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Published: November 30th 2009
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Welcome to Moscow, significantly colder than all previous days. We arrived to Moscow on the first sunny day in three weeks. Lucky strike! After unloading off the train, we boarded a coach to our hotel in Moscow, which took a while with Moscow traffic. We stayed at the hotels built for the 1980 Moscow Olympics, extremely large towers with posh rooms. Our hotel was also conveniently located next to a metro stop and the largest outdoor shopping district in all of Russia.
After our quasi-sleepless night, we were able to shower, rest, and eat before we embarked on Moscow sights that day. One thing to appreciate in Russia, when they go inside, they do not stand for cold; every room everywhere is toasty warm and draftless.
As we started our bus tour of Moscow, we saw the "seven sisters": seven similarly styled Stallinist buildings which look super imperial and awesome. We drove past the Kremlin, the commercial districts, the important graveyards (where we saw important Soviet leaders and the post-Soviet Russian president, Boris Yeltsin), and monuments. We drove up to a beautiful outlook over Sparrow Hill near Moscow State University where the most expansive view of Moscow can be
seen. Breathtaking.
Time for lunch! More great Russian food and especially appetizers. One interesting dish: fish jello. Fish fillet at the bottom with gelatin on top. Fish was great, gelatin not so much.
In the evening, we met up with our Russian friends from Moscow State University! Katy, Megan, and I met three Russian girls and one guy. There was a Psychology major, a Societal Psychology Master's student, American Literature major, and something else. They first took us to a small, local restaurant in a posh restaurant and ordered us shots, horseradish shots. I remembered the first time (and only time for that matter) I had horseradish, immediate tears. This shot brought water to my eyes but the Russian boy actually cried, that made me feel better.
After a little light conversation, we all returned to one of the girl's house and sat around her coffee table and had borsch with salad and delicious German white wine. For dessert we had more of the famous Russian chocolates we had been introduced to in Saint Petersburg.
We talked about all types of Russian culture as well as some American culture. If you aren't already familiar, Europe is
pretty familiar with American culture because our music, movies, and popular holidays are highly widespread in Europe, something that is unknown and surprising to most Americans. I remember three years ago being in Ireland and one friend offered to let an Irishman listen to his iPod so he could listen to American music. The Irishman scoffed and refused, laughing that the Irish all listen to American music.
Regardless, this exchange doesn't work quite in reverse so we asked a lot about Russian culture. Bribing police officers for traffic violations is ultra common and accepted. After a little bribe for speeding, for example, the Russian guy was told "what a naughty boy he was, and to be careful in the future". Such is life.
The next day we did the Kremlin. And yes, the Kremlin was closed that day due to state functions inside. Did we "make friends" with the lady at the counter and go inside anyway and even get a private tour? Yes we sure did. Welcome to Russia.
The Kremlin was a great collection of pre-Peter the Great Russian government and Soviet era marvels. On one square there were three churches. One where the czar
was baptised, the second where he was married, the third where he was crowned...the fourth side housing the bell tower orchestrating the other three's activities. This square was czar central.
On the several gates of the Kremlin sit 3 meter high red Soviet stars that rotate with the wind and weigh several tons. Gorgeous. Inside were the old armories of the empire, the President's offices as well as government archives.
In the evening, we ventured out with our Russian friends again to a little bar and club in Moscow where we had a great time dancing to absolutely amazing Russian club mixes.
The last day was shopping day. Next to our hotel was the largest outdoor flea market in Russia. After extracting rubles from the ever lovely ATM, we forged into the Russian market scene after countless Russian souvenir bargains. My best deals: 1) Two Russian style hats for 200 rubles each ($6.66), a shot glass for 150 rubles ($5), and the best mark down a 1500 ruble pocket watch for 800 rubles. Before this, I had never really had the opportunity to bargain; I learned how to bargain in Russia. Baller.
After a jaunty around
the Russian market, we headed for the airport. And it took absolutely forever in the terrible traffic. Upon arrival, I easily left Russia without incident...unlike the Asians. It was a literal heatwave stepping off the plane into 10 degree centigrade air (approx 50 fahrenheit). Welcome to (comparatively) Tropical Copenhagen!
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