When we booked our reservations for our summer home leave, we decided to make a stopover in Moscow on the way back to Singapore in August. Unfortunately, Shelby couldn't come with us, as he was already back on the job in Singapore. We traveled with my friend Jody Hicks and her daughter Paige. Now here's a "small world' story for you: Jody's father-in-law L.C. Hicks and my father have been friends since childhood and both live in Russellville, Arkansas! Jody's family moved to Singapore the same week we did last summer, and we have been friends ever since! I would have to say that Moscow was not at the top of my list for places to visit, but it just happened to be where Singapore Airlines stops on the way to/from Texas so that's how it all came about. On the way to the U.S. we had a short layover in Moscow and did not get a warm fuzzy feeling there at all. We felt like the people were extremely rude and we were not really looking forward to going back. Let me just say, it truly exceeded our expectations. The weather was cool and we absolutely loved wearing jeans and sweatshirts, something we have not done in a long time! The tours were fun and we quickly learned the only word we said in Russian which was 'thank you' and sounded something like "spa-see-bo". We loved the orange juice at the Marriott which our waitress Uliana said was "squeezly freshly"; ha! The first night we arrived we went to an Italian restaurant for dinner and were so proud that we ordered from the menu which was printed only in Russian. How can you go wrong with pizza and pasta, right? Another night we ate local food and there were some wild things on the menu, like pork ears and boiled beef tongue. Also if we ordered water (called Still water) the waiters always asked if we wanted it with gas(carbonated water) or no gas! Our overall impression of the Russians in Moscow (they call themselves Muscovites) was that they were not very interested in Americans. They pushed their way to cut in front of us in lines, they refused to help us with directions, they would not make eye contact but if they did, they looked away in disgust. One day a boy of about six years old was walking towards us with his parents and for no apparent reason, he flipped Wesley off as his parents watched! The people at the money changers were downright ugly and yelled at us, and so did some of the ticket sellers at the metro. It wasn't unusual at all to see people walking around with bottles of vodka and smoking cigarettes. Also we coined a new phrase after seeing so many of the young girls wearing short tops that didn't cover their stomachs - B.O.B. , meaning "Bit 'O Belly"! We were very much aware of being in a foreign country, more so than even Singapore. In Singapore at least the signs are in English and most people can speak some English. But the scenery and the history were breathtaking, and we really just took it all in. Wesley especially loved it, I think because of the cool weather! Our hotel was a ten minute walk from the Kremlin and Red Square, so we spent a lot of time there and absolutely loved St Basils Cathedral!
One of many beautiful cathedrals in Moscow
Wes standing in the middle of Red Square
Shopping at Izmailovsky Market. The most popular items for sale are the Russian nesting dolls, called Matryoshka dolls. They are made to fit one inside the other, and they sell not only Russian themed dolls, but also Disney characters, U.S. presidents, even American sports teams! Would you believe they even had Oklahoma State Cowboys and OU? We were forewarned that pickpocketing is very commonplace at the markets (actually everywhere in Moscow) so we were prepared. We could actually just sit there to people watch, and watch the pickpockets in action! I had two guys intentionally "bump" me which scared me to death but I just looked them in the eye and shook my head and said NO! and they left me alone. My friend Jody loved Moscow, and said she would move there in a heartbeat. While we enjoyed our trip, I can definitely say that I would not want to move there! Very little English is spoken, the people are rude for the most part, not to mention there is snow on the ground from October until May. No thanks!
This is a big shopping mall called "GUM" (pronounced "goom") in Red Square.
We couldn't figure out if this guy was for real or just wearing a costume?
This is the inside of the Metro. The Metro is the subway system in Moscow and is well known for its beautiful metro stations, which depict scenes from Russian history and many are made of marble. The metro system here is very efficient - if you know how to read Russian! There were no signs at all in English, and we found ourselves helplessly asking for directions more than once. Very few people were willing to even try to help us. We found that if we approached young people, they would be more willing to try out their English on us, for which we were very grateful!
Our tour guide took us to a cemetery, which was actually very interesting. Many famous Russians were buried there, and their tombstones were very unique! This is the burial place of a famous Russian for whom the Moscow circus was named after, and his dog.
Kremlin from the Moscow River
Look closely at the inside of our cups. We were cold after walking around Red Square after dark, so we went into a coffee shop for some hot chocolate. Well that's EXACTLY what we got! Some HOT, MELTED CHOCOLATE! It was like trying to drink a melted Hershey's candy bar.
We saw the changing of the guards at the "eternal flame" inside the Kremlin walls. Young Russian men are required to serve in the military for two years when they turn eighteen years old. Double click on this picture and check out this guy's leg! They march with their legs straight out in front of them!
In front of St. Basil's Cathedral with our new fur hats on!
Red Square was always crowded, any time of day or night
We must have stood here for over an hour taking nonstop photos. I bet we came home with over 100 photos just of St. Basil's Cathedral! It was just so colorful, so ornate, so awesome to think that we were there!
Another cathedral inside Red Square
There were shops like this all over the market! Lots and lots of Russian fur hats and muffs for those long cold Russian winters. Of course we had to buy some hats, but wonder just when we'll ever get to wear them since we live in sunny Singapore!
These gals were singing their hearts out and I couldn't understand a word
Stopping for a rest at the market. They had everything for sale from the matryoshka dolls and fur hats to military trinkets and jewelry. Kind of like Canton's First Monday Trade Days in Texas! We had shishkabobs and hunks of bread for lunch, and of course the beer and vodka were plentiful. There was even a vodka museum! It was not unusual at all to see people walking down the streets of Moscow drinking from a bottlel of vodka. They even sold it in convenience stores. I let Wesley buy a couple of bottles of vodka for us to bring home, and they didn't even I.D. him.
Kasey and I with Jody and Paige
Guess what this is? My broken toe! I slipped in the shower and broke my toe the second morning we were in Moscow. Of course it was the day of our walking tour! I loaded up on Tylenol and off we went, walking and touring for three days and the toe got uglier each day!
This is some kind of touristy thing where you stand in the center and throw a coin over your shoulder and make a wish. Check out the lady in the pink jacket behind me. As soon as the coins are tossed, she picks them up and puts them in her purse! haha
Cruising down the street at night. Wesley did pretty well, being the only male in the group. It's too bad that Shelby couldn't join us, maybe next time.
St. Basils was especially beautiful at night
We took a tour of the Kremlin, and their gardens were beautiful. We also toured the Armory and found that to be fascinating. We saw the crowns, sceptors, carriages, jewels, faberge eggs, armor and thrones of the Russian czars and learned quite a bit about Russian history.
The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour
The Novodevichy convent
We even took pics in front of St Basils with our Eskimo Joes t-shirts on
This was taken at the Moscow circus, and yes that was a live bear
Inside the Kremlin walls, this is the bell that supposedly broke before it was ever even rung
We thought this sign outside the metro was hilarious! It is an advertisement for a portable toilet......
At the gift shop inside the Marriott hotel
This picture says it all. Upon arrival in Moscow we were met by our driver Victor (pronounced "VEEK TOR'). We had reserved a very large van for our group, seeing as we were coming off a two month vacation and had tons of luggage. We had 10 very large suitcases, 5 carry-on bags, 3 backpacks, 4 purses and 1 guitar. Victor did not bring the large van! We had to stack the luggage floor to ceiling in the back, put it in the floorboards and on the seats, and practically sit on top of one another all the way to our hotel. Did I mention it smelled and had no AC? Welcome to Moscow!