03 Nov 06
In fact much of Russia seems still to be locked into the Communist past. Every few minutes we spot a police car as we drive slowly at the 110km/h (70mph) limit on the worst motorway we have seen so far. When the police tell us to drive at walking pace, we obey.
A couple of sex workers stand at the roadside. There are Ladas and other Eastern Bloc relics, some stacked high with goods, some so old and shabby it's hard to tell what badge they wear. Everything seems to be covered in a thick layer of grime.
Driving through its suburbs, St Petersburg seems to be one big council estate, with high-rise concrete grey structures everywhere. This is where the majority of locals live. It looks grey and miserable - but then we enter the magnificent city itself. Catherine the Great's presence can be felt much more than any lingering Bolshevik influence, from her magnificent winter palace to the glorious summer palace on the outskirts of the city and its incredible golden Baroque interiors.
It's an awe-inspiring place. But our arrival here means the end of our leg - time to hand over to the next group, after driving 2200 miles in seven countries. I'm hugely jealous, as I long to be back on the road to Beijing.
Follow the rest of the journey on 4Car throughout November
