despite its membership in NATO and the European Union, from which it has received billions of euros in aid.

Mr. Orban’s main interest in China, however, is money and he hopes to turn Hungary, with help from Chinese investors, into a manufacturing hub for E.V.s, batteries and other new technologies.

In just the past two years, China has committed to invest more than $10 billion in Hungary, most of it in ventures related to E.V.s — at a time when the European Union, worried about China’s growing dominance of the sector, is investigating whether Chinese E.V. manufacturers are unfairly subsidized and should be penalized with high tariffs.

BYD, China’s electric-vehicle juggernaut, announced in December that it would build an assembly plant in Hungary, its first production facility in Europe. Plans for a second, even bigger Chinese electric car factory in the country with investment from Great Wall Motor are expected to be announced during Mr. Xi’s visit on Wednesday and Thursday.

Those assembly lines will take years to build but, in the long run, will help protect Chinese E.V. manufacturers from any future efforts by the European Union to prevent China from dominating the market through tariffs.

Tariffs imposed on imported Chinese electric cars would not apply to those assembled in Hungary, which can ship goods duty-free across the E.U., though they could hit parts imported from China to Hungarian plants.

Unlike in most of Europe where governments regularly change — a democratic churn that can upset Chinese investment plans based on close ties to a particular leader — Mr. Orban and Mr. Vucic have both been in power for more than a decade and show no sign of going anywhere.

“The Chinese feel comfortable in Hungary,” Mr. Matura said. “The public might not be very fond of China but the government is.”

The start of construction last year on an enormous $7.8 billion Chinese battery factory in eastern Hungary stirred protests from local residents but applause from Mr. Orban’s government.

President Vucic’s government has also brushed aside public anger about a huge Chinese-owned mining venture in southern Serbia that environmental activists and residents say is poisoning the water supply.

By visiting Hungary and Serbia, Mr. Xi, according to analysts, wants to show that while China may be down as an influential player in East and Central Europe, it is not yet out. And, they say, it indicates he has not given up on a Chinese diplomatic initiative known as 16+1, a grouping of China and formerly Communist European countries built around Mr. Xi’s flagship Belt and Road program.

Furious about the war in Ukraine, three Baltic States have formally quit the grouping, which dates to 2012 and has been a cornerstone of Chinese diplomacy in Europe throughout Mr. Xi’s rule. Others, like the Czech Republic, Poland and Romania, technically remain as members but have largely disengaged.

“The big debate now among experts around the region is whether 16+1 is dead or just a zombie,” Mr. Matura said.

Andrew Higgins is the East and Central Europe bureau chief for The Times based in Warsaw. He covers a region that stretches from the Baltic republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to Kosovo, Serbia and other parts of former Yugoslavia. More about Andrew Higgins

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Friendly Driver’s Education:   Your Roadmap to Becoming a Confident, Safe Driver

 By Joey and Lisa Hajda Learning to drive is much more than just knowing how to maneuver a car down the street. Friendly Driver’s Education begins by teaching your child the science of how a car works. The reader begins at the key and ignition switch continuing through the engine, transmission and eventually out the tailpipe. Once your child has an understanding of how your car runs, safe operation of a vehicle comes next. Navigating intersections, traffic lights and tricky maneuvers such as roundabouts, one-way streets and entering or exiting interstate highways are explored. Driving through construction zones, around school buses or emergency vehicles is also discussed. Friendly Driver’s Education also includes instructions for when your car breaks down or you have a minor collision. Car maintenance, automobile insurance and advice on purchasing a vehicle round out the course. Once completed, your teenager will be well prepared to take licensing exams and become that safe, confident driver you wish him or her to be.   Great for single family use or with co-ops! Table of Contents 1. Understanding What Makes Your Car Go: The Ignition Switch, Starter and Battery 2. The Fuel Tank, Engine and Brake System 3. The Transmission and Emergency Brake 4. The Steering, Cooling, Alternator and Exhaust Systems 5. The Lighting System 6. Preparing for the Written Exam 7. Your First Time Behind the Wheel 8. Starting the Engine and Making the First Drive 9. Navigating Intersections 10. Changing Lanes, Passing and Navigating Freeways 11. Navigating Challenging Driving Situations 12. Navigating Around School Buses and Emergency Vehicles 13. Factors Which Affect Safety While Driving 14. Brake and Road Conditions; Severe Weather Considerations 15. Taking the Performance Test 16. Car Maintenence: Checking Fluid Levels 1 17. Checking Fluid Levels 2, Managing Tires and Jump Starting a Dead Battery 18. Managing a Flat Tire and Dealing With a Minor Collision 19. Making Sense of Automotive Insurance 20. Purchasing Your Own Vehicle 21. Exiting Comments Appendix      Answer Keys to Worksheets      Index 275 pages, full color, soft cover, ISBN 9798420961759 Lesson Samples Lesson 1  Lesson 2   Lesson 3  Video Flip-Through View Table of Contents and (almost) every page of Friedly Driver’s Education by  clicking here . Disclaimer:  At this time, we cannot state that the content or completion of this book satisfies the classroom requirement to gain a learner’s permit in any state of the United States. Ordering    All book orders are fulfilled by Amazon.com.   Click here to place an order.   Discounts are available for active military families, missionary families or bulk classroom or co-op group orders.  Email us for details regarding discounts.  Video course is now available!  See details below.  An audiobook version is also available.  Details can be found below.    Authors  Joey and Lisa Hajda are the authors of the famed Friendly Sciences series of high school science curriculum.  They are the parents of ten children and 12 grandkids, all being (or soon to be) homeschooled.  Lisa has a Masters Degree in Elementary Education while Joey holds a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction and a Doctorate Degree in Veterinary Medicine.  They reside in central Nebraska.   Click here to learn more about Friendly Sciences curriculum. Contact Us We welcome your questions and comments. Email:  [email protected] Phone or text:  308-870-4686 Video Course Friendly Driver’s Education is now available as a video course.  Author, Joey Hajda, presents the course in a gentle, engaging manner.  Video access is made available through an online portal via purchase of a video course license.  The video course license allows for unlimited access to the viewing portal with no expiration date.  You can use with your current student or for any younger family members.  Family and co-op level licenses are available.  Note that once purchased, processing may take up to 24 hours before receiving access credentials. Click here to view a Lesson 1 in the video course.  Click here to order a Videocourse license. Audiobook For students who learn best when the text is read to them, we offer an audiobook version of Friendly Driver’s Education. Text author, Joey Hajda, reads the text verbatim. Access to the audiobook is through our online listening portal. Click here to order your audiobook.

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Grand Canyon tour bus driver fell asleep before deadly crash, investigators say safety regulations ignored

Angela Tirschman and her family are crash survivors still living through the trauma of what happened last summer near the Grand Canyon.

Her 19-year-old son, Kyan Tirschman, is just thankful to be alive.

“I just remember him looking at me and saying, ‘Oh my God, my leg,’ and I looked at it and it was bad,” Angela said while holding back tears.

Kyan’s leg was badly injured when their tour bus crashed near the parking lot at the Grand Canyon on August 1, 2023.

“Some days are horrible. Some days we can’t get off our chair, but we go on,” said another passenger, Dorann Burgart.

Her granddaughter, 20-year-old Landri Burgart, was killed in the crash.

“She was always the light of our lives,” Dorann said.

Untold story of what happened 

All 56 passengers, including the Tirschman family vacationing from Maryland, started their day on the Las Vegas Strip. They boarded the tour bus on their way to the Grand Canyon Skywalk, a popular tourist destination on the west rim of the canyon.  

“Camera roll on my phone goes from super happy Vegas to disaster,” Angela said.

Dorann said they chose the tour because they could walk out on an acrylic walkway.

But they never made it that far.

The tour bus, operated by American Transportation Systems, was almost to the parking lot.

“And all of a sudden, we went down into a ditch,” Angela said. “Lots of people started screaming, and then it seemed as though we accelerated into the parking lot.”

The tour bus rolled over before slamming into three parked cars. Everyone on board was injured, according to initial reports.

“And I looked at my leg and it was open, and I saw the bone,” Kyan said.

Kyan was one of eight critically injured passengers airlifted to nearby hospitals.

“Watching him being wheeled to that helicopter was difficult,” said Angela.

Kyan has gone through countless surgeries to repair his leg and is still waiting for his nerve to regenerate. The photos of his injuries are too graphic to print.

“I had a skin substitute and then I had a wound vac attached to me,” he said.

Their family knew what happened, but for seven months they never knew why or what caused the crash until the ABC15 Investigators obtained the final crash report.

ABC15 spent nearly five months fighting to get the report, a public record, from the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

“There needs to be accountability,” Angela said.

ABC15 is committed to finding the answers you need and holding those accountable.

Submit your news tip to [email protected]

New details in final crash report

The driver of the tour bus admitted to nodding off before the collision, and investigators found the bus should have been out of service prior to the crash due to a tire “that was not within regulation,” according to the newly released final crash report.

The DPS report also found the tour bus driver, “should not have been driving due to being over hours.”

“A woman died, and there was Kyan’s injury and so many other people who were injured that it just, it makes me angry – really really,” Angela said.

Investigators said the tread on the right axle tire was so bad, steel was showing. The report also says the driver knew about the tire issue and failed to report it.

There is no confirmation the tire contributed to the deadly crash, but investigators concluded the tour bus and the driver should not have been on the road and both the bus company, American Transportation Systems, and the bus driver by all indications ignored safety regulations.

“It could have been prevented, but it wasn’t,” Kyan said.

Records show tour bus company had numerous safety violations 

Federal safety records show the tour bus company, American Transportation Systems, based in Long Beach, California, had enough safety violations to exceed federal safety thresholds subjecting the company to possible prioritized intervention action and roadside inspection.

Before the most recent crash, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration records show the company’s drivers were involved in two other injury crashes in California in January 2022 and January 2023.

Federal records show the company’s drivers had 18 violations for driving over their hour limit or for not keeping proper logs.

American Transportation has more than 100 buses in its fleet. The company had 141 maintenance violations in the last two years, several for tires with bad tread, according to federal records.

Families want accountability 

Dorann Burgart and her family are still not ready to talk about the day of the crash, but recently filed a lawsuit against American Transportation Systems and the bus driver claiming negligence.

She said three generations boarded the bus, as a part of a Route 66 trip. This is the last photo they have together at the Hoover Dam, taken a day before the crash.

“If we can in any way help someone, if there’s laws that don’t allow mechanical issues on buses to be ignored,” Dorann said.

Dorann and her family said they are moving forward by honoring Landri, who was passionate about helping others and had strong faith.

“When it gets to be a bad day, then we have to remind ourselves that we have to live like Landri because she would want us to be happy,” she said.

Landri grew up in Waverly, Iowa, and was attending college at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls where she was expected to graduate in May.

“She was our only grandchild. We prayed for her for five years,” Dorann said.

The Tirschman family also wants the bus company and driver held responsible and said they plan to file a lawsuit soon.

“If there aren’t consequences, then what’s to stop this bus company from continuing to do it this way, where we ignore safety regulations,” said Angela Tirschman.

Two other lawsuits have been filed against the bus company and driver.

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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said it did not issue any civil penalties against the motor carrier, but the driver was cited for fatigue driving.

The 68-year-old bus driver was arrested right after the deadly crash on suspicion of manslaughter, a class two felony, and booked into a Mohave County Detention Center. The driver was later released after the county attorney chose not to file charges.

American Transportation System declined ABC15’s request for an on-camera interview and did not provide comment about the final crash report.

An attorney representing the company said the matter is in litigation and, “we respect those that were injured and the family and friends that have been affected.”

Have a tip for the ABC15 Investigators? Email Investigator Jennifer Kovaleski at  [email protected] .

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• Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Best of Moscow by high speed train

By shuguley , February 15, 2014 in Regent Seven Seas Cruises

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Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.

Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?

My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

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If you are considering this on the 2015 June Baltic cruise on Voyager; my suggestion is don't. There is so much to do in St. Petersburg and although a train is one of my favorite ways to travel the time would be far better spent in St. P.

Thanks for the advice. Yes, this would be on the Voyager during the 2015 season but not yet sure exactly which cruise.

We did the Moscow excursion "on a different luxury line", but from your brief description it sounds very much like the same trip, so I will operate on that assumption. It is a VERY long day! We left the ship at 5:30 AM and returned at 12:30 AM. The highspeed train trip is comfortable, and while they call it "Business Class" it does not compare well to the equivalent class on say Rail Europe. When we did it in 2011, we did have highspeed both ways, and the trip back seemed much longer as the adrenaline and excitement had worn off!:D

Moscow itself is not that terribly different from any other big city in the world, but this Cold War kid never thought he would ever stand in Red Square, never mind walk the grounds of The Kremlin, or tour The Kremlin Palace, or see (but not visit) Lenin's Tomb, or visit The Armoury. But he did, and he loved every minute of it! Yes, it is a long day, and you barely scratch a scratch on the surface, but it is worth it. There is a tremendous amount to see in St. Petersburg, but every Baltic cruise goes to St. Petersburg, so you can go back if you choose to. Not every cruiseline offers you the chance to see Moscow.

I have not personally done this tour, but our last time in St Petersburg, the private guide that we hired for a day was leading the regent tour to Moscow on the high speed train the next day. He said it was way better than the previous alternative, which was flying to Moscow and back. He said that you actually got to Moscow faster because you didn't have to deal with airline checkin etc. it did seem like a very long day to me, and there is so much to see and do in st. Petersburg that I didn't consider doing it.

countflorida

We toured to Moscow from St. Petersburg via the hi-speed SAPSAN train last September, from a Baltic cruise on the Oceania Marina. You need to have a two-night, three day port call in St. Petersburg to take this tour because the tour typically leaves the ship around 5:00 - 5:30 AM and doesn't return until after midnight the next day. We didn't take the ship's tour; we made private arrangements with TravelAllRussia for three days of touring, the first and third days in St. Petersburg and the second day the tour to Moscow by train. Our cost for the private tour for three days was about the same as what the ship charged for the excursion to Moscow alone. There are a number of private tour agencies that operate in St. Petersburg and offer the Moscow train tours; we would strongly recommend them over the ship's tours.

All three days had private guides with car and driver. The second day, the driver picked us up at the ship and took us to the train, but we were alone on the train, and met in Moscow by the guide on the station platform. After our tour and dinner, we were brought back to the train and after the return train trip met by the driver and taken back to the ship. Because you are alone on the train you must have your own Russian visas.

If this is your first visit to St. Petersburg, I would agree there is much more to see there. We found Moscow somewhat a disappointment, particularly Red Square. The Kremlin and the cathedral in Red Square were also worth seeing. But the best thing we saw was the Moscow subway! I worked for the Washington Metro system back in the 1980s as it grew from 40 to 80 miles and although I was in the computer area, I learned a lot about the challenges of running a subway system. We used the Moscow system to get across the city from where we had dinner to the train station, and I was amazed at the cleanliness', speed of operation, the short headways maintained, and the courtesy of everyone involved. A very impressive experience!

We had been to St. Petersburg before, and so had the time to take a day and go to Moscow. Also, I really like trains, and the SAPSAN is a German train set running on Russian rails. Seats are like first class domestic air, spacious but not too plush or comfortable, but with enough room. Not too much recline, and almost 8 hours on the train in two shots is a lot for an old man. They come through and sell drinks, candy, etc. but the sellers don't speak English and no one around us helped, so we had just poor coffee once coming, and brought stuff with us for the trip back. Not too much to see from the train either, particularly on the return when it is night the whole way.

If you decide to go, take a private tour and avoid the overly expensive ship's tour. I'm glad we did it, but wouldn't bother to repeat the tour; we've seen Moscow.

Thanks so much to all of you for the thorough and thought insight. Yhe information you have provided is most helpful.

countflorida: Your detailed post is very helpful. We are not quite ready for a Baltic cruise but should do so within a year. Time enough to do our pre travel research, bookings and visa gathering.:) Thank you!

Emperor Norton

Sure would appreciate someone who has taken "Best of Moscow by high speed train" from St. Petersburg could please share their impressions of this shore excursion. From the description this sounds like a very long day.   Wondering how the 4 hour train trip was in terms of accommodations, etc. Also what time did you leave the ship and what time at night did you return? Were both legs of the trip on the high speed rail (I read that slower trains also travel the same tracks)?   My wife and I are considering this excursion. We thought that if we are making all the effort to go to Russia then how could we pass up going to Moscow, walking in Red Square, seeing St. Basil, etc.

I did this on Seabourn. IMO DONT. Take Aeroflop (er Aeroflot). The train has non folding seats where you are literally knee to knee with your fellow passenger (facing each other). Further they don't believe in air conditioning. It's also the worlds slowed bullet train. I think I would have found more enjoyment wandering around the St. Petersburg and Moscow airports.

Countflorida,

This is a little off topic,, however we had planned a river cruise in Russia but decided we would rather stay on land and have booked about two weeks with Travel-All-Russia using the private guide and driver. I'm curious as to how you found them as a tour company.

The guides they provided were fine. We had a different guide each of the days in St. Petersburg, but both were flexible, pleasant, knowledgeable and spoke English very well, as did the guide in Moscow, incidentally. She was a bit aloof, distant, not too friendly, but otherwise fine. In fact, she was the one who suggested taking the Metro, which unexpectedly became one of the highlights of the Moscow excursion. If I have a complaint with AllTravelRussia, it is with their plan and its execution (more later).

I had requested emphasis on World War II (in Russia, the Great Patriotic War) sites and info. In scheduling us, they weren't careful about dates and a couple of the sites we wanted to see were scheduled on the third day, after we'd been to Moscow. But both sites were closed that day of the week, and that info was readily available, right on web sites describing them. Also, the included meals (lunches in St. Pete, dinner in Moscow) were not what we asked for: light meals with some choices, so we could avoid things we didn't like and choose things we did like. My request was ignored; we were given full Russian meals with a fixed menu, no choice. On the first day, a fish dish was the entre, but I am allergic to fish. Fortunately, I had the e-mail I'd sent with me and showed it to the guide, and she was able to change my entre to chicken, which was very good actually. But we didn't want a 3-4 course lunches or dinner (in Moscow). We had the guide drop the lunch the third day, although we never got any credit or refund. But, particularly in contrast to the ship's tours, the prices were so reasonable we didn't worry too much about it.

The people who were on the ship's tour to Moscow saw us boarding the same train for which they were forced to queue up and wait on the way back, and asked us what we had done. I was candid and open so they were not happy when I explained what we had arranged and particularly what it had cost. Also, when we returned to the ship, we found they had laid on a late supper for those who had gone to Moscow, so up we went and had something. Well, it turns out the late supper was supposed to be just for those on the ship's tour, but we and others on 'independent' tours, there were a dozen or more of us, crashed the party, actually got there first, and they didn't realize it until the larger group arrived and there weren't enough tables/places set. By that time, the 'independents' had all gotten served and were eating; what could they do?

A couple from the larger group sat down with us and asked us about our tour, and they were the ones I told about our arrangement and its cost. They turned to others who’d been with them and announced the details, loudly enough so the whole room heard, which started a lot of bitching and complaining. I gathered they weren't very happy with the ship's tour to begin with, and this was the straw that broke the camel's back. We finished up and beat it out of there, but overheard later that one of the excursion staff came to check on something and ran into a real mess. I caught a cold on the trip, which forced me to bed the second day following in Tallinn, so by the time we reappeared we heard about the contretemps' but apparently no one recalled who started it, thankfully.

Because of what happened to us, I would probably not use AllTravelRussia if I were to go again, or if I did, I would be sure to get confirmation of every detail of the tour. They do have good reviews generally, and we were certainly helped by their visa department and liked the guides and drivers. Their weakness, I say now with full 20:20 hindsight, is that once the sales person who plans the tour, sells it to you and collects your money, he (or she) transfers the plan to their Russia office for implementation; there is no follow-up to make sure it gets done right. And that is where our problems arose; we paid for a custom tour but got a standard package with a few destinations switched, and no one checked them out, even to see when they were open the day we were scheduled to go. If you check every detail that’s important to you, it should be OK, but that’s a hell of a way to have to do business, in my opinion.

Thank you for the 20/20 hindsight observation on your Russian tour operator, and better priced than the ship's excursion cost.

Thanks very much for the feedback.

We had the same experience as you so far as price. We originally booked a Viking Cruise but, hearing some things about the river cruises that made us unhappy, looked into other options. T-A-R cost the same or less than a cruise and had us in hotels for 11 days. We opted for the private tour. They have three tour levels, based on hotels. We originally opted for the four star as it did not cost much more than the three star hotels. Finally we decided to throw it all in and upgraded to five star. In Moscow we will be at the newly opened Kempinsky which is two blocks from Red Square. In St. Petersburg it is the Grand Hotel Europe, one of the most vaunted luxury hotels in Russia. Location is important for us as the tours use up only part of the day so being in the center of everything for our independent touring is important. As with many other cities, the less you pay, the farther out of the center of town you are.

We have been working with our salesman in D.C. and he seems to get back to us with the changes we want. He recently returned from Russia so is up on everything. When I asked they said they paid the full TA commission if I wanted so I got my usual TA on board so he is watching our back and giving us that extra level of comfort. He also set up our air, which I know pays him little or nothing, and got us business class for much less than T-A-R wanted for economy, though it took working for a while with a consolidator. He's happy to get his 10 percent on this trip without having booked it. He also took care of the trip insurance. We've been doing a lot of research on the CC sister site Trip Advisor and will write a report there. We will, I guess, become a source of info for CC members after having spent 5 days in Moscow and 6 in SP.

• 4 months later...

scubacruiserx2

Anybody considering a day trip to Moscow from St. Petersburg on the Sapsan may want to look at our travelogue filled with pictures.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1927687

Very informative. Thanks dor sharing. Jeff

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