In Moscow

I arrived in Moscow on Wednesday, June 7th at about noon. Masha and Nathan (bride and groom for Saturday's wedding) were there to meet me. We grabbed some lunch at the stolovia (cafeteria) and talked for an hour and then waited for Vanessa (Masha's friend from D.C.) to arrive. Vanessa had trouble with her luggage and so she was late coming out to find us, but after she did we all rode the marshrutka (shuttle bus) to the closest Metro stop and then rode the Metro together. Nathan, Masha and Vanessa all got out at her stop and I rode on to the station where I changed lines and then rode on to my stop in southwest Moscow.

I had a little trouble finding Sasha and Ira's apartment, but did finally and when I did, they were not home! It was nearly 5:00 and I expected Sasha to be home. I decided to try to talk to a neighbor (the apartment entrances are in clusters of 4 on each floor, and often these people if they live in the same place a long time, become good friends with their neighbors). One neighbor answered the door and I succeeded in communicating in Russian who I was and what my problem was regarding finding Sasha. He made some calls and then he got the key to Sasha's apartment and let me in! Hurrah! I was a little concerned that Sasha's dog -- a beautiful big German Shepherd would not remember me, but if he did or didn't at least he didn't attack, we greeted each other (he smelled my hand) and then all was well.

Sasha and Ira came home by about 6:15, and we had a nice reunion.

This post is coming from an Internet Cafe in the underground mall next to Red Square. I'm almost out of time, so further posts and (I hope) some pictures will follow.