Moscow

We just received an email from Peter. He’s going to pick us up on Thursday night. It’s unbelievable to think that we’ll be back in Tanzania in a matter of days, when it always seemed like months and months away. Seven months of traveling is coming to a quick end.

Scott and I didn’t have many expectations for Moscow, other than that it would be expensive, which it is compared to our previous destinations this year. But there are a couple things of note regarding the expense. One – our accommodation is free. We’re couchsurfing, for the first time, with an extremely generous and warm couple, Oscar and Olya. They’ve opened their (centrally located) apartment to us (free use of their washer and dryer!), took us touring around the city in their car on our first day, offered us dumplings to eat for dinner, are letting us stay for four nights even though our original couch request was for only two, and are just generally considerate and kind. Before ever signing up for couchsurfing, I’ve had this notion that it is making the world a friendlier place. But I’ve realized that it’s not so much making the world anything; couchsurfing is merely the enabler, a vehicle through which people can exhibit the better side of human nature. People, for no apparent selfish reason at all, are inviting strangers into their home and going out of their way to be good hosts. It’s a beautiful thing.

The other thing about the city being expensive – it’s worth it. Moscow has shown itself to be a vibrant, opulent, amazing city. So spending US$2 for a small ice cream cone is fine because it means getting to have a sweet, cool treat while walking around a city you want to be in. Paying US$12 for a ticket to attend the Nikulan Circus is totally worth it because it means 2 ½ hours of pure mind-boggling, hilarious, spectacular entertainment. And dolling out US$6 for a ticket to the Museum of 20^th Century American and European art is not a big deal at all because laying eyes on Monet, Magritte, Degas, Van Gogh, Picasso, Pollack, and Rodin (just to name a few) is like drinking water after days of walking through a desert.

Plus, there are plenty of things for free, like visiting the Church of Christ the Savior. Or walking around Gorkhi Park. Scott and I were thinking that walking through the park would offer us a nice respite from the bustle of the city. We were dead wrong because today, a gorgeous Sunday, Gorkhi Park was teeming with action and people. It almost felt like all of Moscow was there doing one of a thousand activities offered at the park – playing beach volleyball or baci ball or table tennis, paddle boating, sunbathing on a hammock or a big pillow or a blanker, watching a dance off or a skateboarding competition or a Jeep demonstration, picnicking with friends and family, bicycling, shopping at an outdoor market, eating any number of food items offered at the park snack stands or the restaurants or cafes, attending the Moscow Flower Show, playing in a fountain, buying a balloon, sucking on a promotional Chupa-Chup lollipop, watching the snowy white swans, posing for a professional photo, drinking beer, people watching. It seemed like we could turn a corner in the park and there was something brand new to do or observe. Having to endure such harsh winters means that when the sun is out, Russians take advantage of each and every sunray, especially on a Sunday.

All in all, Scott and I have had a great first two days in Moscow. Now we do have expectations, but I don’t think day three or four will disappoint. Tomorrow we’ll tour the Kremlin.