Today I met Stalin and Lennin

---

Today I was going on a tour called Moscow Greeters, a voluntary group where people who live in a city, show us strangers around for free, they're usually students who are interested in improving their English, so obviously I failed to mention my accent !!! So on time 2 girls in their early 20's arrived at my hostel and took me off for a tour.

I had asked for different places that were not necessarily on the average tour guide list, they told me it was a festival today (Valentines day for the whole family) and there would be lots of outside fetes etc. We went to the Russian exhibition centre where there was a fun fair and lots of stalls and stuff. As usual there were fountains (the Russians do love a big fountain) and we passed the museum of astronauts and I had my photo taken under a replica of the rocket that took the first man into space.

The girls were very sweet and we had a good old chin wag about all sorts of stuff, I think our Prime Minister will find that diplomatic relations with our Ruski friends will improve for now on !!!. Then there were two men who were Stalin and Lenin looki-likeys so it seemed again only fitting that I had my photo taken with them as they only wanted a couple of quid. Stalin insisted I sit on his knee, and the photo was taken, then as I went to stand up Stalin tried to feel my bum !!!! Stalin or no Stalin I gave him "the look" and a told him, he was a naughty Stalin !!! the girls also told him off in Russian!!!

We saw the Bolchoi theatre that is closed for renovation at the mo, but its due to open in a few months almost a year ahead of schedule .......... so if I need any building work in the future I'll be looking for a Russian builder.

we walked to Red Square but the entrance was closed as they were putting up some sort of concert stage so I'll go another time. We watched the changing of the guard, with the soldiers marching with their legs out straight and hip height .....very impressive !!!!! Got caught up with a bridal party having their photos taken, I was asked by the best man to pose with them, he was as drunk as a skunk !!! Then it was time for them to go, and as they had been with me for 4 hours I went to give them a tip, but they wouldn't take it !!! they said it was a pleasure to show tourists around, so after much persuasion I said I'd take them for lunch. We went to a famous chain of cafe in Russia spelt My-My but pronounced Moo-Moo. Lovely food not expensive, menu is all in Russian, so lots of pointing and gesticulation, I had a Russian salad and a meat blini.

They took me back to the metro and I found my way back to my hostel. The Metro is really elaborately decorated with chandeliers and huge bronze statues, its a museum and art gallery in its self. I would put photos on here but I cant seem to get this computer to accept my camera. In fact I did ask a Japanese guy to help me but I must have chosen the ONLY Japanese man in the whole world who knew less about computers than me !!!!

Tonight I went for a wander around the area next to my hostel which is all pedestrianised and full of stalls, cafe's, and street entertainers it feels like Covent Garden. I watched a band, a violinist and a couple of comedy acts that weren't lost in translation !!!!

A few words about the Russians, firstly the women are generally beautiful and the men are miserable looking and ugly. They walk around with no expression on their faces and seem very miserable. If you smile at someone as you pass them they think you're weird. But I've cottoned on that if I want help with directions or translation, then I need to ask someone under 35 as they are usually willing to help and will smile and go out of their way to help a bemused English lady !!!, but anyone older and you just get a blank look and a shake of the head, they wont even try. I recon the oldies are still wary of outsiders but the youngsters want to learn English, or maybe its just that someone has warned them about me !!!

I've just been asked if i want to go out for a bite to eat by one of my dorm roomies so i"m off !!!



xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

---

Comments

[peter lofty]

Hey
Hi Karen, remember me? Looks like you had more awesome adventures after we parted in St Pete's. Hope your well and still travelling. Peter.