Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Hi Dubai!











We just returned from a glorious, relaxing long weekend in Dubai with a good friend and Moscow mentor, David Telepak.  Dubai is incredible...

We took Emirates Airlines which was quite impressive...

Love the uniforms!
Upon arrival, we headed out to the taxi stand and had 2 lines to choose from....one for parties that included a female (women are required to take taxis with women drivers) and one for men only.  We hopped aboard a taxi with the sweetest female driver...she called me “Darling” the duration of the trip to the hotel.  Most everyone in Dubai speaks English.

The next 4 days were filled with beach time, fantastic shopping (Dubai is home to the largest mall in the world - yahtzee!), exploring the desert and fantastic food.

High rise condos and hotels the length of the beach...

These camels were sun bathing along with us!  SPF 5000...

The native dress was fascinating...men from the UAE (United Arab Emirates) wore white robes and white head gear, men from Saudi Arabia (right next door), wore the same white robes with red and white checked head gear.  Women were wearing all kinds of things.  Some in full berka....which I have to say, I found fascinating.  We asked a woman in full cover for directions and it was so unusual, and a bit startling, to talk only to her eyes.  She couldn’t have been more friendly.  I noticed almost every woman (including our taxi driver) was carrying a very expensive handbag, beautiful jewelry and fancy shoes.  I was dying to peek underneath to see what clothes they were wearing.  No doubt, most had on very expensive couture.











We had been told by many that the desert safari was a must do. Thirty minutes outside Dubai, we arrived at the desert - it looked like a scene right out of Lawrence of Arabia

The setting sun was perfect for this shot! 

We didn’t know what to expect but once our jeep arrived at the desert, our driver deflated the tires and “floored it” for the next 30 minutes!!!  We now know this is called “Dune Bashing”!  Thank goodness all of us had good sea (desert) legs.  This was a roller coaster ride of unparalleled proportions.  We were at 90 degrees a few times....up and down the dunes....speeding through sand embankments...catching air - a wild, wild ride!
  



We arrived at a camp with other “bashers”, sat on the ground and ate native food - lots of grilled lamb, nuts, dates, apricots, hummus, pita bread...and belly dancer entertainment...when in Dubai...you have to take in some belly dancing! Thank goodness, post-meal, our drive home was on a flat surface...

At the end of our first camel ride....whoa horsey... (notice the spit preventer!)

In the dunes with our good friend David...


Saturday, March 19, 2011

Peter Columbus!



We get the Peter Columbus salute every morning.  This statue, standing 94 meters high on the Moscow River, is the 8th tallest statue in the world.  As legend has it - the statue was initially of Christopher Columbus - but when the U.S. Government rejected it, its head was replaced and was sold to the Russian Government as a nautical statue of Peter the Great...hence the nickname “Peter Columbus”.  In November 2008, it was voted the tenth ugliest building in the world...
From our bedroom window...with a zoom lens...thank goodness we can appreciate him from a distance!

Some Muscovites are lobbying to have the structure removed...or blown up....poor guy.


Friday, March 18, 2011

Fries with your "BIG MAK"?



I’m going to keep this in mind the next time I find myself strumming my fingers wating in a slow fast food line....
In 1990 nearly 30,000 people lined up to be the first to eat the famous “Big Mak” at the grand opening of Moscow’s first McDonald’s.  It was the world’s largest McDonald’s with 28 cash registers and enough seating for 700 people...

(this is the opening of the first Parisian location - but gives the same idea)

Russians were unaccustomed to eating finger food/sandwiches.  Some ate their Big Mak with a spoon while others pulled it apart and ate it layer by layer. 

Today - there are McDonald's all over town with "walk up" windows rather than drive throughs.  There is always a line...




                   *Some of this content came from a post by Michael Anderson.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

A Sea of Soldiers...

Ever been walking down the street and got the sense that someone was right behind you?  Then turned around to find hundreds of Russian soldiers engulfing you on the street?  A British friend and I were exploring Red Square and the surrounding area.  As we looked over our shoulders - this is what we saw...



and over the railing...  



There is a slight undercurrent of an authoritative presence in Moscow. I come from a military family and have been around soldiers all my life but this experience caused me to give pause....for a split second. Unexpected, the image of a sea of soldiers was a bit daunting...until we realized - these young guys were fairly relaxed and quite human.




Found the officer’s hat in this photo fascinating - so very Russian.


Noticed 3 stars on the lapel of what appears to be a Naval officer in this photo...


These uniforms have such a “throw back” feeling - as if these soldiers just stepped out of war time.  Young men (ages 18 - 27) are brought into the Army via conscription (draft) in Russia in two call-ups each year.  Their term of service is 12 months then remain in the reserves. The Russian Army, 1 million strong, is the third largest behind China and the U.S.


Tuesday, March 15, 2011

The great thaw...

Russians believe spring starts March 1st.  Tell that to the thermometer.  Actually, we had our warmest day since we arrived yesterday - 41 degrees!  Complete heaven.  (Wow - has our perspective changed).  Went without gloves for the first time since our landing on November 30th. I wanted to break out my flip-flop sundress combo.  Steve and I were amazed at how the city came alive - tons of people walking in the parks, sitting on benches....doing a full-on Vitamin D soak!  Perhaps spring really is on the way - although we’re realistically bracing for at least one more cold snap before the city truly blossoms into fantastic.
This is a mild version of the “black ice” we’ve been traversing across all winter - glob 5 more thick, uneven layers on top of this - and that will about do it.  Fun times right there. 




Quite amazing...
  • We have a rotary phone in our apartment. When was the last time you heard the “click, click, click, click, click, click, click, click” after you dialed “9”?  Those under the age of 30 are wondering what I’m talking about...  
  • Our radiator heat is either “on” or “off” in our apartment - centrally controlled for the entire building.  If it gets too hot...we regulate the temp by opening a window...and letting in some snow.
  • We pay our electric bill by reading the meter outside our apartment and walking down to the bank and paying in Rubles each month.  We also stand in line at the metro station to buy a ticket from a woman behind the glass counter (very gruff and somewhat lite in the sense of humor department).  “Nyet, Rubles only!”  .....Yes m’am.
Can you tell we live in a Stalin era building?

  • No voice mail to speak of in Moscow.  If it’s important enough - track the person down and have a live conversation.  A touch light on the efficiency ratio.
  • Most Russians know very little English.  After a few minutes of trying to communicate - when we realize we’re going to stay lost in translation and it’s time to move on - we often get the only English words they know “good luck!” - which cracks us up each time.  They know, that we know, that they know we need it!  
  • 350 degrees on our oven here does not equal the same 350 degrees on our U.S. oven.  It took 2 charred frozen pizzas to figure that one out.  180 degrees C is 350 F.  And so the learning continues...
  • Renting an apartment requires a sign off on all, and I mean all, that comes with the apartment.  We thought that meant a short rental agreement addendum that mentioned the wardrobe closet that came with the apartment. They account for everything from the toilet paper holder, to the soap tray to the “bra light in the hall”... just realized we had one of those...who knew?

    “Made my day”...
    • Gave one of my hand warmer packets (winter sports fans use these ditties to keep the digits warm) to our interpreter on what was a freeeeeezing cold day in Tver.  He was amazed - had never seen one - an hour later he pulled me aside with astonishment and said “it’s STILL warm!”  It was if he had discovered electricity - he was thrilled....so was I.

    • Trying to find the XC ski park I asked an older babushka if I was taking the tram in the right direction - we were both lost in translation for a few minutes - charades was getting me nowhere.  She finally noticed I had a ski bag on my back, lit up and knew exactly where I was headed - arm and arm she walked me on to the tram and held on to me until my stop then walked me off the tram and pointed me in the right direction....she had become my babushka for the 10 minute tram trip.  A complete angel.


    • One of my XC ski poles broke and I ventured out to buy a new pair.  On my way home, a very old dadushka (yes....grandpa) stopped me and was so curious about my poles - not sure if he was asking where I bought them, what they were for, could he join me....?  I tired to charade it out for him and when we finally parted ways - I looked back over my shoulder and noticed he was wearing a Dallas Cowboys ski jacket!  It brought a huge smile as it is very rare to see any U.S. sportswear over here not to mention on someone who had been around for a long time and probably had some amazing Soviet and Cold War stories...

    Friday, March 11, 2011

    Beautiful Tver!

    I was graciously invited to join a small group on a special private tour of Tver - an old medieval town north of Moscow an hour by train.  I had been told that the “real” Russia is often found outside the bustling busy city -  a treat was in store.
    There is a certain elegance to the Russian culture and architecture.  The wisps of snow on cathedral domes, the delicate detail of trim found on most buildings, even the bark on the trees seems to be special.  We found an old wood cathedral made without a single nail and were given a private tour of the School of Embroidery where girls learn to design with gold thread.  When it started to snow at the end of the day...I thought it was too good to be true.
    I want to transport you to Tver - I put together a small collection of photos to share the experience (per the link below).  At the end you will see the group - flanked on either side by our tour guide on the left and our interpreter on the right.  I hope you see the beautiful elements I saw ... what else do you see?    


    Enjoy Tver!


    http://gallery.me.com/annriddle1#100039/The-20Russian-20Countryside-Mobile&bgcolor=black


    Wednesday, March 9, 2011

    The People!

    Today, I was on a mission.  I wanted to capture the essence of the great people of Moscow.  On my way to and from the day's events, this is what I saw...