Kelly's Quotidian

Day-2 Moscow 12.30.05
I didn’t write another journal entry till the 3rd of January. The second and third days in Moscow whisked by full of life and experiences.
After Noel came into the room, ending my 1st journal entry, we started telling stories. Some were personal, some just stories. I told him about Martyn Bennett, my favorite Scottish artist-everyone should have one. He died last year and I was profoundly sad about it, strange to feel that way for someone you never met. We listened to the last song on the Grit album-Storyteller. Noel in turn had me read a story about the Summit-I will never forget it, I felt the heart of the story several times since and feel that Noel gave me a piece of wisdom that will serve me well for life.
The e-mail that I wrote about the day follows.
Moscow Day 3:
Dasvadana and Happy New Year!
Our first night in Moscow some Russian friends, Sveta and Alex, of Noel’s came over to our Hotel and we had a “party”. Drank LOTS of Russian beer, listened to music, talked about politics, love, and borscht! It was awesome. I have already earned my keep as a Crazy American:-)
Yesterday we went to Ohokny Riad (Red Square). It was actually warm, by Russian standards. It was breath takingly beautiful-the buildings are so rich in color it’s like taking a deep long drink of something that tastes wonderful. I’ve had the sensation of drinking hungrily with my eyes ever since. We got lost on the metro which was actually kind of fun. I’m embarassed to say that I was suprised by the modern look and sophistication of the peeps. We went to a miliary shop that sells old CCCP stuff. On the way to eat dinner our cab driver pulled a total Starsky and Hutch maneuver and avoided hitting a car that came carreening across our line of traffic and then spun out doing a couple of 360’s-Andre, Alex’s brother, did a 5-count and yelled “What a JourrrrrrrK” (jerk:-). It was hilarious. I said maybe we’re safter taking the subway, to which Andre replied, “In cab, have accident; on subway terrorist make bomb; in plane, crash-any way you go, you fuckT (fucked)”. Good old Russian stoicism.
We went to a traditional Ukranian restaurant for dinner-the food was good and we laughed our asses off. Alex made a gift to me-he gave me his old Russian military gaurd coat that he had from his day in the service. He was in the Russian special ops. It is BAD ASS. I almost cried. They have been great to us. We are going to Sveta and Alex’s house tonight for a New Years Eve party.
We stayed up drinking ALL night, again. Today we went to Red Square again to see St. Basil’s. While in the square, church bells stared chiming-the sound echoed through out the square. I looked over at St. Basil’s and started to cry with a deep feeling of contentment and beauty.
Poka,
K
Red buildings outside of Red Square.

Ah, America nothing is out of her reach.


The picture doesn’t do justice to how big the eagle was!

The picture below is the zero point for all mileage in Russia-it’s good luck to throw a coin over your shoulder from the center.

Journal: Day 2 Moscow
12.30.05
I’m listening to the sounds of a busy Moscovi life whirl by me in the streets below. Noel and Jason are lucky to be sleeping off the many beers we had last night. Sveta and Alex spent the evening with us-I broke all the rules by talking about love, politics, and religion! Oh well:-) I was suprised at not feeling jet-lagged. It may hit me still. It’s not ast cold as I thought it would be. I’m letting my hair dry by an open window. It snowed on us all day yesterday-too cool. I love the sweet softness of falling snow-even if it is dusted in coal residue. I feel like I’ve dropped into this life rather well, so far. We’re going to do some shopping and see Red Square today. Julia and the driver picked us up…
Noel came into the room-the day began.

Pictures of Day1, the day before this entry, follow:
Jason,Me, and Noel Day 1 at tree in fron of Bolshoi

Julia, Jason, Noel, Lena, Me heading to eat dinner through downtown Moscow Day1

Jason, Alex, Sveta, and Noel our first eve at the hotel

I want to share with you my adventure in Russia.
I left on Deceber 28th and returned on January 11th.
Noel, Jason, and I stayed in Moscow for 5 days and in a camp, outside a villiage on the outskirts of another villiage, 90 miles away from Moscow, for 8 days.
I wrote a few e-mails, kept a diary, and took 337 pictures. Below is the first e-mail.

Moscow: Day 1
Feeling pretty good-jet lag smetlag!
IT’S SNOWING, alot. Not too cold either, a balmy 22 degrees.
We’ve already almost had a dozen car accidents, but are lucky to have a driver whose channeling Steve McQueen! So far we’ve only had to give up a few hundred roubles (10 bucks) in bribes at the hotel-we got the delux suite. I walked into the bathroom, saw no toilet and yelled for Noel “Where the hell am I supposed pee?!!!” He promptly replied “In the other closet!” They apparently seperate toilets from showers.
Suprisingly enough, that was the closest I came to a panic attack-not the harrowing car ride of snowy death:-) The plane ride was not so bad. Our buddy Jason sat with a bloke from Camaroon who spent most of the plane ride showing him home grown porn.
At the end of the flight Phelix (the Camaroonian) gave his number to Jason and pointed at me and said “Bring her too”. International love baby!
Now we’re off to get some brewskis and borscht.
Poka poka,
Kellianya

Noel, Me, and Jason in the Taxi from Moscow airport 12.29.05