The Cluttered Pantry

Beautiful day in moscow–bright and sunny, and the 4 of us were raring to go. Our hotel is just next to the moscow river, and the big train station. Strolled around the fountain at svobodnoy evropy plaza, then across the bridge and up the hill towards the masively Stalinist Ministry of Foreign Affairs building….which, given the fact that these guys have just started a war with Georgia, was pretty quiet. Passed a dolled-up wedding party with giant stretch limo idling nearby (one of almost a dozen we’ve seen today….tis the season for nuptials I suppose), then off to stroll the famous Stary Arbat, a touristy pedestrian street that runs from the MFA down to Arbatskaya plaza. First stop was a Cuban/tapas place called Floridita. As Bobbi, Sean and Sandi enjoyed their mojitos, we had tasty tapas, watched the parade of lindsey lohan-alikes and the hooker-look wanabees as I imbibed in coke light and then a delightful San cristobal habana cigar….bliss. After receiving a helpful tip from the British manager lady we opted to not go to red square and possibly put ourselves into the position of having to show our passports to police and then have to buy them back on the spot—or risk 4 hours in jail and a 5000 ruble fine (this happened to her recently). Instead we continued down Arbat street, wandered into a few shops (anyone need nesting dolls? Anyone?) then heard the Call of the Latte and satiated it at starbucks. Fortified, and with legs and eyelids growing heavy, we hoofed the 3 km back to the hotel and off in to lala land. Now we awake to a rainy morning, so we prepare for a day of sightseeing then it’s back here to pack up before our evening flight to Chita and our new family!!

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