Shopping and Sightseeing in Moscow

Thanks for all the comments. We are having a great time here. We've found a great little cafe for breakfast each morning - the Shakaladista. Good coffee, blinis, and english menus!

We did a lot of sightseeing yesterday. Had fun browsing and negotiating at the Ismailovy market - met some really funny vendors there that had quite good english! One babushka even sung Oh Susanna to us to show off her linguistic skills! Bought too much stuff, but will probably seem like so little once we are home. Checked out gorky park. It is a large amusement park. It was neat to see the day to day of Moscow. We've had the company of a lovely translator and driver that have made it very enjoyable.

For dinner we ate at a restaurant called One Red Square. It is in the Museum. It was nice as well. Indulged in some caviar and beef stroganoff. (Rick, if you are reading this, your caviar was better!)

Today we are off to Lenin's tomb, St. Basils, etc.

Another rumor to dispel - you don't have to wear anything different here than at home. Almost everyone we see is in jeans, tshirts and tennis shoes or sandals. Yes, there are plenty of women in high heels, but that is not the norm! I've had plenty of people mistake me for Russian in restaurants and shops, offering me Russian menus and giving Sean the english! And I'm walking around in jeans, tennis shoes and a nice tshirt! Packing is one less worry that I will have on trip two.

We are off to pack, sightsee, and then catch the midnight train to Smolensk. We will check in from Smolenk if possible. If not, we will be back online Wednesday to update on our boy!


kids - love you guys - hope you are enjoying your first days of summer! Talk to you soon!