Zoo Day

Our final (full) day in Russia! I slept until about 7am and then got myself somewhat presentable to go to the lobby to get coffee. Then stopped at the computer to check emails, etc. Love the comments! While I was gone Brian said Genya slept until about 8am – so he got a good night's sleep! After my shower and getting dressed I went to the supermarket for some breakfast items, few more bananas and apples for Genya and some salsa which they restocked. I was surprised when I stepped outside to go there that it had snowed some overnight and was still some snow in the air!

Earlier I had stopped by the desk to inquire about the best way to get to the zoo. We had walked by it a few times but didn't want to walk that far today and then still do the zoo. It's one metro stop away or would be a 1000-ruble taxi ride! Yikes! I said we'll figure out the taxi (like 75c/person and kids are free). So for that much savings we'll get over being chickens about the Moscow Metro!

Meanwhile, while watching Nickelodeon, I'm planning out the packing – what can stay, what needs to go and how to pack it all in for space and protection!

There are a lot of Americans here in the Marriott right now – there is some big conference and from here I think they go to St. Petersburg and then Poland and maybe one more place – heard them talking on the elevator about it… Brian and I both commented this morning how since we've been here we've hardly spoken Russian at all (a little to Genya and some basic greetings) – I haven't had my translation books out once on this part of our stay! At the hotel they all speak perfect English and we haven't done much else talking to people… the few we have spoken to at length has all been in English.

We left a little before 11am to head to the zoo. The metro was so easy to use – of course it was only one stop and no transfers and that helped! It was neat – you take an escalator ride WAY down into the earth and then you wait for your train. They come very quickly – you sit and ride until you hear your stop (ours was the next one) and then you take a very steep elevator ride back UP to the street. Genya slipped backwards once on the first trip up – scared me some! We then just had use the underground walking place to cross under the street and we were at the zoo! Only 300 rubles for us adults, children free. This was the bargain of Moscow other than the metro ride! I'm glad we brought Genya's snowpants from IRK as he wore them and his boots – was dressed like we were in Siberia! It was just about at freezing but the wind was strong and the snow kept slapping our faces. The zoo was very nice – quite large! Not many of the animals were outside but we were able to see most of them in their inside lodging. We didn't pay extra to see the Siberian Tiger but we can see that at the MKE zoo! Overall it was very nice and we're glad we did it – and it greatly occupied the day!

The neatest thing on the day was this – we had seen the Polar Bears earlier in the visit and when we were walking by them again to head to the other part of the zoo Genya just started reciting the book we read a lot in IRK: "Polar Bear, Polar Bear what do you see?" So I replied "I see Genya looking at me!" We did this several times (and now he just did it in his bath too) – We know Grandma is ready to start reading to him so he'll be ready to listen!

Back at the hotel we treated ourselves to a drink in the hotel lobby bar – Genya had cherry juice and Brian and I had hot chocolate. It was an expensive treat but we enjoyed it! Tomorrow morning I'm ordering room service for breakfast – again somewhat expensive but it will be a nice "goodbye to Russia" for us and we'll have a decent meal before leaving for the airport. (Genya will be having his normal yogurt, fruit and dry cereal but I'm sure he'll eat some of our meals also!) Tonight it is Sabarro's Pizza again – Brian also went to the bookstore up the street where he found some magazines in English. As he's been out of reading material for WEEKS he needs something for the plane. I still have my one book so then we'll be set – we know we have STACKS of magazines waiting for us at home!

We had two callers this afternoon (had one last night also) – Elena was one of the callers so Genya enjoyed talking to her about the last few days. Wanted to know why we still weren't in America – she said there were documents we needed to get and he replied that he had all sorts of documents!! How right in a way he was. Overall tho he was still happy with everything so when we do discipline him it must not be retained as "bad"!

I did manage to get the suitcases all packed – there are some things we're leaving behind here in Moscow (mostly clothing items) to save space more than weight. Nothing we'll be heartbroken about! Have I mentioned how happy I will be to see my clothes and shoes again!?! I've been using the same one pair of shoes, one pair of boots (which are staying here) and six sweaters with four pants for the past two months!! Two sweaters stayed behind in IRK along with one pair of pants – the rest of my clothes, other than my PJs, will be coming home with us… both of us are thoroughly tired of our pajamas – to never see them again will not be long enough!

Genya's just finishing up his "last bath in Russia". We're all anxious to be getting on that plane tomorrow!