One day the group went to Madame Tussaud's, one of London's most popular tourist attractions, receiving well over a million visitors a year.
Madame Tussaud was born Marie Gresholtz in Strasbourg, France, in 1761. She spent her childhood in Paris with her mother and her uncle who, when she was rather young, took Marie to help mould the heads of the Revolution victims.
In 1802 Marie fled Paris, and arrived in Britain with her macabre collection, first touring the country. Then she set up an exhibition of historical figures, living and dead, in London in 1835. The collection moved to Marylebone Road, the present location of the museum, in 1884. Madame Tussaud died in 1850 at the age of 89.
The Great Hall of the museum shows the present royal family, kings and queens of England, present royals of other countries, public figures, pop stars, writers, famous sportsmen and other figures.
Some time after the group visited the museum David Hill asked one of the participants about his impressions:
David: Well, Ivan, and how did you like the museum?
Ivan: Oh, it's great. I heard so much about it. But the mu¬seum surpassed all my expectations.
David: It's really fantastic. And were you photographed with your personal hero or any celebrity?
Ivan: Oh, yes. With Arnold Schwartzenegger, Yeltsin, the Beatles and some others. And I wished my son could be with me when I enjoyed the Spirit of London.
David: Do you mean the ride through the old city in a car in the museum?
Ivan: Yes, quite so. It was superb. The historic sights of the past, sounds and smell of the city.
David: By the way, do you know how much all these innova¬ tions could cost?
Ivan: No idea.
David: About 21 million pounds.
Ivan: Quite a lot. But it 's very impressive, especially for chil¬dren, I mean the Spirit of London. As to the wax fig¬ures they are unforgettable for all, to my mind.
David: I agree with you.

During their stay at the hotel the participants of the Group Head a few talks with the hotel staff, that is with the receptionist, waiters, chambermaids, operators etc. Here are some of the talks:
•
Participant: Excuse me, is there any message for me, please?
Receptionist: What's your room number, sir?
Participant: It's four one two.
Receptionist: Just a minute... Yes, Mr. Brown of Milton & Co telephoned you at three o'clock. And he will call you at eight this evening.
Participant: Thank you for the message.
Receptionist: Welcome.
•
Waiter: Would you like tea or coffee, madame?
Participant: I don't mind ... Tea, please.
Waiter: Here you are.
Participant: Thank you. May I also have some milk, please?
Waiter: Yes, here you are. And if you wish some sugar it's
here on the table. Help yourself, please.
Participant: Thanks a lot.
•
Participant: Excuse me, is this channel paid?
Chambermaid (making the room): What's the number of the channel?
Participant: It's ten.
Chambermaid: No, it's not paid. Only Channel Twelve is paid.
Participant: Thank you very much. And will you remove these
bags, please?
Chambermaid: If you don't need them I'll certainly remove them.
•
Participant: Excuse me, how can I make a local call from my
room, please?
Receptionist: It's very easy. Dial 0 and then the number you want. But please note that all the calls are paid.
Participant: Do you mean all calls in the London area?
Receptionist: Yes, that's a rule practically with every hotel in England.
Participant: I see. When should I pay then?
Receptionist: Any time before you leave.
Participant: Thank you. I'll do that by all means.
Participant: Operator? Good morning? How can I call Moscow?
Operator: Do you mean a long distance call?
Participant: Yes, Moscow, Russia.
Operator: Dial 0 then..... and then your number in Moscow.
Participant: Thank you very much.
Operator: You are welcome.
Participant: Will you call me at 6 o'clock tomorrow morning?
Operator: What's your room number, madame?
Participant: Four three seven.
Operator: Good. Don't worry. Have a good sleep.

In the evening a few participants went to a bureau de change next to the hotel to change some dollars into pounds. In London money can be changed either at banks, at bureaux de change or at customers' services desks in big department stores. Banks are usually open from 9.30 a. m. until 3.30 p. m. Some are open on Saturday, but never on Sunday. They accept plastic cards Visa, Access as well as Eurocheques, traveller's cheques and, of course, cash. Many banks have cash dispensing machine services. Bureaux de change are usually open for longer hours and every day. They often charge a bigger commission than banks. The exchange rates are often shown in the running lines placed in the windows or on the walls of the bureaux de change for everybody to see. Now Sergei comes up to the counter of the bureau de change: Sergei: Good evening. Cashier: Good evening, sir. Can I help you? Sergei: Could I change two hundred dollars into pounds, please? Cashier: Yes, certainly. Sergei: How much will it be? Cashier: About one hundred and twenty pounds. Sergei: Good. Here you are. Cashier: Thank you. And how would you like it, in twenties, tens or smaller notes? Sergei: In tens, please. Cashier: Fine. Here is the money and your receipt, please. Sergei: Thanks. Excuse me, will you be open tomorrow, on Sun¬day? Cashier: Yes. But we work shorter hours on Sundays. We'll close at 7 p. m. Sergei: Thank you. And one more thing. Can I change these coins of fifty cents each. Cashier: I'm afraid 1 can't take small change. We change only notes. Sergei: Do you believe I can change them somewhere else? Cashier: I'm afraid you can't. This is a rule with banks and bureaux de change. Sergei: I see. Thank you. Cashier: You are welcome.

Londoners are pioud of then "big red buses". These days some may not be red but they always carry the red roundel. On many London buses passengers buy tickets from the driver when they get on. Some buses, however, have a conductor, and the passengers get on the bus and wait for the conductor to ask them where they are going and sell them the tickets. Tiavelcards are very popular for bus travel One day after the session the participants have free time. Ivan and Sergei decide to go to the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square. They get out of the hotel and go to the nearest bus stop. Ivan: Excuse me, what bus can take us to Trafalgar Square, please? Passer-by: I'm sorry. I'm afraid I don't know. Ivan asks again. Ivan: Excuse me. Can you tell me where to get a bus to Trafalgar Square, please? Policeman: Yes. Cross over the road. Can you see the cinema? The bus stop is just round the corner. Ivan: Do you know the number of the bus? Policeman: I think it's a thirteen. Ivan: Thank you very much. At the bus stop. Ivan: Excuse me. Is this the stop for the Tiafalgar Square bus? Man. That's right. It's number 13. It stops at Trafalgar Square and goes on to Liverpool Station. Therefore ask the driver to tell you where to get off. Ivan: Thank you very much. On the bus. Sergei: Two returns to Trafalgar Square. Bus driver: 1 pound. Sergei: Can you tell us when we get to Trafalgar Square, please? Bus driver: OK.

After their visit to the museum of the Bank of England the Group returns to the hotel by underground.
Londoners call their underground train network "the tube". It covers the whole city. It's a fast, convenient and easy way to travel. Stations are never far apart, especially in central London. Each of the eleven lines has its own name and a distinctive color to aid rec¬ognition.
There are two kinds of tube tickets: single and return tickets sold at tube stations. Besides they sell Travelcards for the tube, buses and the Docklands Light Railway, or DLR. Travelcards can be bought at underground stations, Travel Information Centres, British Rail sta¬tions and selected newsagents. Travelcards are valid either for one day or seven days.
At the tube station the participants buy single tickets and come up to the electronic gate. They put the tickets, magnetic strip down, into the slot machine on the right side of the gate. The gate opens and after removing the ticket each passes the gate. Then they go down by moving stairs.
David: Keep you tickets until your journey is completed.
Sergei: Why is it necessary?
David: Well, you see, sometimes inspectors check them. Be¬sides you have to leave many stations in the same way as you get in. You should put the ticket into the slot machine again to have the gate open. Otherwise you won't be able to leave the station.
Sergei: I see. Thank you.
Ivan: This line on the wall is green. I suppose this corridor will take us to the green line.
David: You are quite right. We are to take the green line to get to Baker Stieet station.
Vladimir: By the way, can I get to Piccadily Circus by this line?
David: Let me see, no, I'm afiaid not. You'll have to change trains at Charring Cross.
Vladimir: Thank you I'll remember it. Charring Cross.
David: Be carefull. Don't be lost
Vladimir: Thank you. I have got a map of London and there is the Underground map here too. I have heard so much about Piccadily. And I like the song about it. One of our pop stars sings it. The song is fantastic. And 1 should see the street of Picadilly with my own eyes!

After the session on Banking Sector Mr. Hill suggested that in the afternoon the participants should visit the museum of the Bank of England. It was one of the external visits of the Programme. The museum of the Bank of England is located practically in the building of the Bank, in the City of London. The museum has a lot of exhibits showing the history of the Bank from its foundation in 1694 to its role today as the nation's central bank. Visitors can also see a video on the history of the Bank. Here is a part of the text of the video: To understand the role and importance of the Bank better we should learn first how it emerged. During the seventeenth century banking in England was in the hands of goldsmiths who held deposits, made loans to the mer¬chants and the Crown. But even the wealthiest goldsmiths could not carry on a deposit and lending business on the scale the Govern¬ment required. So in sixteen ninety four a joint stock company to raise money for the Government and finance wars was incorporated. It later got to be known under the title "Bank of England". Although privately owned and financed, the Bank of England de¬veloped essentially as a government bank, raising money to finance the needs of the British Government, managing its national debt, printing banknotes and minting coins. In 1946 the Bank was nationalized and it operates today as the UK's central bank executing monetary policy on behalf of the Government and supervising the markets in one of the world's larg¬est and most sophisticated centres. Besides the Bank has always been a repository of gold... After seeing the video the participants of the Programme made a round of the museum and asked Mr. Hill a few questions. Participant: Excuse me, Mr. Hill. May I ask you a question? Mr. Hill: Why, certainly. Participant: One day I heard the nickname of the Bank. Old Lady. Such a funny name! Where does it come from? Mr. Hill: Nobody knows exactly. Different explanations are given. Many of us associate this nickname with an old cartoon. This cartoon shows the Prime Minister asking an old lady sitting on the money-chest marked "Bank of England" for gold coins. Participant: So, that's it! Very fascinating indeed!

The next day the session was devoted to the United Kingdom
Banking Sector.

Next morning after having breakfast at the self-sevice bar of the hotel restaurant the participants went to the conference room to have a lecture on Trade Finance.
There was a folder on the big round table for each participant with the material relating to the lecture.
Here is one of the sheets of the file:
Trade finance
 Trade needs finance
 This must come from either the trader or from a lending in¬stitution.
 If the trade is international then the amount of finance is noimally greater
 In general, trade is handled on credit
 The buyer pays for the goods at a specified time after receipt
 If the trade is international then delivery time adds to the de¬lay in payment
 This adds to the need for finance
 Also in international trade the buyer uses one currency, the seller another
 This requires an organisation with facilities for changing cur¬rencies
 On both counts the Bank is the best source of finance

Thus this page gave the most important hints on the subject.
And Mr. Hill, the lecturer, explained and developed each state¬ment. The participants sometimes interrupted him and asked questions. Sometimes Mr. Lvov came to help when there was a problem of speaking or understanding.
The lecturer devoted some part of the lecture to financing small business companies who usually enjoy better terms, reduced taxes and other facilities especially during the first years oftheir work.

After the Group had lunch Mr. Hill invited everybody to one of the conference rooms on the first floor of the hotel.
David: Ladies and gentlemen First let me say a few words about myself and the company who is the organiser of this Programme.
My name is David Hill. I'm Doctor of Economics. In the recent past I worked for a foreign trade company and then for a bank. Now I specialise in business man¬agement and in training businessmen from East Euro¬pean countries. For some time I worked in Poland and Hungary. Now I'm closely cooperating with Russia.
I'm working for international Management Ltd. It's a well established English company specialising in busi¬ness and computer skills training. The Company also provides financial consulting and business development. Here before you there are booklets on the history and scope of activities of our company. You may certainly keep these booklets.
Now I'll be greatful to you if you could introduce yourselves in just a few wolds.
Then each participant said a few words about himself or herself in English or in Russian and Mr. Lvov acted as an interpreter.
Here is what of one of the participants said:
Mr Hill, let me first thank you for the nice reception and for a good beginning of the Programme. I hope the Programme will be a success and we shall learn a lot of useful things.
My name is Oleg Pilov. I'm financial manager of a de¬partment in a commercial bank in Moscow. And I'm especially interested in topics relating to financing for¬eign transactions for small businesses.
After everybody made introductions Mr. Hill distributed the Timetable of the Programme and invited the par¬ticipants to have a panoramic tour of London by private coach. The Russian speaking guide told the Group a lot of interesting things about London and the participants enjoyed the sights. Many of them made pictures with their cameras.

In an hour or so the coach brings the group to the hotel. It's the Sherlock Holmes Hotel in the very heart of London, near Oxford Street. The participants get out of the coach, pick up their suitcases and go inside. Mr. Hill comes up to the Receptionist.
David: Good morning. There is a reservation for a group from Russia.
Receptionist: Good morning, sir. In whose name was the reserva¬tion made?
David: It is International Management Group. Mr Lvov and nine more people.
Receptionist: Just a moment, sir... Yes, here it is. Four singles and three twin rooms. Is that correct?
David: Absolutely.
Receptionist: Are they all staying for seven nights?
David: Yes, that's right.
Receptionist: Will you ask the guests to fill in these forms, please?
David: Andrew, can the participants fill in the forms in English?
Andrew: Almost all of them speak English and there is no problem. As for the others I'll naturally help them.
Andrew returns all the forms filled in to the receptionist and gets the electronic keys to the rooms with the room number and the name of the guest written on the key. Andrew distributes the keys and turns to the receptionist again.
Andrew: May I have the Rooming List, please. It will be eas¬ier for me to deal with my people, especially if they have some problems. Sometimes such things occur.
Receptionist: Here is the List for you, sir.
Andrew: Thank you. Receptionist: You are welcome. Enjoy your stay here.
David: Andrew, will you ask everybody to be here down¬stairs in an hour, or at twelve o'clock. We shall have lunch at the restaurant. Then let's all meet in the conference room for introductions and some an¬nouncements.