...it was closed! Really. For a World War II commemoration.
We left the hotel this morning early with the Houston group (the other two
groups are kind of stand-off-ish; in fact, the one from South Carolina is
all adults) and Metro-ed to Red Square and were met by oodles of cops and
soldiers-- after I spoke with one of the policemen, we changed course, got
back on a train and went to the huge children's store Detskiy Mir to look
around and then to the Arbat (big touristy shopping boulevard), where we
wandered from one end to the other, stopping for an hour or so for lunch at
the Hard Rock Cafe (not my personal choice or preference-- too many loud and
obnoxious Americans and English-speaking waitstaff--but, sometimes you just
have to go along with the majority) where I had a $10 BLT...
While on the Arbat, Justin (my sole male student) was targeted by a
picpocket who bumped him and checked his back pocket-- fortunately for him
(not the pickpocket), his pockets were empty (as they were supposed to be).
We tell the kids, boys especially, to carry money, passport, etc. in their
front pockets. Just another cultural experience for the group!
After the Arbat, we returned to the hotel for a short break (I took a cold
shower-- remember, DUSHNO), we hit the outdoor shopping area adjacent to the
hotel to look around. Some of the kids bought a gift or two and we got
caught in a small thundershower while there. Most of the students aren't
too enamored with the food selections presented at our free meals, but other
than that, things seem to be moving along.
Tomorrow we have to check out of the hotel by 9 am., then we'll be
travelling to Sergeev Posad
(http://www.avrora.biz/golden_ring/city/14.html), which will be an all day
trip. We'll be on the bus to the train station to go to St. Petrersburg at
10:30 pm; the train leaves at 1 am and gets into St. Pete at 8:30.
So, guess that's it for now...
Poka from Moscow!
E.B.
