Author: TC0241

Well Saturday was such a good day not sure we could top it but it is Sunday and we plan to give it a try.

I am feeling sort of guilty in chiding Judi to get up before she really wants to (normally past noon rather than before) but figure there will be plenty of time to sleep when the snow arrives and the days are dark. Right now it does not actually get dark for long. This is great however it does mean the winter nights are going to be long. We have lived much closer to the equator for a few years where the days are pretty regular. In Costa Rica the dawn and dusk do not really change so all days are the same length.

Anyway Judi is up and wants to go to a park. This is a very Russian thing during the weekends so a sign we are going local. The plan is to go to the Ugly statue of Peter the Great and then Gorky Park. I check the time of the Grand Prix is 4 pm local time so we agree we need to get back for it. I have not managed to see “any” of this year’s races which is unusual.

So off we go remembering to take the rubbish with us. I comment on this because when I arrived and asked “when does the rubbish get picked up” the response was “whenever you want” which I thought was good. What they really meant was “you do it yourself” which technically is the same thing. Rubbish has to be dumped in large bind deposited strategically along the roads. This gives me a choice as to where I throw it but it does rely on actually remembering to actually walk out of the flat with it. You can imagine when we arrived and I had a mountain of cardboard and wrapping from the airfreight it was quite a task. The security guards would give me that “where the hell is he getting all of this” look as I trudged past them again and again with yet another load of cardboard for the bins.

So I know the short cuts through the back streets which means we can be there in 5 minutes. In fact we can see the top of this monstrosity from the flat so it really is not that far at all. We note an English pub about half a mile from home which might be a good place for watching football. Not found an Irish pub yet which is unusual as every city I have ever been in has one or two. I am sure there is one out there.

The statue still looks ugly but it does draw the eye. I am sure people would have said the same thing about the Sydney opera house or the Gherkin in London I suppose if nothing else it is a good landmark. There is some activity on the other side of the road. It looks like a market so we go and see. It is actually local artists and there is about half a mile of them. Fittingly we are in front of one of the Tretyakov art gallery building. Anyway after a while we get picture overload but I do manage to get a couple of web site addresses so I can check back on a couple of really nice water colours (note the English spelling).

At the end of the road we meet the “Garden Ring” (which I still think is names because there are no gardens on it) over the other side is Gorky Park. Quite a famous name as there was a book and a film with the same name. If memory serves me correctly the park played a minor roll but the name still is familiar.  We pay our 80 rubles only one rate here (normally none Russians have to pay more for attractions) and waltz through. The first thing I see is a two humped camel, interesting I don’t think you actually see many camels with two humps. Not sure what the name is but you can google it if you want.

The park is really a funfair with a few fountains and some gardens. It is fairly busy as it is about 1pm and the families are all out lots of kids of different sizes. The funfair rides are slightly dated none of those thunderous things I saw in the US. There is a wooden roller coaster and several rides designed to relieve you of your last meal but nothing too scary. It reminded me of the “fair du midi” which used to come to Brussels every August. Slightly dated but all operating and here they don’t wait until a ride is full they will start it up any time. Looking around the place is full or ordinary people doing ordinary things. Kids squealing, eating ice creams and candy floss. Groups of boys egging each other on, knot’s of young girls holding onto each other so they don’t fall off their high heels. I see whack a mole, air rifles, darts, a small lake etc everything you could wish for at a funfair.  There are a couple of Beer halls so I decide to go local and have a beer out of a bottle (just for the pictures not because I really wanted one you will understand). Judi takes a couple of shots which you can see if you use the link at the bottom. We stumble across a Reindeer as we make our way out. Again not often you see reindeer used as a kids ride but it seems comfortable enough. Furry antlers’ and all.

Out and back across the ring trying to cut through to get back for the race Judi thinks we can short cut the routs if we circumnavigate the “Park of the fallen heroes” I know you cannot but you know babe she has to give it a go. A couple of failed attempts which only lead to blocked gates and fences bring us to the gate. Now this park has a tier system locals pay 10 rubles none locals 100. I think I object to this on principle, I certainly object to paying 10 times more. The book says if we have the visa’s we can claim to be local but nobody seems to have informed the 80 year old babushka on the gate and given our limited vocabulary it is not worth the bother. I could easily ask her for a coffee with milk or a beer but not sure this would help so we pay and wander through. The park is “interesting” and I spent some time here the other week. It has an open air cinema in the middle which doubles as a concert venue. It seats about 100 so it would be cozy to say the least. Note to self do a search to see if there is a schedule of events.  

It is still hot and very bright. It is difficult to think of sun cream and Moscow at the same time but we really need to start as we both have red patches which will probably burn a little late. As we amble back we use a couple of side streets and as usual you turn a corner and there stands a church. There are so many around and they are so stunning it might be a while before I stop commenting. Back at the flat with 30 minutes to spare before the race. We have a choice to watch in German or Russian and it really does not matter. Flip a coin and choose German. An interesting race given Hamilton gets a puncture on lap one and is then out of contention. So this allows us to doze through most of the rest of the excitement. Nice for Webber and the Australian seems somewhat pleased with his first win after more than 100 races. His radio response to winning was a series or ear piercing screams.”Yes,Yes,Yes,Yes”

Dinner out at “Mia Place” an Italian chain, the food was quite good and the pasta fresh which is greatly appreciated. The menu lists the size of portions as well as price. Not just this place but all menus have item, volume and price. A beer and a couple of glasses for Judi to celebrate her birthday last week. She got a couple of bunches of very nice flowers, cards, cake and a couple of tickets to the Bolshoi which given she has not been here long I take as a good sign.

http://picasaweb.google.com/nolanste/GorkyParkArbat?feat=directlink

So it’s Saturday morning (just) and we don’t have a plan yet. You need to understand that is worrying. We normally have a plan so technically the weekend is free.  We went for dinner at the local pub last night and then wandered down to the Metro to listen to the band which was set up and playing old rock and roll songs. Mostly in English but doubt that made any difference everyone seemed to know the songs and people were dancing as well as drinking.

So what to do once Judi is up she needs action. I take an hour to come around in the morning but Judi once on her feet wants to hit the ground running. I can slow her down by making copious cups of tea but I am only delaying the inevitable.

Ok we now have a plan and a list. (lists are always good Judi says)

We are off to Arbat a district to the west of us which has an ugly modern section and an older pedestrian section with designer shops and tourist type stuff.  A quick walk down to Novokuznetskaya metro, a few stops and change to the Blue line then on stop and then back out into the sunshine. It is very bright today and forecast suggests 85 today. We quickly come across the series of flats known locally as “Stalin’s Teeth”. They are quite close together and stick out like a sore thumb. Nestled at the bottom of the first one is what I think is the church of Christ the Reindeer. I need to look into that as it does seem a little odd. Churches are everywhere which I have found interesting. From afar we all have the impression that all the churches were pulled down during previous regimes. If that is the case then there must have been one on every street corner as right now there seems to be one every half mile or so. They are not particularly big churches but they are decretive in style. Lots of arches and domes. Many domes are gold and because they are circular the sun reflects off them all of the time which makes them stand out amongst the grey of the apartments.

Our first stop is a book shop which is listed in the Lonely Planet which is across the road so down the underpass and in. Now one of the first things I see are paper shredder’s. Big deal you might say but I have been look for one since I got here.  I have looked in all the electrical places and computer shops and the lack of them nearly had me blogging about “there is a mountain of paper somewhere”. I do think it interesting that the prime method of destroying paper should be found in a book shop but note that I need to come back during the week and get one plus some office stuff. Not a bad book shop and we pick up a couple of items including a map of Russia for the wall. I need to better understand the geographical set up given I now live in a country with I think 10 time zones.

Back outside and looking for shade I notice a phone shop so now is probably a good time to put some money on my phone. Over here a large proportion of phones seem to be pay as you go. The top up machines are everywhere and a couple of nervous minutes pressing buttons and there is another 500 rubles on my phone. You need to understand there is no English version so to use the assumptive approach. For all I know the button said “do you want me to shred this money press Het for ok” (a nice link to the book shop I think).

Next we find a Camera shop and I get a replacement lens cap for the one I lost in Red Square last week. This was extremely annoying as I pride myself at not losing things. I note the shop as I think it has lots of things I cannot possibly live without.  On past the now closed Casinos which dot the road. They closed a few days ago and it is a big deal here. The government has designated 4 areas in Russia where casino’s can operate and Moscow is not one of them. This applies even to slot machines so the once big bright busy buildings we walk past are now all empty. They are saying it will affect up to 300,000 people so it shows how big the industry was around Moscow.

Next is a high end shopping center one of those you walk through but only buy things in the sale. It is very very nice. You can tell this by the class of security guards who are watching our every move. Not sure if my shorts and sandals are influencing them at all.

Back on the street is it now too hot to do the pedestrian section so we decide to cut across to the European Shopping center just one Metro line over.  This shopping center is one I saw in November on our quick dash over here. It is extremely busy all the time and has every shop you need in the way of fashion. Two pairs of shoes (for Judi) later I stumble across “Massimo Dutti” which is my very favorite clothes shop. They even have a sale on but I resist as the last thing I need is more clothes. I have unpacked 35 shirts already and there are still some to go so stay firm and only go in and out. We are trying to concentrate on tops for Judi. Suddenly she does not have enough. Mex, Marks & Spenser, etc they are all here. The layout of the “mall” is quite confusing as the walks are not straight so you are never sure exactly where you are and there are 4 or 5 floors. So a lot of wandering until we chance upon a restaurant and have a very nice lunch (although a little expensive).

Tiring quickly we head home as I am going to make dinner. A Thai Red curry with some beef I got the other day from a very good butcher I found. I am getting the hang of the hob and can now juggle 4 pans at the same time without it getting upset. This is possibly the limit as we only have 4 pans so doubt I will be stretching its capabilities beyond this for a while.

Afterwards we watch a DVD. Tarantino’s “Grindhouse”  and I can see why it tanked at the box office. We only get through 1 of the 2 CD’s. Maybe save the second half for a rainy day.

So ends day one for the weekend and very productive it was too. Lots of places which will be useful and found lots of things we were looking for so high fives all around

So it’s Friday and it is JUdi’s birthday (where did the week go) 3 weeks in only a couple of minor adventures. I have been sorting out filing (deep joy) and trying to organize money stuff.

This time last year we were in California celebrating Judi’s birthday with family and friends. With not a hint of adventures to come. It had been my first trip to the West coast and was great fun. We had been wine tasting and had been chauffeured around in a stretch limo with a driver who spent most of his time talking about horse racing. It was all great fun and we ended up in a rather posh restaurant called Cyrus being looked after by a team Judi dubbed “Dementor’s” they were all dressed in black and would come into the room in a line (in step) and place whatever the dish was in front of you and with a “Ta Darrr” flourish lift off the cover. Then march out in silence whilst we all giggled. As I said the whole trip was great fun and there were a couple of adventures along the way. I got to see a real geyser someone had a hire car with no petrol, a sat nav minus power cord, my car was the wrong one and the firm kept trying to get me to take it back. We ate in interesting places one where the staff were ironing the table cloths after putting them on the table. Maybe they had a fear of creases or maybe it was some tradition. We had stayed in San Francisco for a few days and tried to watch the 4th July fireworks down in the bay not a good idea with the fog so whilst we heard them perfectly well we never actually saw any of them.

It is funny to think it was only a year ago and how many things had changed in what is really a short time. It is only when you stop and think that you realize the only constant is change. Who would have thought we would have ended up where we are right now.

So back to the reality of now.
So what about the sausage. Well we decide to go to the local pub and to mitigate the problems we had last week I have been researching Menus. So I have printed out the main food groups like Meat, pork, chicken, lamb etc and the cooking methods stewed, grilled, roasted etc so we might have a fighting chance of ordering something we could recognize. I am prepared (or think I am)

So the “greeter” who is African and speaks English very well seats us and the nervous young guy we had last week is our server.
 
New menus this week less intimidating than the 15 pages we had last time this is just a big sheet with food on one side and drink on the other. I order “Piva” (beer, it’s easy) Judi dithers a bit and tries to order a glass of wine which proves more difficult.
The place is really a pub so wine is probably a rare order. Anyway given she can not order by the glass she settles for a bottle. I promise to help when my beer is finished. The bottle will cost 280 rubles which is around $9 which to me is not a good sign given the mark up would be 40% that would make it about $5 then take off transportation to get it here I think the wine is probably worth $3 and when it arrives I am proved right.  

Before we get our order we are presented with something “complimentary”. Two glasses of what looks like red wine and some peanuts I say looks like as I am not quite sure. it tastes wine(ish) but really not sure it could be something I have seen around which is like a local tonic. There are lots of versions and last weekend at a local market we saw it being sold from a huge tank (at least a 100 gallon) hooked up to a car. All of which makes you think “how is it made” and possibly try not to consider things like quality control or sanitation. So the beer and wine arrive and one sip is enough for Judi to give me that look which indicates she may want me to finish it. So now we have 2 glasses of whatever plus a large beer a bottle of dubious wine and the vodka Judi quickly ordered to get the taste of the wine out of her mouth. I can see it is going to be a long night and we have not ordered food yet.
On to the food. My preparation is worth it. We decode Lamb chops and pork and remember when you order the meat you get the meat you have to order the extras so I order rice and Judi chips (that’s fries to you Americans). 

Whilst the place clearly is a pub the chef may not be fully aware as the food comes out extremely well presented. We actually get what we order and it is very good. I should not be too surprised. The food over here is fresh and somehow you can tell.
They did get the rice and chips mixed up but not the end of the world. It is no small triumph to be able to order something and for the same thing to arrive so we drink a toast. Me with 2 glasses of whatever, a beer and a bottle of dubious wine and Judi with vodka.
Not vodka and coke they tend to drink it neet here no watering it down.

The parrot in the corner squarks its appreciation and we sit and talk over the week. Judi has been to Istanbul for a couple of days and I with my Ikea adventures. We decide to give that particular shopping village a miss this weekend and try somewhere new. I want to go to Arbat which is 2 stops up and 3 across on the metro as the books say it has a good pedestrian area and lots of great things to see. It also has the church of “Christ the Reindeer” which if nothing else is an intriguing title. We ask for the “Chot” or bill 1,300 rubles or around $43 which is good. Lots of da svi-dan-ya’s on the way out even from the 2 year old who is the child of the landlord who wanders around the place talking to everyone including us. Given her age and our russian language skills we get along very well, neither understanding the other. 

 I consider taking one of the menu’s home for further translation but they are a little too big to slip out with unnoticed.

Anyway if we knew what we were ordering all the time where would the fun be in that.  

So 2 weeks in and time to take stock. How are we doing on the list ?

Wireless internet now ok, not a secure network but ok for now.
Tv has the extended package so 50+ channels (although no tennis so had to fine an online site)
Got all keys except one which is not important
Mobile phone set up (my hacking of the iPhone worked)
Air conditioning remotes have finally succumbed to my control
Found Cinema showing films in English (well maybe)
Found a nail bar for Judi
Taken the car out a couple of times and only took one wrong turn (Gavin the GPS was a little slow)
Got my passport back with visa (the last time for 12 months then do it all over again, joy)
Managed to get the washing machine cycle down to 84 minutes
Updated the Norton antivirus on Judi’s HP Mini (by deleting half the stuff to make room, not happy about that)
Been out to 2 new restaurants one even had an English menu
Got a Euro account with Citibank (about time too although no card for me yet)
Purchased and set up “wireless” printer (so I still have some technical ability limited as it may be)
Chairs arrived and covers 3 days later. Expecting a coffee table but might have to go back to IKEA again to get one myself.

So not a bad run so far, still lots to do,
For some reason my Nikon battery charger is not working so need to deal with that before the batteries run out.
Struggling to get a monitor set up for Judi’s mini, it needs a VGA adapter and when I phoned HP they advised me to purchase from the online store, they show out of stock on an item they make themselves which is a laugh but means I avoid trying to buy something on a US site and get it shipped over here. Post is something we have not quite worked out yet but will have to tackle soon. Mastered the cooker to the point of cooking twice but learnt not to put a hot pan lid down on it as it goes berserk and sulks. Not responding to any commands for ten minutes.

Been to the Supermarket a few times now and think the checkout girls could do with a little “customer service” training. They give you the impression that you are somewhat of an interruption to their day. Stores here have a lot of minders and security it’s like that are guarding treasure and you get the feeling that they are constantly watching you. No bags are allowed in you have to deposit them at the entrance or get them sealed in plastic to get in. Once in there are people stationed around at strategic points. All this is slightly wierd. I suppose it is just the norm and maybe the loss of a mars bar or the odd orange is a big deal here anyway it is what it is. What is slightly worrying is the selection of items. Who knew there would be Crab falvoured crisps (chips) or caviar or Kebab flavoured for that matter and the chocolate labled “Nestle for MEN” has to be tried at some point. There are lots of thing I recognise and lots I think I do but need to watch out just in case. Going to the supermarket is becoming a daily routine as everything eeds to be carried home so not buying the usual 3 box’s of diet coke with one free these days. Also almost all transactions are in “cash” a report on the Tv indicated 93% of shop purchases are in cash not credit cards. Not something the Russians comfortable about. It seems they got their fingers burnt with a financial crash a while back so banks in general are not to be trusted and cash still rules.

Taken to getting snacks from the kiosks near the metro. Not quite sure what I am buying its more “point and pay” and see what you get sometimes its sweet and sometimes savory. a bit of a lottery but good fun.

Had a chat with a guy on a stall selling maps as I needed a metro map with the 3 different naming conventions of the stations, The Metro is entirely Cryillic outside there is also the Russian (latin) and I still need the European style translated version as my brain has not got the hang of “P” = “R” and “C” =”S” and the Cryillic is still too much although I recognize an O with a line through it is “F”.  

I have lots of new photos so tomorrow may well be a picture day.
I took a walk last week to the monument to “Peter the Great” which is a new one and from a distance almost the uglyiest I have ever seen however it gets more acceptabl the closer you get. It is on the river and close to the park of the fallen hero’s which is where they put all the statues removed after the fall of communism (mostly of the leaders) so lots of shots to share.

Judi has left for Istanbul so I have a couple of days on my own. It seems I have a list (surprised? no me neither) and I have to start to plan the Christmas vacation, after all it is July.
 


  

“Shto vee rikamindavat” roughly translated is “what would you recommend” which is the question we pose to the waiter who has drawn the short straw and is serving us. We have already managed to order vodka and beer (some things come naturally)

We are in our local bar. I say local as it is only about 150 yards away just next to a great pastry shop.
I will say more about the place in a later blog, enough to say it could be described as eclectic and has a noisy Parrot in the corner.

So it is around 8:30 and Judi came home declaring she was hungry and we should go out. Fine not a problem so off to the local. There is no Menu Engliski in this place as we are off the main road and we do know there is an English speaking waitress but she is not in today. The menu is huge and does not seem to match anything in my “lonely Planet handy dandy phrase book” so we are asking the waiter what he would recommend.

Now people who have travelled with me will know this is my get out of jail phrase. If in doubt just ask for the plate of the house or the chef’s special or the waiters recommendation. One would think by now I would have learnt that this is a dangerous thing to do.
On one of our wine trips to France I asked for the “farmer’s lunch” and got grilled tripe which was interesting.
In Bangkok at the Indian restaurant (which Judi assured me was highly rated) the chef’s special turned out to be Kidney curry. Now ask yourself how many kidneys you can eat at one sitting 1,2 3 if you have stamina but not a plate full even if they are covered in curry sauce.
In Nice the house special was comprised almost entirely of octopus and squid two of my least favorite items. Plus I think a couple of them were still moving.
Aramanche brought a poisson (fish) soup which you may have seen in the film Papillon.
Whilst at the Great Barrier Reef it was Boston Bay bugs, alligator and wallaby
Cusco in Peru was guinea pig whilst Lima was Goats neck.
Hong Kong was a chopped up chicken in a bowl bones and all. This was in a place on the 3rd floor above the tattoo place (another of Judi’s recommendations)
There was something called Chittlin in Atlanta which is parts of animals you don’t normally use.
There are several more but you may be contemplating easting later so I will get back to the plot.

So we order a couple of things the guy recommends and wait. A couple of drinks and 40 minutes later something arrives. I resembles a suasage with a dip and some onion. Mmmmmmmm it does not look dangerous. The thought remember nobody will be specifically looking to poison you runs through my mind. Ok lets go for it. Whilst it is seasoned it cannot hide the fact that this is a liver and kidney sausage. Lucky for me there is only one and by now I am hungry enough to try the tripe again. Not sure why they though this one should go to me but Judi gets a plate which is something covered in melted cheese. lifting the lump of cheese up there are vegetables in a white sauce which are covering some as yet unidentified piece of meat.  It was actually quite tasty but that might have something to do with the drinks and the level of starvation.  Soon both are finished and we get the bill which is 500 rubles or around $16 which with drinks included which was good and possibly indicate we may not have chosen the best pieces off the menu.

Well it is all part of the adventure. So if we ever go out for a meal please please please stop me ordering the “special” as it would seem I never learn.

Well it seems to be a party?.
The Moscow Metro has over 150 stations, 10 lines carries up to 9 million people each day (more than London and New York combined). Tickets cost 22 rubles per trip (around 31 to the $). Trains run every minute during rush hour which stops people pushing too much. All of the signs are in Cyrillic which is a pain given I cannot understand it and being colour blind slows me down when looking for the blue line alongside the purple one but not the end of the world. The actual platforms are almost works of art whilst the entrances can be somewhat “used” looking.

http://www.vrmag.org/issue15/MOSCOW_METRO_STATIONS_-_UNDERGROUND_PALACE_PANORAMAS.html

The reason I am commenting is due to the large volumes of people coming and going at the Metro stations most have small villages of wooden cabins to service these people. These small enterprises sell most things, Cigarettes, Phones and phone cards, pastries, groceries, concert tickets, ice cream, CD’s, DVD,s fruit and veg, flowers (we have a 24*7 flower shop) beer and one I saw which was selling plumbing supplies.
 
So where is the party? well I have mentioned lots of people drinking beer on the street. Don’t get me wrong it is not everyone and there are few drunks but around the Metro it seems to be prevalent. Drinking is not allowed on the Metro so people on their way home buy a couple of bottles (more bottles than cans) and hang around the entrances drinking before going home. There is no social distinction everyone from the sharp suited business people through to the women in high fashion (Girls dress up a lot here, very high heels) and everyone in between.

No kids drinking only adults. Now of course this is somewhat of a captive audience so there are street singers and small bands happy to entertain these groups. So it seems most evenings are a bit of a party. There is usually a couple of policemen around but I have not seen any trouble at all and everyone seems to understand the protocol which is just hang around and take it easy and chat with your friends.

As well as the cabins there are normally a few people who are selling their wares. Strawberries or flowers from the garden. homemade cakes or just odds and ends. I managed to negotiate the purchase of some flowers from some old dear the other day. You need to remember to buy an odd number of flowers for some reason even numbers are only for funerals. 

This all makes for an entertaining view and something of a party atmosphere.
Anyway off to get a new Sim card for my iPhone which I got unlocked so should be good to go soon.
I was waiting to get my passport back as for some reason I need it for this. It had gone for its 4th visa but came back without it so need to try again for that towards the end of the week.

Enjoy

So here I am in the smoking lounge in Atlanta airport again, this should be the last time for a while as we are finally on our way. It is Sunday and we completed the walk through of our huge home in here and we need to get used to the fact that we will be living in a 139 sq meter apartment for the next couple of years. I want to say the new place is 1/10th of the US one but not sure.

The day is going ok. Stayed at the DoubleTree last night a mile from where we live and left Eric at home thinking it would less stress for her to be in a place she knows. At $110 for one night I thought was excellent value and the rooms are well laid out. Only slightly soured by being charged $27 for breakfast (should have gone to the Waffle House). An hour or so doing the house check out. No real problems as it actually in better shape now than when we moved in.

Arrived at the airport at noon for a 4:45 flight (got to love that girl) dropped Judi and Eric outside the check in and took the car back to the rental. Momenterarly forgetting I then have to drag the cases back. Into the ticket queue no minders this time bit of a shame I was planning to tell them we were sending the cat as an unaccompanied minor. Little did I know Delta would get their own back. $150 to carry the cat on the plane and sit under our feet. Still no turning back so smile as we hand over the credit card. Next the scanners I hold back the crowd by acting dumb (no comments on that please) whilst Judi gets Eric out of her bag to be carried through. Trying to get her back in the carrier proves difficult as the staff are busy collecting the bins so the carrier keeps moving along the conveyor. Amusing for everyone watching but not for those involved. Done so I scoot through.

I have a plan to strap the carrier to my walk on thinking it would be easier than being jogged up and down on my shoulder. A good plan however every time she moved she upsets the delicate balancing act and the carrier falls to the floor. Judi decides after three drops that she will carry Eric as it will be safer. We head for one of the Delta lounges only to find it does not open until 2pm. Now am I picky or should I expect that the largest Airport in the world and the home of my carrier of convenience would have their lounges open 24*7 especially given you have to pay for the privilage of getting in (or not as the case may be). So we find another lounge which is of course packed and settle down. The only point to note is 3 guys regaliing each other about the different types of aircraft and the plusses and minuses for each. Now it has never interested me as to what type of aircraft I am on. my only thoughs are around takeing off and landing on time. I notice aircraft by how clean they are and the level of service I get not by the mechanics. The only way I can tell what aircraft i am on is to look at the emergency card in the seat pocket as it allways tells you there.

I get bored and wander off to go and check the gate which is not open. Wander around then go and relieve Judi. She finds the gate open when she goes past and hands over her US I-94 and gets her Russian visa validated. Next my turn to go again, the queue is about 15 people and after 15 minutes it is 10. The two staff behind the counter seem to be preoccupied one with the flight crew and the other on the phone. By now I am bored so decide I will do when board given I have checked luggage they won’t take off without me. So head for the smoking lounge.

  This is when I spot this guy with a tattoo of who else “Elvis”. I take a few looks and try and get a shot on my iPhone but it is too far away so i decide to go and ask if I can get a close up. He is Dutch and more than happy to oblige even showing me the one on his other arm which I had not noticed. I casually mention I was in Graceland a few weeks back and would you believe it so was he. So we have a great chat about all the things we saw the rooms and general Elvis related stuff. Sun Records, Beal street and all of the other things we got up to. 

 He and his wife even went to Tupelo. So there we are having a great time smoking and chatting when my phone goes off and I know what’s next. it’s Judi asking if I am lost, it’s time to board so off we go.

I queue jump to get my visa checked then cut across the lines to catch up with Judi. Dump Eric on the floor in front of us and settle in with my iPod and bag of peanuts. Eric is slightly dozy given the amount of drugs I have given her. Not asleep just dozy and she is find when not on the move just a little skittish when the bag is moving what you hear is this low yawl. This is what everyone hears as we take off. The plane has 3 cats on board which the girl on the phone informed me is the maximum allowance. Not exactly how they came to this valuation but at $150 each I think they should let more on. Eric is of course the only one making a racket.

I decide probably best not to drink given Judi has had a couple of glasses of champagne before we take off. She has travelled with the cat before on her own and I think she should have got a medal. It is difficult enough with two of us trying to manage it so you have to admire her fortitude in doing all on her own when we moved to the States. Ok so what is the entertainment “Hotel for dog’s and Race to Witch Mountain”. Not a surprise given these seem to be the only ones they have. Not bothered at all as this is our official move and the flight is over 10 hours we got business seats and can choose our films. Well we would have had it not been for the fact that a couple of hours into the flight just after dinner the power to the interior of the plane went off. No Tv, No moving the seats, no hot water for coffee no reading lights and od course critically important no inflight quiz for Judi to play. After another hour the pilot tells us he has decided to continue as turning back to JFK would be disruptive to us. Well it would be disruptive to and also very expensive for Delta as well, having both plane and crew on the wrong continent so we all decide to go with the flow. One notable incident when I got up to see why a couple of people were talking so loud only to find both had earphones on. I as tactfully as I could suggested they may find it easier to communicate if they took them off for a moment which seemed to surprise them ome what. 

Landing slightly early I fully expect to be checked for swine flu again however there has been another change in the process and all we have to do is fill out a form saying where we have been recently which gets up off the plane and we quickly get in the queue at customs. Get through and wait for the cases. As a final parting shot our “Priority” luggage makes it onto the carousel as part of the last bunch of bags so if you ever get one of those yellow tags attached to you baggage don’t get too excited as the it makes not a jot of difference.

If I did not know better I would think Delta had been getting their own back for all my bad behavior over the last couple of years.
They cannot possible run a profitable airline like this can they ??.

So settling in to the new apartment and having lots of fun with more visa forms and other “official processes” weather has been good which helps. Eric settled in fine although maybe the drugs are still working. Need to make a list of the things we need which never made it into the airfreight then go and buy them.
 Busy, busy, busy

First apologies for the delay not had access for a few days.

Even though we were paying for the apartment from the 15th June and arrived on the 20th the internet only got turned on 23rd.
(Judi says the Russians are not good at planning but excellent at catching up) The phone took another day and the furniture which the place is supposed to have is arriving in dribs and drabs. There is a great 10 seater dining table however no chairs but we are getting there.

One of the highlights was the airfreight arriving on time and in good order. A slight hitch when the security guard would not let the van in even though we had given them the company, vehicle type, license plate, arrival time and drivers name. (that is standard practice)
A couple of loud words in his direction helped although I also opened the barrier with my dibber so he had no option in the end as one they started to drive in I just kept waving them forward. I think playing the authority card may be something usefull. Ignore the process and just pretend you are in charge. The carrier had an interesting dress code, shorts sandles and socks. Not quite stylish but quite practical.



Now whilst everything arrived I of course am the one unpacking it and everything is triple wrapped so the place is swimming with paper and cardboard. One thing about removal people in general is they never question they just pack. In my time I have had the cardboard center from a kitchen roll, half a bottle of bleach and the cats bowl (half full of dried food) arrive at our new location so it was no real surprise to see a mostly used roll of tape and a carrier bag wrapped up in our belongings. They were probably just close to the rest of the stuff. I had to very specifically tell them “No Electrical, No Food, No cleaning materials” several times.

>

Anyway I decide to set to and unpack which is of course harder then packing it in the first place.
Half way through our agent(s) turn up as does the landlady’s agent and the landlady and her husband. Five of them sending Eric the cat scurrying for her new hiding place which is wedged behind a couple of suit cases in the walk in closet. This does give me the opportunity to mention the Internet, Wifi, Phone, Missing keys, Cable channels, dining room chairs and all the other odd items which still have to materialize. We do a quick inventory quick because we can stand in the same spot and see it all or the lack of it. I get the extra Tv channels and the Wifi logged. They try and explain that as we are so close to the Kremlin it gets blocked. Not falling for that one given I sat in Starbucks opposite the place with no problem. In the end I get a password but it does not work so it stays in the list.
The rest of the stuff is promised for the proverbial “tomorrow” but right now it is not the end of the world. I am given lots of manuals for cooker, washer/dryer, dishwasher, etc none of which is in English so plan to download them from the web sometime.
international calls and electricity need to be paid by us, in cash. The Landlady says she will drop the bills in the post box. I said fine given this is one of the missing keys there is now some incentive for her to find it. So after around 45 minutes they are gone but not befoer all of them want to see the cat which is a big topic of conversation. I manage to get her to poke her head out but seeing 6 of us in the closet was a little too much and it took her a couple of hours after they had left befoer she forgave me and wandered out.

I will catch up so expect a few reports this week.
There are some great items from the actual flight out of Atlanta on Saturday which I need to comment on especially the tattoos