Blogs from Moscow, Northwest, Russia, Europe - page 69

Last day out of the USA!! The Royal Aurora hotel is a beautiful hotel. Too bad our stay was less than 24 hours. Got a taxi instead of using the hotel's car service, because it was cheaper. Kind of an old beatup car, but he got us there, for the rate the bellman told us he had agreed to. While waiting for the bellboy to round up a taxi, got a message from Delta saying the flight would be delayed 1:10 (turns out the flight was late getting in from Atlanta). We were warned about the check-in process at Sheremetyevo II. I just have to describe it. Upon entering the front door of the airport, you put your bags through x-ray. George had to open his suitcase to show them the little bottles and cheese knives ... read more

Several of my friends hosted a going away party for me on Saturday. It rained a little but that did not dampen our spirits and/or fun. Some of the pictures can not be posted, yes there was alcohol involved, but we had a great time. We started around noon and I think I left Ricky's around midnight. I spend most of my day on Sunday resting and recoverying. I must also thank my sister for giving me her old digital camera. It will make things a lot easier than film, which I am a firm believer in using, but will take a lot more time and money. I spoke to my new boss yesterday and they found me an apartment. It is close to the other American living there, but I will see it a week ... read more

Quick note to all out there, I am okay, currently stuck in Moscow trying to get to Italy - only been 3 days!! veitnam, china, mongolia, russia and on my way to great wine, cheese, my MOM!! more later, all is well if i can just get there!... read more

My run of good weather ended on my way to the train in Ekat, a good ending to a nice city, it weeped for my departure, or tears of joy! And so, it was an early train that would take a day to complete and would have me in Moscow, and officially the end of the trans-siberian journey, though my actual journey would not end until I hit St. Pete. I was in a cabin with 3 Russians, older folks, and guess what, no english. But, the one woman wanted to speak with me so much, that when she spoke Russian, she slowed her speech down, but still, even when she spoke slowly, I could not understand her. So, it was a day of reading and sleeping, and watching the markers tick down and down, below ... read more

Del desayuno a la comida Italianos, españoles, alemanes, mexicanos, franceses, norteamericanos, griegos,... ¿faltaba alguna nacionalidad en la sala del desayuno del hotel? Si no coincidías en la cola del café, coincidías en el buffet de las tostadas o los bollos o en las mesas. Había tanta gente que para poder sentarte a desayunar era necesario compartir mesa con extraños y, como poco, intercambiar los socorridos Hello, Good morning, Thank you y, con aquellos que parecían más simpáticos y dispuestos a hablar, el Where are you from? aunque con la mayoría de ellos, a parte de averiguar de donde eran, no podrías cruzar más palabras por las limitaciones del idioma. El idioma y la comunicación, dos puntos fundamentales en el viaje que iríamos apreciando a medida que nos alejábamos de Moscú y nos íbamos metiendo en Asia. ... read more