Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Greetings from Motherland,
Come sit, for I have much to tell you. I arrive three days before, and see many things. On first day, I take plane. It was big plane, but slow plane. I did not sleep on plane, so when I arrive in Moscow the next day, I want to sleep. My body think it late at night, when it Moscow it middle of afternoon!
Gregory – papa Pasha – and Pasha pick me up in machina at airport, and we drive to city center. Gregory speak some English, but I speak no Russian so I like some English. Moscow big city. There are many building, mostly apartment building. We go to flat of Ella – mama Pasha – and Ella very happy to see Pasha. She make high pitch noise. Ella no see Pasha since seven year ago, but they talk every week. We all eat big dinner and get very sleepy. There is much garlic. Gregory ask if I want to visit some place, but Pasha say no, we are tired. So we sleep very early.
Next morning I wake up at midnight, and at six, and then at eight. Ella make breakfast of porridge and yogurt and I have apple. Ella very nice woman, also speak some English. Then Ella go to work and Pasha and I take metro to meet Gregory in city center. Moscow metro is large and clean. It is deep underground for nuclear war. I no see rat and no homeless person. The ceilings are high like cathedral.
Gregory know powerful people in Russia. One powerful person know even more powerful person. This person sign document allow American into state Duma, center of Russian government. Document so effective that Russians must wait and use other entrance. American with document can use any entrance.
In Duma we meet Vladimir – friend of Gregory. No, not that Vladimir. Vladimir work in Duma for twenty-three year. He is retired but still know people in Duma. Vladimir gave tour to American and show offices of four parties of Russian politics. Russian politicians on holiday, so no meet Russian politicians. Pasha translate for American. Vladimir has much hair in nose. He look like tooth brush! Tooth brush know much of Russian political history. Pasha translate whole history for American.
In Duma we eat lunch in cafeteria, and there is much to eat. Then we have tea in cafe. American have trouble staying awake in Russian conversation, but only Pasha notice.
After Duma, we go to Kremlin. Gregory and Vladimir leave, but Pasha and American go to Kremlin. Not whole Kremlin, that for another day. We walk through Kremlin, and go to armory museum. Armory museum have most luscious collection of silver relics in all Europe. Audio tour say luscious many times. It amuse American, but Pasha no understand why. Pasha is disappointed at the size of collection. There are many rooms of items, but not as many as Pasha expect. American tell Pasha he in New York too long.
After armory museum, we walk around Kremlin in park. It is very nice weather and many pretty girl. American ask Pasha where ugly women in Moscow. Pasha say we will see them. We sit on bench and get hungry and sleepy. We walk to Red Square, where American take pictures. The sun is setting and it is very pretty. There are many tourists. Then we go to fast food Russian pancakes and then to outside bar cafe. Beer cost New York prices near tourist area. Pasha says before exchange collapse, Moscow very expensive city.
Then we walk to famous street in Moscow, like La Rambla in Barcelona. It long walk to get there, but we pee before so no problem. There we find fancy beer bar, and have fancy beer. Young group sit at table next to American and Pasha. Pasha and American speak English, and group assume we no understand Russian. This amuse American, and Pasha tell American what they say about us.
We go back to flat of Ella, and she is worried. Midnight is late for Ella. Pasha call Ella, but still Ella worry. Ella express worry by making soup. Very good soup, with much garlic. We go to bed. The next day I am thirsty.
We get up early. The beer help wake up, and help in bathroom. American very impressed. Gregory have whole day planned. Gregory very energetic man, generous host. Gregory take us in machina to laboratory of friend. Friend head of Russian pharmaceutical quality verification agency. He want to retire, but there is nobody to replace him. Man wear white lab coat and shake hand of American and speak Russian. Pasha translate for American. He give tour of facility. There is much expensive equipment. Women working on equipment avert gaze when man in lab coat enter room. One room has full chemistry lab. American tell Pasha, "I love chemistry, so this is like a playground for me." Pasha does not understand and translates roughly, "This looks like child's play." People in lab are offended, and American does not understand. Gregory tell American later, "this is state facility, not private." Then American understand, and tell Pasha to clarify. Still American think it is not clear. Later in machina American tell Pasha again, and only then Pasha understand. American learn it dangerous to translate subtle ideas. Still, man in lab coat did not seem offended. He show us more expensive machines, and guinea pigs and lab mice. He surprised earlier when American ask him how they measure toxicity using spectrographic methods only. So man in lab coat reveal animals. Man in lab coat ask if American parents doctors. Pasha say no, dentist. Then we have tea and cake in break room. There we talk to Olga, H.R. of facility. American find it hard to look directly at Olga. Olga want to be actress, but was rejected from acting school. American tell Olga to be actress in New York. Olga laugh. American ask Pasha where are ugly women in Moscow. Now Pasha says he does not know. Gregory and man in lab coat left us three for conspicuously long time.
After facility, we stop at cemetery. Relative of Gregory famous actor, and murdered horribly a few years ago. We get flowers and put them on grave. Always even number for dead, odd for living. Do not give Russian girl even number flowers. Cemetery have graves of many famous Russian people. There is section for artists, and section for soldiers.
After cemetery, we stop at church to light candles for murdered actor. Pasha say religion business, and Gregory shrug.
Next we go in machina to Moscow State University. We pick up daughter of Vladimir as tour guide – Natalie. Natalie does not have visible nose hair like father. Natalie's eyes like Neptune. American was hungry, but after meeting Natalie American no longer hungry. Natalie teach dance to children near university. She speak a little English, but travel much. We go to university building, big building. We can no enter building without pass, and cannot get pass, so we walk around campus. Moscow State University have very nice campus. Pasha tell American next time Pasha in Moscow, he stay near university.
Gregory buy everyone business lunch at restaurant near campus. American and Pasha have rubles, but Gregory insist. Gregory order for American all classic Russian foods. Then we walk back to car and drop off Natalie. American very sad. Gregory insist that Natalie give email address to American and Pasha, so we can send pictures we took. American start to think Gregory very smart man.
After university we go in machina back to flat of Ella, but there is much traffic. Victory Day on May 9 commemorate destruction of Nazi in Second Great War. Russians rehearse parade, and so there is much traffic. Gregory hate Moscow traffic.
Before flat of Ella, Gregory need to do something for work. Gregory drop off American and Pasha near giant television broadcast tower. Near top of tower there is observation deck, cafe, and restaurant. Cafe and restaurant rotate around tower once every forty minute. There is no room in restaurant, but we go to observation and take pictures, and have beer in cafe. American like view from tower. Many good picture of sun setting from tower. After tower, Gregory return with machina and take us back to flat of Ella. American very tired and we sleep.
Pasha and American sleep almost twelve hours! American wake up and start writing log of travels. Now it 2 PM and Ella come home from work for lunch. До связи!