Moscow City Bus Tour with Jen Meyers

Thank Goodness we didn't have to walk much today! After yesterday, we were more than happy to sit on a bus to see the sights--our feet were ready for some rest! We were able to get out and take some fantastic pictures. We saw several of the Moscow "Highlights". Great views of the Kremlin, Christ the Savior Cathedral, Victory Park, Moscow State University, Sparrow Hills, and of course....the statue of Peter the Great (see picture below) that WAS Christopher Columbus. Russia gave the statue to the USA who didn't want it...so they took off Christopher Columbus' head and turned him into Peter the Great! True Story!

Moscow State University. Located on Sparrow Hills, it is Moscow's oldest, largest, and most famous university.

Christ the Savior Cathedral was completed in 1883. In 1931, the monument was imploded on Stalin's orders to make way for a grandiose construction-the Palace of Soviets. Luckily this very resented constuction never got off the ground because they learned the soil was much to soft for such a large building. The new cathedral was opened and inaugurated on April 19, 1998. Today it can hold more than 10,000 visitors and is open daily to visitors.

Red Square/Kremlin Tour with Jen Meyers

Hello Adventure readers! After two relaxing days, we decided we'd better get out and cause some trouble. Due to our lack of hot water, (STILL--two weeks today!) yesterday we just went over to Susan's to shower and then just hung out at our apartment talking. We did make a trip to the grocery store, but it was a nice low key day. Today we went and registered Jen's visa. Apparently, you have to register all guests within three days of arrival or there could be problems with subsequent trips to Russia. If any of you know Jen Meyers, she'll be back! Then we went on a 3 hour walking tour of the Kremlin and Red Square. Everyone is SO going to want me on their Trivial Pursuit team!


The Kremlin. Until this tour, I thought "The Kremlin" was a building where the President had his meetings. Wrong! Kremlin isn't a name, it's a noun that means fortress. A little village within Moscow surrounded by walls. There are seven churches within the walls, and we learned about three of them. One of the churches was used specifically for baptism, one for coronation, and one for burial of the czars (all the emperors are buried in St. Petersburg).

The picture above is Red Square. Red Square is actually the fourth name! It's also been Great Mart Square, Fire Square, Trinity Square, and finally.........Red Square. In Soviet times, it was the place where people came to gossip, be seen, and shop. It has also been the site of battles, coups, festivals, processions, public executions, and burials.

St. Basil's Cathedral was commissioned by Ivan the Terrible in commemoration of the capture of the city of Kazan. It was completed in 1561. According to legend, Ivan was so impressed with the architect that he had him blinded so he could not design anything so exquisite again. The nine churches that make up the cathedral are topped by ornately and twisted colorful domes. Each church is named after a patron saint's day.

The picture above is of Jen standing facing the chapel leading into Red Square. They say you are to stand in the center and throw a coin over your shoulder. There is a catch! One shoulder is good luck and one is bad. Russians think everything "left" is bad, That's why they wear their wedding bands on their right hand! We are hoping we remembered correctly and threw it over the good (right) shoulder. The people behind were just standing there waiting for people to do the toss so they could take the coins. They were getting irritated because we were tossing pennies and dimes instead of Russian money.

We walked around for 7 hours and our feet were killing us--but it was a great day! Tomorrow we plan on lunching with a friend and then a Moscow City Bus Tour.

My own Handy Andy

Another quiet weekend. Lots of rain! Yesterday we hit IKEA when it opened and bought a new dining room table. Very excited! Now that I am getting crazy in the kitchen, we wanted to have an expandable table (and maybe even host a dinner party)! Yesterday afternoon, I went over to take care of Susan's cat Wrigley (and to take a HOT shower--yes, still no hot water!) and figured out Wrigley had a bladder infection. I called Susan in Prague and was able to get in touch with a friend of ours who had some antibiotics until a vet could be called. Today Darron spent the morning putting the table together, and I must say he did a fantastic job. We don't have matching chairs yet because we couldn't fit them in the car! While my own Handy Andy had his tool box out, I put him to work fixing a few other things around our apartment. Both toilet seats needed tightening and my Handy Andy didn't disappoint! We both went over to Susan's to check on Wrigley and "to the rescue" Bobbie came over with the antibiotics. Wrigley was still her playful, cute self so I am hoping she wasn't in too much pain.

I also spent a large amount of time studying Russian. My teacher is hard-core! Lots and lots of homework plus listening exercises! She even told me she wants me to find a Russian restaurant when in the US so I can practice. Um, HELLO (sorry, ZDRAST-voiee-tya)........ I am going to be at Bob Evans, Cracker Barrell, Aurelio's, Langels, Ruth's Chris Steak House, etc... NOT a Russian restaurant! I have my first quiz tomorrow so we'll see how much I've learned!

We are very excited for the arrival of our first guest! My friend Jen Meyers lands tomorrow around 12:35pm. We are sending a car to pick her up at the airport. We are going to paint this town red and try and stay out of trouble!

I am also getting exicited for my visit to the US. Jen and I are flying back together on June 1st-it will make the flight go so much faster! Darron will fly to Chicago June 10th and is staying 2 weeks! Hopefully it will be a relaxing trip for him, he's been working so hard! I get to say 5 weeks total which I am PUMPED about!

Grocery Store Experience- Better Second Time Around!

I am sorry to report that I have no super ridiculous grocery shopping story to humor you with. It wasn't perfect but the driver did EVENTUALLY park in the right spot. It only took him 25 minutes from the time we entered the garage. I was ready with map in hand and pointed to where he needed to park in the garage. I was determined to not have to carry my full grocery cart down two flights of stairs again! He basically brushed off my attempts since Darron's boss had explained where he needed to park. We got to the garage and he showed the attendant my map, and asked him where he needed to go. The attendant pointed into the parking garage.
Ummm......REALLY? We pulled in and the driver started driving around the -1 floor. Now, I had pointed to my map and showed him IN RUSSIAN where it said Floor 1 and he said Da. (yes). WHY he was driving around Floor -1 I don't know. I wish I had looked up how to say "I am going to open a can of WHOOP ass on you" in Russian. Every time we saw a door he stopped the car and pointed. I kept saying "Nyet" (no) and proceeded to act out (with sound effects) myself pushing the grocery cart and where he needed to be when I left the store. I thought my acting skills were Grammy worthy but not so much. So I told him to exit (in Russian believe it or not!) and thankfully he did. On the way out a big light bulb appeared over his head and he started driving around garage floor 1. That's when I saw the correct entrance! Yay! I am starting to recognize more items and shopping is starting to become a little easier.

You think your job is crap?

No breaking news to report so I'm posting a funny picture I took a couple weeks ago. It's on Old Arbat Street and this lady rents out a set of port-a-potty's-- but instead of sitting outside--she sits in one of them and reads! YUCK! Now who wants to complain about their office?

We had a fairly quiet weekend. We were invited over to Susan and Greg's place for wings, potato salad, and apple pie on Saturday night. (it was yummy!) Darron was so exhausted from working about 15 hours a day all last week (bless his heart) that he couldn't stay awake and opted to stay home. He didn't want to be the party dud. I went myself and had a great time! Sheri and Harvy (from Texas) came, as well as Dina, a girl they work with. Dina speaks fluent Russian so we also got a free lesson! We cracked up and discussed food we can't get here, what we can substitute, and how much food we bring back with us after a trip to the US! It's amazing how much American expats talk about food!

Update on our hot water situation: no hot water! Since our landlord was out of the country, his son came over Saturday afternoon to turn on our temporary hot water heater. He informed us it wouldn't be super hot but hot enough for the two weeks the city hot water is turned off. He LIED. We have no hot water. It's not even lukewarm. It's COLD. Darron's been braving the cold showers--me? Not a chance. Luckily, my awesome neighbor Susan has been letting me use her shower WITH hot water! They say the city hot water will be back on May 27th. That's a good thing because our first visitor (my friend Jen Meyers Sullivan) arrives on May 25th! YAY! She gets to claim "1st visitor" award but my friend Janae and fam (who arrive July 13th) get the award for "1st booked visitor"!

Why it's important to be able to read that darn Russian language...

Today they turned off our hot water. When we moved in, our landlord explained that sometime between May and August the city turns off the hot water for 2-3 weeks. It happens every year and it's not the same time every year. No consistency here in Russia! Apartments have separate individual water heaters just for this special annual occasion. I did notice a sign posted downstairs by the elevator for the last couple of days but didn't have a clue what it said. Think it said they were turning off the hot water May 14th! I sent our landlord an email so he'd come over and switch our hot water on. Hopefully it's sooner, rather than later! Poor Darron is going to have to take a cold shower in the morning before work! I went downstairs to take a picture of the sign but it's already gone.

Note to Self...Always Take Umbrella!

It's been raining all week. Yesterday I loved being home in my comfy clothes listening to the thunderstorms while cleaning (okay, I was really playing on the internet but shhhhh!). You'd think I would have remembered to take my umbrella today...not so much. It was a fun day anyway. I went to my usual Wed. morning American Woman's Org coffee at the Hard Rock Cafe and met some great new gals! Was very excited that a few new gals signed up but sad that some are moving on. My new friend Bobbie is moving in June to another region in Russia and Susan (who lives in my "hood") is moving back to Texas--also in June. I've been asked to get involved in several activities and will have to decide which ones to do. I've been asked to take over the Spread Sunshine Volunteer Group (group that goes to the Children's Cancer Hospital once a month), take over the membership responsibilities of the AWO, and volunteer as a nurse at a clinic for underprivileged people. In addition, I met a nurse today who said the American School here is looking for a school nurse sub--possibly part-time work as well. I would enjoy all of them, but will have to pick just one or two. I DO have to get on facebook! CLEARLY, I will also need a cleaning lady! After the AWO coffee, 8 of us went to Friday's for lunch and I had a very yummy oreo cookie shake! It was on the way home that I got drenched. It's okay, I didn't melt.

It was gonna happen sooner or later...

We were on our way home from grocery shopping and the gas station (they pump gas for us at the gas stations here). We were driving happily listening to Counting Crows when we noticed a police officer in the distance. Darron made sure he wasn't speeding but the police officer starting waving his big stick at us to pull over. This happens often in Moscow--the random checking of passports, visas, and proper driving documents. Thank Goodness Darron remembered to take all of the above with him! Plus, we lucked out and the officer was very nice and even spoke to us in English a bit. That was a good thing since I don't know if my newly learned Russian vocab words of meat, refrigerator, saucepan, and bedroom would have helped the situation! He merely asked to see Darron's passport and driving documents... then told us to have a great day! WHEW!

May 9-Victory Day!

Today is Victory Day here in Russia-the most sacred of all public holidays. The country celebrates victory over Nazi Germany 24 hours later than it's World War II allies. Officially the war ended at midnight on May 8, 1945, but by then it was already the next day in Russia. The estimates of perished soldiers and civilians is up to 30 million. Those citizens who did not actually fight had to work in factories to make ammunition and supplies. They are also honored on Victory Day. It would not be until June 24, 1945, that the USSR held a proper victory parade. The pompous and glorious parade through Red Square was held annually from 1945 to 1990, when Gorbachev cancelled such festivities. Full-scale, Soviet-style parades returend to Red Square on May 9, 2008 which coincided with the inauguration of the newly elected Russian president.

Darron and I got up at 7:15am (on a SATURDAY) since we were told that the parade begins near where we live and heads toward the Kremlin. We never saw anything. Apparently they decided this year to start somewhere else! We were so disappointed that we didnt' get to see all the tanks! Red Square (where all the festivities took place) was open by invitation only. We didn't get one. Must have gotten lost in the mail! :-) We were able to see it on Russian tv at least.

Next year we'll be brave and try to get closer to downtown so we can see some of the action! I am going to try and find a video online to post a bit later for your viewing pleasure!

Never too old to make a new friend

Had to say goodbye to my new friends Jenny and Yuri today. We met at Starbucks, did some shopping along Old Arbat, and took a few silly pictures. After finalizing all necessary documents, they are leaving tomorrow to fly back to Wisconsin. I am sad, but know it's time for them to go home. We've had a blast this past week and I am so thankful that our friend connected us. Lucky for us, they don't live too far and we will be able to visit often once we move back to IL. I wish them a very safe trip home and a happy family reunion!

New Friends Jenny and Yuri

Last week when I was talking to my friend Jen, she casually mentioned she had a friend of a friend that was here adopting a little boy. I took down her hotel info and gave her a call. We've been having so much fun ever since! Her husband had to leave last week so she's here on her own with Yuri who is the cutest 2.5 year old! His smile makes my heart melt. I am really sad as I keep forgetting she doesn't live here and will be leaving any day now to go home to her husband and 5 year old son. We've taken walks, gone to the park, gone out for pizza, rode the metro, and of course hit Starbucks! Saturday we hit the open market and Monday she came over and we made banana bread that was DELISH! I wish her the best with her new little boy and hope to keep in touch!