The Four Corners: Russia Rewind: Part Three

So, the third day in Moscow (second full day), was a bit more subdued, as I mentioned earlier. The entire first part of the day was spent in Moscow's Planetarium. Again, this was Vanya's big thing, and, since he was treating me like a brother, I was more than happy to go along. Vanya's pops had a friend there, so the three of us got in for free. It was pretty neat....I think. The entire experience was in Russian, save for English translations on some exhibits, so it didn't really do me much good. We took in a couple of shows (including a 3D experience), but again, no Angliski for this American. Oh well, Vanya was having a ball, he eats up the astronomy stuff.

With the day already well into the afternoon, we decided for one more stop before heading back to our place of stay. So, the night before, this guy we met at Sparrow Hills (he can actually be seen in the photo in the last post of Stas, Nika, and myself at the spot-he's the one wearing a rather unbecoming biking outfit), who was in fact an employee of the German Embassy, recommended that we go to this area called Moscow City. Now, Moscow City is this cluster of high-rises (many of which are not even complete) outside the city center that is home to hotels, shopping plazas, and businesses. Our German friend said that there is restaurant called Sixty (located on the sixtieth floor of a hotel there) that offered the best views of the city. Pretty sound advice, so we went for that after the Planetarium.

We decided to walk it, and it took a good half-hour, forty-five minutes. No worries, all for a good cause. Eventually we came into the forest of gleaming skyscrapers, but had to ask around for the place in question (German fellow couldn't remember the hotel name). After finally getting solid directions, we cut through a shopping plaza, where a security guard, apparently not enthralled with our VERY casual clothing (t-shirts and shorts...everyone else around us was wearing expensive looking articles-Moscow City is the playground of the rich and famous) kept a close eye on us the entire time we walked through. Well, we came into the lobby of the building we were directed towards and, lo-and-behold, Sixty had a representative there, waiting to greet potential diners (very fancy). Now, I can't understand much Russian (read: nearly none) but I could tell from the conversation that Vanya and Nika had with the woman that we would not be taking in this grand view. They gave me the reason: pants. You have to be wearing pants in order to enter Sixty. So, we came, didn't really see, definitely didn't conquer. As we left the lobby we noticed the parking lot out front was filled with Mercedes, Rolls-Royce, BMW, Audi, and other fine automobiles. Fucking rich people, discriminating against the pants-less.

OK, so that was the cliff-hangar that I left you guys with from that day. Alright, it wasn't edge-of-your-seat stuff, but, it was a real bummer to walk all the way there, in anticipation of an awesome view, only to be told our attire wasn't up to snuff. Restaurant Sixty, you are dead to me.

But, the evening would eventually end on a high note. After dinner and a rest back at our construction site, Stas drove Nika, one of his co-workers (Sergei, who seemed pretty cool, despite the fact we needed a translator on hand to communicate), and myself (Vanya was beat, and stayed back to get some rest) to Tsaritsyno Park, a massive public space in the south of the city. Apparently the land used to be part of a estate belonging to a Tsarina. There is a former palace on the grounds (which might be a museum now) as well as a large fountain where people were enjoying the evening and listening to music (I don't know where it was coming from, but it sounded as if it was being piped in from somewhere). Anyway, it was an absolutely gorgeous evening, perfect for taking a stroll. I kept to conversation primarily with Nika (I may have mentioned it, but her English was tip-top) but occasionally Stas or Sergei (through Nika) would throw a question about the US my way (Russians, or at least the ones I interacted with, are very interested in the United States...particularly New York City. I made it known that I was most definitively not from NYC, but that didn't stop them asking me detailed questions about it). At 2300 the fountain went out, signalling the park would be closing, and we headed back to the car.

And so completed the day. The next day was probably the busiest of them all, so be sure to come back tomorrow for all the action. Until then, some photos: