Thursday, August 16. Cool, cloudy 30% chance of rain.
Great sleep six hours straight through. We are in a very nice quiet five-star hotel, [Marriott], which here means 'very nice' not over the top nice'. Great for us.
Everything seems to be very civil and tourist-friendly here. Even the airport has English on every sign!
The hotel clerk greeted us in English, so did the bell hop. The shuttle driver said 'No English'. Excellent driver, very patient in unbelievable jam-packed roads and a seemingly endless stream of traffic, changing lanes as often as they take a breath, but no horns just lots of near misses.
We read all the available literature regarding our short time here this morning. A valuable little book called 'Moscow in Your Pocket' has just about everything one needs to know as a tourist here. It seems Moscow is a jumping place for young people.
It also seems that Moscow at least, has caught up to the rest of the developed world regarding modern amenities: traffic, over-priced stuff for tourists, and theft etc. All the bad stuff that we are used to at home but just feel more comfortable in our own back yard.
It appears that my earlier impression as Russia being an 'Evil Empire' may be unfounded. The people as a whole are poorer than the west but there is a lot of people here with a lot of money, and I am not talking about tourists. Corruption and crime are more a problem here than at home for sure. I can sense it and we read about it.
After a very hearty full English breakfast, we took off on a long walk to Red Square some few kilometres down the road. Time now 8:20.
The day was dull and overcast and far from the best as far as photography was concerned. I was trigger happy in this few hours, taking over 150 photos. We walked back and had an early lunch at a little cafe before hunkering down for an afternoon nap. It seems like bedtime to me and it is actually midnight at home.
We are now 10 time zones ahead of Vancouver time.
I was fascinated by the buildings and architecture as usual. Those domes are mesmerizing!
Our morning walk in pictures...
It also seems that Moscow at least, has caught up to the rest of the developed world regarding modern amenities: traffic, over-priced stuff for tourists, and theft etc. All the bad stuff that we are used to at home but just feel more comfortable in our own back yard.
It appears that my earlier impression as Russia being an 'Evil Empire' may be unfounded. The people as a whole are poorer than the west but there is a lot of people here with a lot of money, and I am not talking about tourists. Corruption and crime are more a problem here than at home for sure. I can sense it and we read about it.
After a very hearty full English breakfast, we took off on a long walk to Red Square some few kilometres down the road. Time now 8:20.
The day was dull and overcast and far from the best as far as photography was concerned. I was trigger happy in this few hours, taking over 150 photos. We walked back and had an early lunch at a little cafe before hunkering down for an afternoon nap. It seems like bedtime to me and it is actually midnight at home.
We are now 10 time zones ahead of Vancouver time.
I was fascinated by the buildings and architecture as usual. Those domes are mesmerizing!
Our morning walk in pictures...
Down we go to get across some of the major very wide roadways and to the Metro. [Underground.]
I tried to leave some people in the pictures so you can get some idea what the people look like here. [Normal!]
We met this thug along the way this morning.
Military Tattoo opening in Red Square soon. The whole square is obstructed by them installing Bleachers.
At Gums Department Store.
In the background is The Four Seasons Hotel, right at Red Square
Asian tour groups abound.
The fierce Russian Army, 2018 era.
Yup, bikes for hire, everywhere.
Super Metro here.
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