It is my last night in Russia....a time to reflect on a truly great trip. I only wish Arleigh was here with me! I just finished packing and will say goodbye to Moscow early in the morning. (I am actually finishing writing this after getting off my flight from Moscow to London....the guy next to me drank 8 FULL glasses of wine--I counted!-- and is currently passed out on the seat next to me).
On Sunday I went to the Ismailovsky market with the goal of getting my quotas of souvenirs. Along the way to the Metro, the streets were all decorated, celebrating "Golden Autumn". There were venders in small kiosks all over the place, selling mostly cheese and other tasty edibles. Families and lovers were out and about taking photos, sampling the foods, and just enjoying being outside.
Free music
Pumpkin Carving
There were so many young families about.
At night the Moscow is especially magical, with colored lights over many of the streets.
Ismailsky market is just outside the city centre and easily assessible by the metro. It is acres and acres of souvenir stands, absolutely overwhelming. Some of my purchases included the mandatory matryoshka nesting dolls and a shkatulka (hand painted laquered box). It is a really fun place and the prices are a fraction of that what you might pay in the city centre. Here are some of my purchases:
A hand-painted wooden dreidel depicting scenes of Noah's Ark
Shkatulka
Hand painted Matryoshka (there are 5 smaller ones inside)
It was a really fun place and I enjoyed talking to the vendors. The matryoska on the bottom was painted by the wife of one of the vendors. He was a New Zealandophile. He told me that his dream was to move to the South Island and live in Dunedin.
I loved talking with everyone! The vendors, the taxi driver on my way back to the airport, receptionists, waiters, salespeople. People just open up when they hear a foreigner speak Russian. While the Russian people seem very cold and uninterested when you pass in the street, they are really very warm and friendly.
On Tuesday evening I went to see the musical Zalushka (Cinderella). It was VERY interesting. In the middle of the show, two men in the orchestra got in a serious fist fight. People sitting nearby broke up the fight, but it went on for a full two minutes. Ushers had trouble removing the offender, but the show went on onstage as if nothing happened.
The play also had a very interesting Russian theme. Despite the fact that this was the original Oscar and Hammerstein score, Cinderella convinces the Prince to hire her stepsisters's (this stepsister was nice!) boyfriend who is a communist to become his chief advisor. He promises to open the palace to all the people of the city and to end hunger and poverty.
Cinderella
There were several areas where little princesses could pose
The actual glass slippers that Cinderella wore were on display!
Of course, the main reason I was in Russia was to go to a Gastroenterology Conference! It was over the course of three days and was quite good. I understood the lectures reasonably well (the conference was entirely in Russian with the exception of the international speakers). The conference was held at a large university campus in Southern Moscow. I learned a lot about how inflammatory bowel disease is treated and viewed in Russia. It is very much a "closet disease" (much more so than in the US and NZ)and there are NO patient support groups in the entire country. Access to medications is also very limited. I am in communication with someone from the Urals about the possibility of developing a childrens' camp in Russia for kids with IBD....maybe something will come out of it!
Conference sign
Visiting American expert
Liver lecture
University Campus
One of my other missions was to buy a gift for my soon-to-be born grandson. I was directed by the receptionist of my hotel to a Russian department store. It has to be where Russian billionaires shop!
It was unbelievable. I could not find anything for under $300!
The entire childrens' department was divided up by designer!
The smallest hedgehog stuffed animal here was $200. The second smallest was $325!
Finally, here is a photo of real Russian borsht. Yum!!!!
Russia is an amazing place, but I do miss home and, especially, my wife. Leaving is bittersweet. I carry home with me so many memories of wonderful places, but mostly wonderful new friends.
On Sunday I went to the Ismailovsky market with the goal of getting my quotas of souvenirs. Along the way to the Metro, the streets were all decorated, celebrating "Golden Autumn". There were venders in small kiosks all over the place, selling mostly cheese and other tasty edibles. Families and lovers were out and about taking photos, sampling the foods, and just enjoying being outside.
Free music
Pumpkin Carving
There were so many young families about.
At night the Moscow is especially magical, with colored lights over many of the streets.
Ismailsky market is just outside the city centre and easily assessible by the metro. It is acres and acres of souvenir stands, absolutely overwhelming. Some of my purchases included the mandatory matryoshka nesting dolls and a shkatulka (hand painted laquered box). It is a really fun place and the prices are a fraction of that what you might pay in the city centre. Here are some of my purchases:
A hand-painted wooden dreidel depicting scenes of Noah's Ark
Shkatulka
Hand painted Matryoshka (there are 5 smaller ones inside)
It was a really fun place and I enjoyed talking to the vendors. The matryoska on the bottom was painted by the wife of one of the vendors. He was a New Zealandophile. He told me that his dream was to move to the South Island and live in Dunedin.
I loved talking with everyone! The vendors, the taxi driver on my way back to the airport, receptionists, waiters, salespeople. People just open up when they hear a foreigner speak Russian. While the Russian people seem very cold and uninterested when you pass in the street, they are really very warm and friendly.
On Tuesday evening I went to see the musical Zalushka (Cinderella). It was VERY interesting. In the middle of the show, two men in the orchestra got in a serious fist fight. People sitting nearby broke up the fight, but it went on for a full two minutes. Ushers had trouble removing the offender, but the show went on onstage as if nothing happened.
The play also had a very interesting Russian theme. Despite the fact that this was the original Oscar and Hammerstein score, Cinderella convinces the Prince to hire her stepsisters's (this stepsister was nice!) boyfriend who is a communist to become his chief advisor. He promises to open the palace to all the people of the city and to end hunger and poverty.
Cinderella
There were several areas where little princesses could pose
The actual glass slippers that Cinderella wore were on display!
Of course, the main reason I was in Russia was to go to a Gastroenterology Conference! It was over the course of three days and was quite good. I understood the lectures reasonably well (the conference was entirely in Russian with the exception of the international speakers). The conference was held at a large university campus in Southern Moscow. I learned a lot about how inflammatory bowel disease is treated and viewed in Russia. It is very much a "closet disease" (much more so than in the US and NZ)and there are NO patient support groups in the entire country. Access to medications is also very limited. I am in communication with someone from the Urals about the possibility of developing a childrens' camp in Russia for kids with IBD....maybe something will come out of it!
Conference sign
Visiting American expert
Liver lecture
University Campus
One of my other missions was to buy a gift for my soon-to-be born grandson. I was directed by the receptionist of my hotel to a Russian department store. It has to be where Russian billionaires shop!
It was unbelievable. I could not find anything for under $300!
The entire childrens' department was divided up by designer!
The smallest hedgehog stuffed animal here was $200. The second smallest was $325!
Finally, here is a photo of real Russian borsht. Yum!!!!
Russia is an amazing place, but I do miss home and, especially, my wife. Leaving is bittersweet. I carry home with me so many memories of wonderful places, but mostly wonderful new friends.
