Thousands of people lined up around Pushkin Square for the opening of the first McDonald’s restaurant, left background, in Russia on Jan. 31, 1990. See article below from The Moscow Times.
Jan 31, 2010
Jan 30, 2010
Russian’s version of “Getting Your MRS. Degree”
“In the new Russia, a country obsessed with wealth and status, snagging a superrich man is big business — and so are the outrageous classes that claim to give women a leg up”.
http://www.marieclaire.com/world-reports/news/international/geisha-school-russia
Jan 27, 2010
Ice Skating and Aisha’s 1st Birthday!
Today was just a fun today all around! We started off ice- skating on Red Square! There were only five in our group skating, and we had the whole rink to ourselves! We were really able to do some serious Dorothy Hamill like moves! In the coffee shop attached to the rink, we had our own cheerleading section of those who didn’t want to skate! 
Once we got moving, we weren't too cold. Megan and Lori had bought their own skates, but I rented mine and they were a wee bit tight! My guess is we will be asked to perform in "Disney On Ice" very soon!
After we were done “gliding across the ice”, we went over to the Starlight Diner to celebrate little Pebbles 1st birthday. Starlight Diner is an American type diner here in Moscow with yummy food, and even better milkshakes! We had party hats and all! Plus, we knew they had a non-smoking section and we could be a bit loud. HAPPY BIRTHDAY 1st PEBBLES!
Jan 22, 2010
Burger King Opens in Metropolis Mall!
An article from the Moscow Times...
"Models and the Burger King celebrating the opening of the U.S. fast-food chain’s first Moscow store on Thursday, January 21, 2010.
Burger King, the world’s second-largest hamburger chain, opened its first Russian outlet Thursday as it seeks to capitalize on a booming fast-food market several years after its main competitors started operating in the country.
The fast-food chain opened its first restaurant in the Metropolis shopping mall in northwest Moscow and will open at least two more soon, including a branch in the Yevropeisky shopping center Jan. 25 and another in a Mega shopping center in Tyoply Stan.
Burger King will continue to open restaurants throughout 2010, the company said in a statement, but the firm would not disclose further details.
The opening comes long after McDonald’s entered the Russian market in 1990. McDonald’s has more than 240 restaurants in Russia, while domestic chain Rostiks-KFC has 170 outlets.
“Now is the appropriate moment to launch the brand on the Russian market in cooperation with the local partners,” said John Fitzpatrick, Burger King’s senior vice president for development and franchising in Eastern Europe. The company did a thorough study and sees the Russian market as “interesting and active,” he said.
Burger Rus, the restaurant’s Russian franchisee, is controlled by Alexander Kolobov, who founded the Shokoladnitsa coffee shop chain. He and partners Oleg Gurkov and Mikhail Serdtsev will operate the brand in Russia.
“We are looking forward to working together with Alexander and his team, and we are convinced that partnering with a local company will satisfy the expectations of our Russian customers,” said Yana Pesotskaya, general manager of Burger King in Russia.
Burger King operates more than 12,000 restaurants in 73 countries".
Well, I’m excited! And Metropolis is the new beautiful mall that’s only two metro stops away—and where I do most my grocery shopping!
Jan 16, 2010
Moscow Icy Town
As one of our New Year's resolutions, Darron and I decided we were going to try and start doing something touristy more often on the weekends...even if only for a couple of hours. What a great start to our plan! I thought we were only going to an ice sculpture park, but it turned out to be a winter festival type place! I think it was my favorite thing so far (aside from finding out Cinnabon's had come to town!). It was cold, but lightly snowing and beautiful! As you walked in the gate, there was lots of fun things to do...riding a little train, ice skating, cross country skiiing, sledding, lots of food and hot drink stands, and then the ice sculpture area!
Cute little train
Ice skaters! I decided not to ice skate today--I am waiting for Red Square!
Jackpot! A sledding hill! I was SO going for a ride. I did notice as I was in line that I was the ONLY double digit aged person. Oh well, it was FUN!
WHEEEEEEEE!!!!!! I was going pretty fast…
Ice Sculpture
Darron in front of the ice aquarium
More ice sculptures
Me with the ice dinosaurs!
Darron with the ice gorilla..oh, I don't know what the heck it is!
More ice dinosaurs. Ross Geller would "DIG" this place!
Darron was excited he had to duck to enter this house!
Jan 7, 2010
Merry Russian Christmas!
Many of you may not know that Christmas is celebrated on January 7th in Egypt, Russia, the Ukraine, and much of Eastern Europe. Orthodox Christians believe that January 7th is the actual birth date of Jesus, and not December 25th.
We are all aware that celebrations vary from country to country, but one that sticks out for its unique nature is the Russian figure of Ded Moroz (literally “Grandfather Frost”).
While Ded Moroz is the Russian equivalent of Santa Claus, he is absolutely Russian in appearance-and attitude. He is typically shown in a long, Russian-style coat in the colors of icy blue or red which is lined or trimmed with white fur. The blue color that Ded Moroz wears looks like the color of the sky. Russsia usually doesn’t have enough sunny days in winter – which is the reason for his blue coat! He lacks the cone shaped cap worn by the Western Santa and instead sports a rounded Russian cap generously trimmed with fur. He protects his feet from the c old by tall valenki or leather boots.Traditionally, he is shown as a tall and much skinnier than our Santa. Guess no "belly like a bowl full of jelly"! Maybe the Russian Santa drinks lots of vokda instead of eating cookies?
Unlike Santa Claus, he walks with a long magical staff, and does not say "Ho, ho, Ho,". Instead of the North Pole, the Russian Santa Claus officially makes his home at an estate in the Russian town of Veliky Ustyug.
Ded Moroz rides a troika. The three horses of the Russian troika offer enough vavoom and speed to get Ded Moroz to where he needs to go – the Russian Santa has no need for eight reindeer! And none of the horses have a red nose!
Ded Moroz delivers gifts on New Year's Eve rather than on Christmas Eve. He does not go down the chimney, however he walks right in through the door! Good thing Russian’s don’t have home alarm systems! Parents, family, and friends usually exchange gifts for both Christmas and New Years! Ded Moroz is often accompanied by a figure from Russian fairy tales, Snegurochka, the Snow Maiden. In the legend of Ded Moroz, she is said to be his granddaughter. She is a unique attribute of the image of Father Frost – none of his foreign colleagues has a similar companion.
After the 1917 Communist Revolution, the Christmas tree was banned in Russia because it was seen as a symbol of religion. New Years Day became the important holiday and people started decorating "New Years" trees instead. Most people didn't have a lot of money, so they decorated with handmade ornaments and even fruit. The Russian Christmas tree is called a "yolka". Since ornaments were often very costly or unavailable, trees were trimmed with homemade decorations and even fruit (a luxury for many Russians during winter).
Jan 2, 2010
Twenty Ten? Two thousand ten?
We had a fun evening at Nate's house (Darron's middle brother) for NYE. We ate yummy food, watched football, and played Scene It! I had a horrible sinus infection so I went home early as to be ready for the Purdue/ W. Virginia game at Purdue on New Years Day. I made it home in enough time to put my jammies on, don my ridiculously overpriced party glasses, and ring in 2010!
2009 brought many changes for us. A great niece was born in January! Darron's brother, Nate, was married in March in the Dominican Republic. We moved from Paris to Moscow in April. My mom turned 70 in July! We went to Egypt in October. Darrons dad had heart surgery in November (and did awesome)! Darron's youngest brother, VJ, bought a house and got engaged in November! We made many trips home for our visa's—three times between June and December! We said goodbye to Darron's grandma (Bobute) on Christmas Eve. She was priceless and we sure will miss her!
We have some fun trips/ideas in the works for 2010. We are planning a weekend get-a-way to St. Petersburg in February. I am heading to London to see some of my dearest friends (whom I met when we all lived in Paris) in March. Darron has his heart set on going to the Maldives. We also have two different visitors coming between April and May. Also in May, Darron is planning on a trip to Germany to see his friend Michael and family. Darron might get to go home in June for a business trip. Portugal for us in September! We plan on coming home again for the Christmas holidays to be with our family and friends.
We hope for a healthy, happy and prosperous year for everyone in 2010! May all your dreams (even the farfetched ones) come true!
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