Russia: My first vodka within 5 hours!

Hello people,

01_Schiphol goodbye

Well here I am, still alive of course. Jonathan, you can be reassured, Moscow is really not so bad. Have not felt afraid once, even though the park nearby my 'guesthouse' is the hangout for everyone with a beer in their hand and scruffy looking cloths

Did speak (2 words) with my airplane neighbour, a boring russian guy, before I set foot on Moscow grounds. Dodged the taxidrivers (who hugely overcharge a trip to the city, R1100= 33 euro), and took the bus and metro (R45). This was one of the many challenges as Russian language is completely chaotic. Erik, I should have practised your LOI cd-rom Russian a bit better. Trying to do quick course myself now.

02_Luba at the left_my guest lady in Moscow

Anyway with hands and feet bought a multi-entry metro ticket and made it to my sleeping address, the private home of Luba (a russian woman who cannot speak english, little crumpy, but when you get to 'know' her, pretty nice). First 2 nights had the room to myself, but now have to share it with 2 people. Of course I hoped it to be 2 backpackers, but no 2 very annoying russian women who cannot speak english at all. My luck of course.

9th of May: Victory Day. Did not see the parades however as this is only for invited people. In the evening did get the change to listenen to some russian popbands. Heard 'a town like Alice', the russian version. Must say gives a special ring to it!

03_A cool metro station in Moscow

Of course seen the sights, done Kremlin, been on Red Square, to Novodevichy (Theo, you are right, not really worth it!), visit to All-Russia Exhibition center, which is a big park with different architectual buildings. They turned it however into a russian playground, with rides and small cubicle shops inside the buildings!! The metro stations are really beautiful! Must-do when you ever come here.

If I don't loose weight here, then I don't know. Cannot read the menu, so little to order! On Tuesday it took me 20min. to order tea (learned the word tea, but how could I know they have over 20 types of tea in this place!) And the fact that the letters are alike but mean something else, does not make it easier. E.g. B=W. H=N, P=R, C=S, so Pectopah = Restoran (thus restaurant). The What&How russian book have been used a lot, so TMC THANK YOU! I am improving however so keep up hope that by the end of the month I can speak (basic) russian. Then crossing the border to Mongolia, where I can start all over again, as I don't know the mongolian language either

04_Holland house_playing biljart

Tomorrow I am going to go for a treat: a visit to the Banya (sauna with beating-threatment??? let you know what it is like next time). Then I am off to Yekaterinburg, my first 28 hours on a train. Yes, was able to buy the trainticket, with a little help from my new russian friend Victor!! As I let him do all the talking haha. Travelling 2nd class this time, which meand staying in a coupe with 2 bunkbeds and 3 other roomies (hope it will not be 3 drunken russians...). I will have a bed on top, so at least they will not be able to throw up on me!

I can travel reassured as I have my buraucratic registration stamp! Visumburo in Amsterdam sucks as their 'agent' did not help me out, but Luba knew a russian agent (3rd floor in a guarded building at other end of center, only was able to find because she drew a map!), and after paying a fair amount of rubles, I got the stamp! Welcome to Russia

05_Rabat_Moscow famous tourist street

Now about the title: When I went out for my first meal (pointing out what I wanted, hoping it would taste ok...which it did luckily), I started 'talking' to this couple from Minks, using English, Lonely Planet, hands and feet! They thought I was a real hero going to East of Russia on my own, not knowing any russian, and the thought crossed my mind, maybe it is! But I am going anyway of course! They offered me a vodka, which I could not decline Luckily they had to leave, so it stopped at one....good thing as I only slept for 3,5 hours the night before!

.....uh...about the photos...I forgot to bring my camera with me to the internet cafe, but will try to put some on the weblog tomorrow, before I hop on the train oke!

06_St Basil on Red Square_beautiful I think

Daswiedaanieja (bye)

(russian letters are not possible with this weblog, this is the way you pronounce it!)

Liekie

p.s. Luba told me I look like a russian. Now I don't know if I should be happy about that!

07_Old russian WOII soldier_receiving flowers