Salt Life

Beth & Dave's Moscow Adventure...

Roman falling asleep on Papa while waiting in the lobby...



Taking a moment to get our bearings


The Kremlin



Arbat Street vendors



Mansion built in 1899, near Arbat



Starbucks???



Moo-Moo, the best restaurant for the money anywhere in Moscow


MOSMART--sight of the big stroller purchase!



Chris & Penny had a 1:30 appointment at the American Embassy to get the boys' visas so they could leave the country. We arrived at their hotel around 11:00 after our near 2-hour travel time. We found that the 76 cable- bus was a bit quicker with fewer stops, but it continued to take no less than 40 minutes, just on the bus.

We played with the boys on the 4th floor a bit, fed them a lunch of ketleti, and then bundled them up for their "convenient" naptime appointment. We waited in the lobby with them for their driver to arrive and watched little Roman fall asleep in Papa's arms. Their driver finally made it. Chris left us with one request--find and purchase two strollers for the boys. So, once they left, so did we. This was our day for adventure...

We made our way back to the Belorusskaya Metro station and headed for Arbat Street on the west side of the city. Chris and Dave had hit this famous market just the day before so Dave knew his way pretty well and after thirty minutes or so, we were walking along the cobblestone street eyeing the array of peddlers selling their wares. We were looking for certain items, hand-carved Santa's, metroska's (nesting dolls), and amber. We found all we were looking for and were pleased with the reasonable prices.

It was decided before we left that morning that we would have lunch at My-My (pronounced moo-moo). It had been highly recommended by a casual acquaintance back in the states and we thought we'd go for it. It's a cafeteria style restaurant with a menu consisting of traditional Russian fare - varenyki, borscht, blini, slaws, etc. The atmosphere was a rustic, two-story building covered with vines and wood beams, stone floors. Very clever. The food was delicious, authentic and we were delighted!

Our stomachs full, we stepped back out onto the street, taking in more of the sights and sounds of this bustling street. We came upon Starbucks and couldn't resist. I got a large caramel macchiato and Dave a large, regular coffee. It felt so good to drink coffee that tasted familiar and was amazing going down!

Our adventure continued as we took the mile long walk down Ulitsa Arbat to Red Square. The architecture is so mixed in this sprawling city. Nineteenth century mansions, juxtaposed against more modern communist era buildings made for an interesting effect. We kept walking and once the enormous red brick towers were upon us, our breath was taken away! An eerie feeling enveloped us. The Kremlin has a foreboding air to it, especially with the amount of militia encompassing its walls.

We followed the path adjacent to the high brick walls, passing the tomb of the unknown soldier and heading through the gates of Red Square. St. Basil's Cathedral was now in view, straight ahead, and it was stunning! To the right, Lenin's tomb, and the Kremlin just behind him. To the left, GUM (pronounced "goom"), the Government Department Store. We briefly took in the sights and started back toward the Marriott, along the way keeping our eyes open for any store that may sell baby strollers.

After about 35 minutes of walking up and down the surrounding streets, we gave up due to the fatigue we were starting to feel from walking so many miles in the cold. We found the nearest metro station and were glad for the ride to meet up with the family.

Once we arrived we were all tired and rather than going out again we decided to have dinner in the hotel restaurant. Definitely not very kid friendly, though they tried. Nothing is fast in Russia (except the people running through the metro and walking on the streets!) The food comes slowly, unevenly, and so does the check. The kids were antsy so I took Jadon out toward the balcony and we walked around and played a bit to keep him from the meltdown he was inching closer and closer to as the minutes passed. Finally the food came and we shoveled it into the kids while taking a bite for ourselves here and there.

We all went back to their room, once we paid the bill, and got the boys ready for bed. Chris gave Jadon a bath, we took Roman to the 4th floor to unleash any leftover energy before bedtime. When we returned to the room Chris then gave Roman his bath and once both the boys were in their pj's and ready for bed Dave took Jadon and I took Roman. JJ fell asleep with Uncle Dave doing the "windshield wiper" on him (laid him on his side in his lap, head on Dave's knees, swooshing back and forth)--boy did he fight it! I held Roman on my lap and rocked him until he, too, was fast asleep. We placed them gently in their beds, kissed them good-night and quietly left Chris and Penny to a peaceful room.

Our night was not over. We were determined to find strollers! Once we got off at our bus stop near the Maxima, we continued walking straight ahead to Mosmart , a Russian-style Walmart. We walked in, found the only two umbrella strollers in the store, took them to the check-out, got yelled at by the cashier, paid the $119 which included the strollers, two waters & two sprites and went to our hotel room where we showered and crashed for the night! What a day!!!

Labels: adoption

posted by Kushmama @ 9:25 AM