Russia 2015: A Walk in the Park

Last day in Moscow. Time to do a lot of walking in very large parks. I met up with my friends Vlas and Galina at Poklonaya Gora (Victory Park) for a walk through wars past and beautiful Russian forests. Galina's daughter, Alina, was there for her roller blade lessons. In fact, the park was full of skates, skateboards, and scooters. Several memorials and churches from various confessions are specked in quiet corners of the park. It was really impressive.

After a quick dinner back at Galina's I met with my friend from my Kostroma days, Olga. She just flew in from a trip to France and so we managed to catch up for a few hours that afternoon in Solokniki Park near her apartment. We ducked into one of the sidewalk cafes before the rain started. The mojito was perfect for the humid, cloudy afternoon (I didnt even miss the alcohol.)

I had been to this park many years ago during my Neways days, and it looked nothing like the park of today - ropes courses, mini trains giving tours around the park and girls selling flowers from baskets on their bikes. We made it to the Rose Garden during a break in the rain and then had a salad assortment back at her apartment. 

Back at my hotel, just around 11pm, fireworks! Not just a couple wimpy blasts, but at 10 minute barrage for the bride and groom celebrating in the hall downstairs. What a way to leave Russia in style!

Russia 2015: Moscow's New Old Arbat and All Things Russian

It wouldn't be a trip to Moscow without a stroll down Arbat Street. In years past, this street was crammed full with souvenir stands of fur hats, nesting dolls and military memorabilia. The souvenirs have since moved to shops in the buildings and all that remains are a few portrait artist and workers in teddy bear and Tigger suits passing out flyers. I spent most of the morning going up and down the street looking for the perfect gifts to bring home. I was able to charm a group of girls in the Matryoshka Russian Souvenir Shop on Arbat #32 (with my unexpected Russian language skills) into giving me quite a discount. Starbucks has free wi-fi, so I indulged in an overpriced raspberry-red current frozen drink while I checked emails and uploaded photos to Instagram.

Just around the corner from Arbat #32 is the Cathedral of Savior Transfiguration on the Sands. A reproduction of Polenov's famous painting "Moscow Courtyard" in our office, so I recognized it immediately.

I finished up my shopping and then decided to head out to Gorky Park. Several people told me I should visit the redesigned park so I made my way out there (I was there 20+ years ago when it had a huge rickety Farris Wheel that cost 1 ruble a ride.) I got off at the Park Kultury metro stop and followed the crowds across the Moscow River to the entrance of the park. I could see they were setting up for a big 2015 Moscow Graduation celebration, but people seemed to still be walking into the park. I was wrong. There was a small sign on the gate saying the park was closed for two days, Sure would have been nice to know this before trekking across the bridge in the rain.

Finally time for dinner. The mall near my hotel has a pretty good food court on the 3rd floor so I ordered a bit of everything from ravioli-like pelmeni and the green tarragon drink - Tarhun, to meat filled blini and a dessert shaped like a potato called "kartoshka". It was perfect. 

When I made it back to my hotel, I noticed a wedding party in the grounds just in front of the monastery. I stole a peak and found a little girl posing by the pond. It looked like a scene from a Russian painting.

Russia 2015: From Red Square to Russia's NASA

 

I caught 'Stalin' sneaking in to the Ohotniy Ryad Metro Station with two cappuccinos this morning - like Mickey Mouse and Tinkerbell at Disneyland, everyone wants a photo with him and 'Lenin'. I had some time before my presentation and decided to make my "must see" stop at Red Square. Tourists and locals alike still line up to see the real "Lenin under glass" in the mausoleum near the Kremlin walls. They now, however have to go through metal detectors near one of the Kremlin Towers first. I stood in line my first trip to Russia and that was enough for me.There was a lot of construction next to the GUM (the State Department Sore) side of the square, but not much else has changed.

I was picked up by Ekaterina, one of the TsAGI press attaches, in a very shiny Audi SUV. It took 45 minutes to get across town to the TsAGI Moscow offices. Since I had a PowerPoint from a couple of UVU classes I taught earlier on, I was able to modify it for this presentation.

The ladies from TsAGI came into Moscow just for this meeting - about two hours away. They all seemed to enjoy learning about my Olympic and Dignitary hosting experiences...I have enough stories to fill an hour, but held back the urge. They were not surprised when I told them that Russia was the most "demanding" of all the countries I managed.

Anna walked me to the Metro station and then offered to show me around Moscow for awhile. We decided to see the Christ the Savior Cathedral. It closed at 6pm and we just missed it, so all that was left to do was wander the gardens and the bridge over the Moscow River. Tired legs carried to the metro. I picked up a few piroski - cabbage, potato, and cheremuha berries - for dinner and settled back into "monastery life" at the hotel.