The walking day

Yesterday we had heard it was to get to 0c today so we thought we'd go for a long walk today. First our morning was rather routine – same ol, same ol. My friend Jane called and we talked for awhile and then I did wipe up the floor, Jane. This was after vacuuming so it looks rather clean here again! Around noon we hit the sidewalks. Brian had studied the map so we thought we knew where we were going. I had thought we'd try the trolley or bus today but Brian thought otherwise (LOL!) so we walked, and walked, and walked and wound up at the Orange/Yellow Mall. In all actuality it only took us a little under an hour to get there and we found we did take a little round-about way getting there. It was a nice walk tho and different scenery. So we were hungry when we got there and tried to find a café. No luck but at one of the food booths there was a line of locals so we queued up there. I asked the lady ahead of us if "ye penemayo pangleske?" (do you understand English?) and she did! Yeah! So she helped explain some of the food items when I asked her what she liked to eat. The chicken and fish look very much alike for the most part so I always get a little nervous ordering by sight! (I like fish but generally not in Russia unless someone who can translate is with me!). So Brian got these little turnover looking things that had meat in them – like a pasty with just meet and crust. It was good (and cheap). I had a meat filled blini (pancake) and it was also good. I was still a little hungry tho so we got a hot dog in a crescent type bread and it was just like a hot dog at home – I didn't really care for it but it filled me up! Ha, ha. So we just walked around the mall for a long time. Lots of clothing stores everywhere, shoes, purses, jewelry, some household goods and some more expensive items like clocks. But really, a lot of clothing and coat/hat stores! Every one had sale signs in the windows and almost every one had the clerk talking on the telephone! No one was too busy or seemed to be buying much!

We decided to take a different route home. We remembered from 2-years ago where we had boarded the bus and just followed that road toward the city center. Once we got to where we knew where we were, we were about 1-block off from where we started – and the walk back to that spot was probably ½ the length as the trip to the mall. For those of you familiar with IRK what you do to walk to the big mall is take Lenin until you see the park where the kids rides are and continue on past that about 1-block. You walk along the length of the park for probably about 1-mile maybe and you wind up right across the street from the mall. Now you could also take the #1 bus (I think) for about 8-rubles and do the same thing but if we actually ride the bus one day I'll confirm that LOL!

Once back in the city center I needed a break – we had been on our feet for over 2-hours by then. We cut down a side street and came upon a café so stopped in. I asked the girl if she understood English and she said a little but I don't think she really did. I ordered tea and asked for something sweet or a dessert – she said "sandwich?" I said no, dessert – she said she didn't have any. So I said tea was fine. Well about 5-minutes later someone else at another table got something with meringue on it! So it was just a communication gap – but our tea was good, the sitting welcome and the restroom clean and nice.

We then headed to Brand Hall for me to replenish my Clinique skin care routine. I figure if I purchase it (which duplicates what I have at home) we maybe won't be here so long! But regardless, my skin is taking a beating outside each day and I need to do my care morning and night – so now I can. I also got a "free gift" and they gave me AND Brian samples of fragrances. They were very helpful and nice.

Then we had to stop to get some more rubles as we were down to coins, no more paper bills. Then we stopped and got another internet card so we are always ready when we run out. We're using about 1 ½-2 hours a day so it goes fast! After that we had to make a stop at the market under the stadium for some meat and salad. Very easy transaction today – between my translation book and pointing we are doing ok. Trying a different veggie salad tonight – so far they've all been very good but we like the cheaper ones best! Got ground beef and ground pork – have a few items to try and make and Brian has been very good at eating my chicken dishes so I'll give him a break and give him some beef now! Just forgot to get mushrooms so have to add that to tomorrow's list – tonight we'll do a dish without them.

We really didn't do much today to take pictures of but we have a few to post. There are some other miscellaneous items I think of, usually after posting for the day, I want to add. One thing is how more relaxed toward certain things we are this trip compared to trips #1 and #2. We are brushing our teeth with sink water! Maybe that doesn't seem like much but the first trips we always used bottled water – LOL – and we're healthier this trip than ever! Brian said he doesn't think we'll die from oral hygiene! I also wanted to mention to my IRK travelling friends that NOT ONCE have we been scolded for having too big of bills when paying! You know how you always had to come up with coin and they just kept muttering to you? NOT ONCE – in fact they even take the 500r & 100r and willingly give change – even if it's not close! We also notice that the locals seem to make eye contact and sometimes even smile at us more than before… but maybe we're doing it to them too. And several times in stores they have come up and asked us if we needed help! Boy, things are changing here! I gotta learn how to say "just looking" tho – the one time they thought I wanted product for my eyes! LOL

So now we get back to the routine part of the evening – watching TV, reading, playing on computer, dinner later, JJ usually calls, internet surfing one more time and then a DVD show or two. We have learned that no matter how awake I think I am I can only make it through one Moonlighting episode so I have a few to catch up on!