My husband spent countless hours trying to make this trip an Experience to Remember. He booked theater tickets, restaurants, and all kinds of attractions without disclosing any information. I was told that I will know on a "need to know basis". He wanted me to be surprised and happy at all times.

It's one of the Russian traditions and customs to visit the "Banya," the bathhouse. For people that enjoy getting their naked butt whipped with leaves in a 130 degrees heat is truly an experience. As for me, this is an activity I can definitely forgo, so my hubby took our sons to visit one of Moscow's old bathhouses, Sanduny  

Here are the pictures to give you a glimpse of how much fun they had.

My surprise came later on in the evening. I was told that we were attending a concert in the Chaikovsky hall. It was a Karnaval Show with the "Big Band," a popular Russian orchestra band and a very well known singer, Larisa Dolina. Changing outfits three times prior to selecting one that I deemed appropriate, I was thrilled and excited.  

I'm not a big fan of Russian concerts, but my husband loves it, and I thought it would be a great experience. As everything in Moscow, tickets were outrageously expensive and I was expecting a show of a lifetime. We ran into the theater, after being in the worst traffic of our life time (New Yorkers listen up, traffic in New York is non existent compare to Moscow, WOW, I have never seen anything like this. They have to many cars, not enough roads, and to many new drivers trying to maneuver themselves on the streets).

As we took our seats I quickly observed that the theater was nothing to write home about.  The stage looked similar to what one would see at the community town hall. My husband and I exchanged looks and sunk into our seats.  

When the band began to play beautiful jazz music, we were even more confused. Shortly, the star of the show appeared on stage and announced the Jazz Carnival Celebration- we really didn't know what to expect. As the evening progressed, we were treated to pleasant Jazz sung by a Russian performer with a heavy accent trying to impersonate Alberta Hunter  

Both of us were trying to be good sports, after all it was our fault. I guess my hubby didn't really read the fine Russian print when he booked the concert. The singer sang the blues, we kept on smiling, the band kept on playing, and the Russians ate it all up. What threw us off, was when at the end of the evening, the stars of the show dressed up as Santa Clause and Snow-White and wished everyone a Merry Christmas.

I whispered in my husband's ear: "They didn't get the memo. It's December 29th, what Christmas?" After the show we conversed with our friends and found out that Christmas doesn't come until January 7th every year.  We both laughed at our own ignorance and all we could say was "Ooops," we did it again.

Stay tuned for my next blog, the “Pushkin Experience”
Yana

Kremlin Experience

We had a busy day ahead of us. We were going to visit the Red Square once again and explore Kremlin.

As we stepped outside into the snow, we found ourselves in a mini blizzard, (at least in my eyes; keep in mind that even though I'm a Ruskie by birth, I'm a California girl at heart).

As we approached a long line to buy tickets I wasn't sure how I was going to survive the cold.  I looked around and it didn't appear that everyone was as cold as I was. Of course not, Russians are used to everything.

There were crowds of people coming out of Kremlin, and I immediately noticed that there were many kids. Accompanying adults were holding their hands as they were proudly carrying red metal suitcases and had big plastered smiles across their little precious faces. As I looked from one child to the next, I got teary eyed-I too remember being this happy camper holding a present in my hand, anticipating what was inside.  

It's a tradition that goes back almost a century. After the revolution, religion became almost non-existent. Santa Clause became "Uncle Cold", and kids celebrated him every year by attending "Yolka", a Christmas tree. This very festive occasion was full of games, a happy Santa Clause, his Snow-White helper, and if your parents were lucky enough to get a ticket to a "good Yolka", you walked away with a present. Yolka at Kremlin, was in a league of it's own. My parents didn't have enough money nor the right connection to bribe anyone to get me there, but I remember attending other Yolka's that were just as festive.

My husband was walking towards me with tickets to enter Kremlin, and with tears streaming down my cheeks I had some explaining to do.

As we entered the grounds all of us could not believe the size of Kremlin, the massive compound that resembled a city within a city.  

We visited The Armoury Chamber, and were impressed by the presented ancient Russian regalia, Tsar's dress, gold and silverware by Russian, European, & Eastern European masters, royal carriages, and horse ceremonial harness. I couldn't believe all the precious stones that adorned icons, silverware, and day-to-day utensils that were used at that time period.

I was especially happy to explore The Buccellati jewels that were exhibited at the time.
I was disappointed that we couldn't really walk inside of Kremlin to see the actual palace. My son automatically compared it to the White House, reminding us that you could take a tour. Almost simultaneously, my husband and I uttered that this was Russia, and most things were still off limits. We did however explore other cathedrals and churches on the property of Kremlin. Lenin's Mausoleum  was closed and we couldn't see the main Moscow attraction which for many, many decades?preserved Lenin, or what was left of him- but this was a disappointment I could live with.

We enjoyed watching people skate at the Kremlin's Ice Skating Ring, positioned right in the middle of the Red Square. A huge Christmas tree adorned the ring, while Russian music blasted and brought smiles to all of our faces.

It was cold, I couldn't feel my hands or feet, and it was time to stop for a snack. We visited a Russian food chain called "Chocolate's Creations". After having a cup of hot chocolate with chocolate crepes, I was good to go for another few hours.

Stay tuned for tomorrow, my hubby has a surprised planed for me.

All the best,

Red Square  -  beautiful as ever. We decided to hold off until tomorrow to visit Kremlin. My nephew arrived later in the day, so that will be our first stop in the morning.

Red Square

Cold but happy.

Daniel says: “Chinadoll, only for you....I froze waiting for the mass to be over”

We did visit St. Basil's Cathedral  , I promised Chinadoll to light a candle for her, we waited for the Sunday Mass to be over and here I am keeping my promise.

I lit an extra candle for everyone on Fab40, wishing that 2009 will be the best year ever.

We walked around and visited GUM   built in the late eighteen hundred's. It's GUM boasts an elegant turn-of-the-century interior, comprised of three parallel arcades centered on a fountain and overlooked by galleries. It occupies almost the entire eastern side of  Red Square.

Ice cream is not what I should be having, but heck...I’m on vacation

Inside GUM

The stores are beautiful, but the one that stood out most took my breath away; Gastranome 1- Food Delicatessen.  Keep in mind when I left the Soviet Union the only produce available on the shelves that I remember were stale cookies, bread, some canned fish from Stalin's times, and anorexic looking chicken. Imagine my surprise when I saw shelves full of everything you can imagine and everything that you can only dream about.

Desserts....my favorite

Not long ago I'm pretty sure I read  that Moscow is now the most expensive city in the world, and I'm here to tell you that it's true.

Just look at the interior of this other food store, it resembles a museum.

Besides looking at the handsome men, check out the produce behind them.

Wow, prices are outrageous!  What I don't understand is how people can afford such a life style. It's hard to make a buck; young people are hustling but senior citizens are barely making it. It was very sad for me to see. I couldn't help but think that the old lady on the street that asked for help to buy her medication could have been my grandma. Blame it on hormones or my sentimental self,  but I cried several times through the day.

It was also an emotional day for my family. My husband reunited with friends he hasn’t seen in a long time.  My son turned 21 and met his buddy that he befriended in San Diego in high school, and for my nephew..well, he made it to Moscow all by himself, and was thrilled to be here. As always in Russia, it’s all about close friends, great food, and lots of vodka. We visited a beautiful restaurant and began our dinner at 10:30. At midnight we celebrated our son turning 21. He was bummed that he didn’t need a 21 year old id in Russia to drink. When he asked the waiter what the drinking age is, the waiter responded:“If you can walk, you can drink vodka“.

Reporting Live from Moscow

It’s 4:30 a.m. and if I don’t get to bed now, I will not be able to go anywhere tomorrow.

Until then,
All the best,
Yana

Next Day in Moscow Click Here  

Then:

When I boarded the same Airline Aeroflot for the very first plane ride in my life 31 years ago,  I shivered from excitement. The stewardesses were pleasant and tiny compared to all of the Russian women I have ever seen. We were given pillows and blankets and when the food arrived I was in complete and total awe. In front of me was a tray full of all kinds of miniature sandwiches and cucumbers. Cucumbers at the beginning of March? I couldn't contain my excitement. I remember turning to my mom whose eyes were swollen from tears running down her face, and announcing that this was the best meal I've ever had. I remember my dad winking at me and telling me that this was just the beginning. My parents looked distraught; they left their country in search for a better life for their children leaving their family and friends behind. As a twelve year old I couldn't completely grasp the magnitude of this event, but looking at both of their faces I knew that this was the biggest decision of their lives.

Now:

As we began to board the plane, I was swept with the same eerie feeling of the unknown?..I really didn't know what to expect; what feelings, emotions and experiences would present themselves? And how would I react?

I told myself to stay alert and pay attention to every little detail. Before I reached my seat I noticed that the "tiny" pleasant stewardesses, that seemed to be forever embedded in my memory were not so tiny or pleasant after all.

When the food arrived I secretly hoped I would be just as impressed and excited, but whom was I kidding? After 31 years in the US it was hard to surprise me with anything, especially airplane food.

I smiled remembering my first experience with a tea bag.

Then:

Teabag?.never seeing such an invention before; I automatically ripped the bag and emptied the tealeaves into my cup. Imagine my embarrassment when I saw the American gentlemen across the aisle dipping the bag into his teacup and slowly sipping his tea. After acknowledging my ignorance I became angry. It was evident; even such an insignificant object as a teabag was for the outside world, and Russian people were robbed of the simplest luxuries in life. I remember closing my eyes and saying a prayer for everyone that we left behind.

Now

I heard everyone around me clapping, the airplane was skidding down the runway, and my heart was pounding faster and faster. The captain welcomed everyone to Moscow.

To be continued.

Thirty-one years ago at the age of twelve, I left the Soviet Union and immigrated to the U.S.

I consider myself an American and there is no place I’d rather live than in the U.S., however, I’m a hybrid.. a cross between a young Russian girl and an American woman.
I hold all the values instilled in me by my family. I have kept all my family traditions, and I have held onto the Russian trend of superstitions. Every silly superstition that I learned growing up, I passed on to my kids.

My first impressions of my new homeland were not very exciting. The language barrier, lack of friends, mean girls at Jr. High, and boring ESL classes made it all that more difficult. Memories of being suppressed in Russia kept the optimist alive, and as days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, I learned to celebrate every little milestone. I wished that one day Russia would be a free land that I will be allowed to visit. Then I will be smiling back at my hurdles, and celebrating my accomplishments.

Today is that day. In a few hours I'll board the plane and take off to see my birth land. In a few days I will walk the streets were I was born, I will visit the apartment complex where I used to live, and I will see it all through the eyes of an American woman and reconnect with the little Russian girl inside of me.

I invite you to come with me to Russia. I promise to blog and to share my experiences. I’m as excited as I am scared, I’m happy as I am sad, for I don’t know what feelings and emotions lay ahead.

To all of you who helped Fab40 happen,
To all of you who took the time to hear me vent
To all of you who sent me wishes
To all of you I'm forever grateful, and consider you my friend.

To all of you who I have not yet spoke to,
To all of you who's path I haven not crossed,
I'm looking forward to getting to know you,
Chatting and  sharing our thoughts.

I wish you all a very Happy Holiday
I wish you all much love, happiness and great success,
But mostly I wish for 2009 to be a lucky year,
And that it will be filled with laughter, good times and lots of cheer!

Here is to all of you,  Cheers!