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April 26
Having a little trouble with the time change and finally fell into a deep sleep, when the trusty cell phone's alarm clock went off at 8 AM. Packed up my belongings and moved out to walk the few blocks to the Peking Hotel, my new home for the next few days, courtesy of Road Scholar. The Starbrite Diner, Moscow's only hamburger diner with 24 hour breakfasts was across the main road, Moscow's second ring road. So off for $8 pancakes and a $4 cup of coffee. Then I set out to do some of Frommer's neighborhood walking tours in Moscow. I visited Patriarch's Pond, the Stanislevsky (the actor) House Museum, and the Matryoshka Museum (the Russian stacking dolls) where I was fortunate enough to see some schoolchildren in a class learning to the painting. Two women from Finland walked in with me which was fortunate because they spoke a little Russian, but more than I and no one in the museum spoke any English. I continued my walk, passing several embassies, tucked away high end antique, home décor, and clothing stores, Church of the Ascension of Christ, Tass (the Soviet news agency), the building called the Russian Pentagon, the Russian State Library, and found myself facing the outside wall of Red Square. I was amazed - a long fortress type red brick will and peeking over it are these builidngs in different bright colors, some topped with gold domes. I am so looking forward to the visit there. Then on to Arbat Street, which is supposed to be Moscow's "funky" pedestrian mall. There were a few street musicians, some cartoon characters including Mickey Mouse, various artist's displays, and shops including Starbuck's, Pinkberry, McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts, Subway, and Cinnabon). Not sure if I saw KFC there, but it definitely has a presence here. I passed a very large and tall stone skyscraper, a remnant of the Stalin era, statues of Dostoevesky, Gogol, and others whom I do not know, stopped in a chocolate store which had beautiful decorated chocolate Easter eggs for the upcoming Orthodox Easter on May 5 and had the staff give me gratis the hot chocolate I ordered to drink. Then back to the hotel. Impressions of Moscow, at least where I was. The city is incredibly clean, lots of little parks scattered among the residential buildings with sculptures and play areas. Had a couple of people actually stop to ask me if I needed help while I was reading the guidebook - one a young woman recent university graduate in film who wants to come to Hollywood if she can get the money and learn to speak English better. There is traffic, but appears no worse than any other big city I have been in. Cars stop for pedestrians in crosswalks if there is no light. I saw few significantly disabled people begging for money and a few others either asking for money or sleeping on benches, but much less of a presence that in Los Angeles, People dress well for the city, not dressed up just dressed well. I was working on teaching myself a little Russian before I left and wished I had learned more. However, I do try to use what I know and having the ability to read the Cyrillic alphabet really helps because quite a few words are the same or similar to English and some to French so I can sound them out.
Met a few people in the tour, but more to come tomorrow. Ate dinner with a couple from Chicago, former journalists - he way Mayor Daley's speech writer x 10 years. Then caught up with my father who arrived safe and sound and sprung on me that he came with a friend, a woman he does business with that I have never heard of before (including last weekend when I had a long talk with him on the phone.) He made some vague reference to his woman friend of 5 years, Shirley, being somewhat distraught about this. I have yet to meet her. Well, tomorrow up for early breakfast and the tour introduction.
Oh and did I mention that at the end of the afternoon when I was going to go the Museum of 19th and 20th century art, my wallet was nowhere to be found. I hadn't used it since I left another museum four hours before and hadn't even gone in my purse. Well that was several hours on the phone tonight with a resolution but not one that is totally satisfying. I will get shipped here a paper credit card that cannot be swiped so merchants may not take it and a paper ATM/debit card that cannot be used in an ATM machine.
- comments
Laura Fascinating day! Sorry to hear about the wallet. Sounds like you got pickpocketed, huh?