OMG...I know it is a common thread in the Days of my Life but I can't express the joy I am experiencing during my adventure around the world. To tell the truth if everyday wasn't an OMG day I should just pack it in and head home. So far no chance of that. I have managed to arrive in Moscow, Russia. I am staying at a hostel called Godzilla Hostel which has a big green grinning dinosaur as it's marketing mascot. The staff here is great, the hostel is clean, walking distance to the major sites, easy subway access. I have so much to share, the heels here are sky high and the girls wearing them are Hot even from my perspective which tends to run the other way. With all the spires, domes use gold leaf/paint is a future investment that i will look into. Talk about the price of gold going thru the roof; Russia is doing it's part to keep the skyline beautiful. This is definitely a avante garde look to the city that is just amazing. The Stalin architecture is amazing in it's rather grey yet elaborate style. The Kremlin was interesting but no match to the massiveness of the Forbidden City in Beijing.
I have had such a great time with my 3 French roommates these past 4 days. We ran around the Moscow underground one day and saw at least 12 subway stations that rival the opulence of those in Paris, France. Unlike the confusion of the Japan rail system or maybe it was just me with the interpretation of the non-English signage but having a 19 year old who is studying Russian be your tour guide is quite the way to travel into a foreign land. I highly recomend having a local or someone who speaks or can at least read the signage lead the way. Lead, follow or get out of the way. I followed all day and we had a blast.
We passed a wedding party which for sure the dress was not Vera Wang. The couple was showered with red rose pedals and penny's that probably hurt based on the amount that was thrown. They took a sip of wine and threw...fortunately no one was behind them their crystal over their shoulders and then each took a chomp out of a huge round roll of bread. The dress was striking...like bustier on a hooker. Her mother was so proud. Dad was also just glad to get the whore hitched. The guy looked dazed by the whole spectacle. nice to have all this happen on the sidewalk in front of the courthouse. Quick get in side sign the marriage license and get them to a hotel ...fast. From the looks of her it may be too late...wink, wink.
We walked by the KGB building which is an imposingly large building at the top of the main thoroghfare. Just a huge 4-5 story building that at one time back in the day had a line of people around the block awaiting news on loved ones that may or may not have disappeared. The story goes that they were tole to come back in several days so they just went to the end of the line as that is how long it was to get information. Kind of a creepy building with a wicked history.
We also went into a department store called G.U.M. which means something very Russian that I can't rememeber that is right across from the Red Square. It is all high end labels that has a lot of cafe's, a lot of tourists and a lot of lonely salespeople just hanging out. It is quite elaborate a set up and at the time was a lobby display of bicycles? Moscow hosted the Vogue, Fashion Night Out and I enjoyed champagne, tasty treats and gorgeous models. Does everyone in Moscow own a Bentley? I guess between Capetown, Prague and Dallas that Bentley is doing ok in this financial downturn. There was a line of 10 Black Bentley's drivers milling around looking very mafia, sitting outside awaiting their passengers return from an evening of shopping and socializing. Fun evening at the most exquisite mall in Moscow.
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| Bolshoi Opera House (being renovated) I attended the Opera "The Rise and Fall of Mahogany", 5th row, 2nd seat, center and enjoyed myself immensely. |
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| Dome covering 3 underground levels of shopping, restaurants and entertainment |
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| The beautiful weather contributed to the gardens being in full bloom. |
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| Eternal Flame |
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| St. Basil's Cathedral |
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| Decorative exterior sheeting put over the buildings in Moscow being renovated that curiously mimics the actual exterior of the buildings. |
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| As part of City Day, many Nationalities are represented as part of a military display that will take place in the Red Square. I have been advised that as a military installation the party for invited guests does not ever include the populous unless with invitation. |
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| They love their dogs in Moscow! |
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| G.U.M. department store. 3 levels, 3 identical indoor aisles, with very high end designer stores. |
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| Russia was first into outer space and they are proud of that accomplishment. |
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| Practice for the City Day festival that only the Moscow elite will view by invitation only. |
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| High heels are in in Moscow and not just on the hookers or drag queens. LOL However note the cobble stone streets are hell on the heels. The women need a good cobbler as all their heels clack and it ain't attractive |
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| Endless supply of the stackable dolls for sale. Moscow is big on the army/military surplus medals, gas masks, caps, fur hats, crystal, semi-precious stones etal... |
I wandered by the Bolshoi and you gotta love walking up to people that speak English just to say hello. Dad would be proud of me. Never a shy bone in my body. I said hello and discovered that the person was actaully an Opera singer who was a principal in the show at the Bolshoi. Guess who is going to the Opera and getting to go back stage?? That would be me.
Almost run over by the motorcade of Danish Queen Margarethe II who was in town meeting with President Dmitry Medvedev in the Kremlin as part of her 5-day visit. I saw them zoooom into the Hotel around the corner and she had on this same blue dress. She probably had to be wisked back to her hotel for a potty break as she didn't have the 20 rubles to use the port a potty...lol
Enjoyed a book on a bench in front of the Bolshoi on Tuesday. Lovely day and great setting to people watch. Another lovely day spent in Moscow, Russia.
