MOSCOW!!--Я не говорю по-русски (I don't speak Russian) part 3

 I know, I know..... this post has been a LONG time coming..... Things have been SO BUSY/CRAZY around here.  I attended 2 weddings in two states--driving 1500 miles (including an over-night drive), crossing through four states, all in the course of 2 days.....  My training has become more intensive at work for feeding as well as a large increase in my patient caseload....I went to girl's camp last week as the Stake Assistant Director..... But NOW that girl's camp is over, I finally feel like I have time to breathe and blog about everything that has been happening.  The aforementioned posts will be coming, but for now I am going to start with:

MOCKBA (Moscow)

 In Moscow we stayed in an apartment.  It was actually really nice and spacious (spacious in comparison to the one room place we stayed in, in St. Petersburg.  Moscow has some great sites, but definitely has more of a "big city" feel, with several remnants to the Communism Era.

This is the elevator in the apartment complex we were required to use. This was as far as the doors opened. It was literally like 2 feet by 2 feet and claimed to hold 5 people.  Stef said that during the winter. One time I was in the elevator alone with another man who was speaking Russian to me.... that was uncomfortable.

Train/Subway Station

The Bolshoi Theatre.  The most famous (and world re-known) Theatre in all of Russia. 

Stefanie and Cyndi in the background bartering with the scalpers in order to purchase tickets for the ballet (Romeo and Juliet) that evening. The gentleman in the salmon shirt had the crazy lazy eye and he kept talking to me.... I would smile and nod.  Stef afterwards told me, "You probably shouldn't smile and nod so frequently."  Me, "Why's that?"  Stef, "Because technically you just agreed to stay with him  here in Russia and make it official and in return he promised to provide you all the tickets to the ballet you want."  YIKES!  Lesson Learned. 

 
                                                             Inside the Bolshoi

 

The Bolshoi was even more beautiful than I could have imagined.  The ballet was even more touching than words can describe.... So I am not going to even attempt.  What a PERFECT ballet (Romeo and Juliet) to see, though.  We were so excited to have such an amazing opportunity.  Cyndi (Jason's mom) was so giddy.  She said she had always dreamed since being a little girl of attending a ballet here.  Lifelong dream fulfilled. 

Here is the entrance to Red Square:

 Rocky educating the others on the History of Red Square

These soldiers walked around, dressed up, offering to allow people to take pictures with them for a charge.  So I just took a picture of them from a distance for free.  Perfect. 

The GUM is Huge mall of high end department stores facing red square.  It was beautiful on the inside, and had several expensive stores (some I'd heard of, some I hadn't) where the average person could probably not afford to shop very often. 

Entrance to the Kremlin

Common area, outside of the Kremlin and Red Square

Amanda showing her moves while helping me to commemorate this interesting thing they did in Russia.... in an effort to hide construction, they would hang large banners/paintings in front to hide the construction behind.  Cheesy... and yet a great idea at the same time.

Another interesting thing they do in Russia, is after they get married they go around to all of the historical sites and take pictures in their wedding clothing.  Accordingly, there are several pictures we took that have people in wedding dresses camouflaged in the background

In case you were wondering, You Can't go to Moscow without seeing the RUSSIAN CIRCUS!!!  I missed taking a photo of the Lion's Den (10 lions in a cage with one man) because I was asked to put my camera away... Doh!.... but I did manage to snag these few shots:

Poodle LineAnd grand finale: it just wouldn't be a Russian circus without a full-size bear driving a motorized tricycle.... right?

Outside of the Circus, we found this little old lady.  Significantly more purposes for this outhouse than just a restroom, including a place of residence as well as employment. 

Reminder of the USSR days and the communist housing.

Taking a rest from all of the walking.  We walked what felt like miles to ride a ferris wheel.... only to find it's remnants and be told it was torn down a few months before. DOH!!!

Funny Story behind this picture.  It is our last day in Russia, and we were running out of Russian currency.  We wanted to use credit cards wherever possible so that we didn't have to use the last of our cash and pull out more.  Accordingly, we chose this little place because it displayed the VISA insignia on the glass door.  After we ate there, they told Stef in Russian when we go to pay that their credit card machine doesn't work.  We are like, What the heck?!  We passed by several restaurants, were starving, and only chose this one BECAUSE of the VISA sticker.  Great.  They were telling us that we were going to have to go and find an ATM and pull out Russian currency to come back and pay them.  Stef was essentially like, "No... we're not doing that.  If we leave we are not coming back.  You displayed the picture in the window, and that is why we came.  Accordingly, you can take the American dollars we have to offer you or you are out of luck."  Given no other option, they accepted the American dollars. lol.  They will have to go and exchange them because seriously, NO ONE accepts American dollars in Russia. ... it was either that or washing dishes, and considering the fact there was no one in the restaurant, that wouldn't have been a very wise investment for them.

 Moscow at Night:

**Remember this picture.  It will be used in a future post .....;)

Cyndi's bag broke... leaving one remaining wheel. In St. Petersburg it made this awful scraping sound while she pulled it along so that everyone would turn and look (slightly awkward)... then the last day in Moscow the remaining wheel fell off!  Poor Rocky was a packhorse and had to lug this thing around on his back.

..... Back on the Train!!!  Next Stop: Kiev, Ukraine!

(Hopefully It won't be another month before I post this time.... I'll do my best)