This Reminds Me

We arrived in Moscow early this morning, having taken the electric sleeper train from St. Pete.  The sleeper train is sort of like a giant moving barbecue smoker – low, constant indoor heat; guys with beer bottles standing around; and smoke residue everywhere.  If you’re old enough to walk in Russia, you’re old enough to smoke.  One of our Buckner workers told us there were two types of restaurant sections here – smoking, and chain smoking.

Julia was seemingly unaffected by it.  After no nap and hours of crying, she fell asleep before we left the station, and slept soundly all night.

Watching the countryside zoom by the windows was very cool, especially with the full moon.  Unfortunately, our digital camera went kaput.  We’re hoping it’s the battery.  We’re getting a new one tomorrow.

We got her American Embassy-approved physical in Moscow today, then collapsed at the hotel for a 4.5 hour nap, badly needed by all three of us.  She began whimpering when she awoke.  I think it’s those “sleepy times” that remind her most that she’s no longer in her “dom” (home.)  A snack and cartoons before a good evening walk chased the blues away.  We found a park with play equipment and $2 hotdogs maybe 1 mi. away – liking that.

Julia’s first bath last night was very entertaining – for all of us.  At first, she refused to get in the water with a repeated “nyet nyet nyet.”    I expected this reaction, and quckly lifted her in and plopped her down with a “da da da.”   She looked very surprised – the water was nice and warm.  She loved the bubble bath.  Stuck her face down in the water (there are swimming lessons in her future.)  She had a lot of caked-in dirt, so, we changed out the water and added more bubbles.  Tonight I had no trouble getting her in the tub.

Tomorrow we’re seeing Red Square.  We’re hoping Lenin’s body isn’t out for a cleaning – we’d like to see that, too.  If our digital camera isn’t working, we may break down and buy a disposable print camera (shudder.)   Sunday is up in the air.  We’re going to talk to our Buckner workers tomorrow and see how fast we can get the U.S. Embassy paperwork done, and getting her registered at the Russian Embassy.  Kind of a drag being here for a weekend.  Moscow is more expensive than St. Pete with none of its charms.  It’s way more Soviet and much less European.  Though Keith will find interesting things to see and do within walking distance of the hotel, I know that.  He always does.  He is about 10′ from me, ironing wet jeans to speed their drying.  We’re not so much “staying” here as “camping” here.

Live a little this weekend.  Try some bubble bath.  Go ahead – put your face down in it.