Snowing in Siberia

This is the game - there are no directions (even in Russian!) but with the clues now I think we can figure it out -- thanks!!










Snowplows coming!

All in a row...

Last night we were awaken about 3am to loud noises in the street outside our bedroom. It was the street crew cleaning the snow off the curb with a bobcat and dump truck and about six workers. It They must have heard the forecast as we woke up this morning and it was snowing! Not like we'd call snow in Wisconsin but a light but steady blowing of very fine snow. It did pile up! We left the apartment about 1pm after a light lunch of egg salad and chicken salad sandwiches. Last night I had purchased a French Bread at the supermarket uptown and it was so good! Soft (very soft compared to the bread we've been eating from the store across the street) but also about double the price…. Anyway we were heading to the "orange mall" to pick up a few things we had only found there. The walk to it wasn't too bad as the wind was to our back and we cut through Central Park. We bought some crackers I had seen at a kiosk the other day and they turned out to be quite good Animal Cracker type cookies. I hope Nathan likes them! We also bought each of us a cookie at a small stand – 6 rubles each. Brian said his was rather bland but mine had peanuts on it and was quite good. We headed back again and this time the wind was in our face – oh boy, it was cold! We were walking down the street and all of a sudden we heard an intercom talking – it was a police car leading a procession of five snowplows all in a row! Brian got a few shots of it – they all were plowing – and then when we were a little further up the road they all came back – still plowing! Very interesting! We also saw lots of people shoveling and sweeping – and there is a good inch (few centimeters) on the ground! It's also -18c!

We popped into the bookstore quickly and there were two girls who must have heard me say something in English – they wanted to talk for a few minutes. They were both 12-years old. One's name was Christine and the other a Russian name I don't remember – seems when they travel in pairs one has a more English name, one more Russian LOL (well the boys the other day were Denis and Sergei so maybe only girls do that!) We then stopped at the "Blue Door Café" (not its name I'm sure but what we call it to keep track of all our favorite cafes'!) The same lady was there again… we just had tea and Brian had a meat pie – usually those are gone when we're there. She said "no apple, no cheese?" – she knows what we normally get! Brian said the meat pie was good. Bill for the two teas and the meat pie was 60rubles.

Then we went to the market under the stadium. Got some meat supplies for the next few meals – tomorrow is "big shopping day". It took me a long time to do my shopping list this morning. First I planned out some meals, then I wrote the items I need, then I found the word in Russian and then I wrote down the pronunciation in Russian in case I need to ask for the item. Complicated procedure! We'll probably go to the general market (not the supermarket) off the Walking Street to purchase many of the items tomorrow. It seems they have a better selection and the prices are the same if not better! Just a little longer walk home. I'll have my packhorse with me LOL

So since it's so miserable outside we're just hanging out in the apartment – we are waking up early tomorrow to webcam with JJ after school – hope it works and I can't wait to see him! People can see us on IM but we haven't seen anyone yet! Tomorrow I'll do a little more cleaning to the apartment so it's ready for Nathan and we'll rearrange some things to hide some toys and activities so he doesn't go into them all at once!