embassy – Steve's Trips

When I awoke, I could hear rain falling. Good, I can just stay in bed.

I tried to sleep, watch videos or browse sites. Finally I noticed the rain had stopped.

First thing I had to do, my metro card expired, so I had to get another. I entered the station, but there’s no one at the ticket booth, the ticket machines do not have any language selection. If you can’t read Russian, you can’t use the machine.

The next station is on the other side of the road, seems simple, but cars are much faster than bikes. I don’t feel up to dodging vehicles. I have to go down to the next major intersection, cross, then come back down to the other station. Only about a mile, just to that side.

I enter the station, but they don’t even have a ticket window. I should have bought one yesterday, while I still had access to move around, but I didn’t.

Now I have the choice, walk to the next station, or walk everywhere. The next is a 3-line intersection, so busy enough to have someone on duty, please.

This ride only takes 5 minutes, how long will it take on foot? Too many.

I finally get to the metro station and get my ticket. I only need two days, but it is cheaper to get the 3, maybe I’ll give it to someone when I leave.

I can now get on the subway back to my room. Fortunately, I didn’t shower yet, so I’m not wasting a change of clothes walking station to station, actually, its more the stress than the walking. I do shower once I return.

Now, where to go?

I’ve done all my saved places, except one, the US Embassy.

It lies between stations, so I have to walk there anyway.

It is an unassuming building, which is fine, it is just an admin office, after all. The only thing interesting is they have a glass barricade (bulletproof?) that has a really cool “space” motif.

I walk down the front, then one side, and the back. There is nothing interesting about the rest, just a tall reddish wall with cameras every 10 feet or so and guard stands at entrances.

Rather disappointed about the guard stands, I don’t know if any marines were in them or not, likely, but not definitely.

Walking on randomly, I came across the Moscow Zoo, well what the heck, might as well go in, I have nothing better to do. Tickets are from a machine that only accepts credit cards. Again, thanks Biden.

I find out I could have stayed at the Crazy Monkey Hostel. Dang, an opportunity missed.

There were reports of paintings in some of the metro cars, but I had seen no evidence of that, until today. I lucked out and got on a very old car that had a bunch of seats removed. In place there are artworks displayed.

They appear to be reprints of water colors, none too spectacular.

To see all, you’d have to get off at each station and run up to the next car and re-enter. That seems too much effort. Better would be if the art was on one of the trains that allows movement between cars.

I randomly decided to get off at station Park Pobedy, as it is named for the park it stops at. Pobedy is Russian for “victory” and the park is all about the victory over the Germans.

This must be the worst park in Moscow. It is just a huge expanse of granite, 700 yards long, barely a plant anywhere. Also, I have to walk directly towards the sun, so I can’t really see the other end very well.

There is the required sculpture depicting the victorious soldiers and one side of the plaza has a row of columns with wreaths on them. The other side has fountains, but the water just shoots upwards a few feet, not spectacular at all.

Off to one side, I entered a small church. Very small, my bedroom is about as big as the inside of the church. There were many depictions of various saints for you to prey to.

Down a sidewalk, I find a small playground and I sit in the shade for a while.

I must be getting old, my new favorite thing is to sit.

After VDNKh, I remembered there is another abbreviated station name, CSKA, which is short for some Russian words meaning “sports complex.”

I noticed it was a bit cooler in my room. A check of the weather, 56F. OK, I might need my jacket, but screw it. I know that it is just a ruse and it will jump 30 degrees in an hour.

Also, it was wet outside, it must have rained a bit. Maybe it will rain later.

The Metro exit takes you right to the entrance to the park. Apparently, there seems to be a old persons race starting soon. I don’t know the rules specify an age, but everyone wearing the race vests is on the backside of 60.

They have a water fountain where the water shoots up from lots of holes, sometimes in patterns. It was too cold for any kids to be playing in it and the wind was blowing mist towards me, making me colder.

It is not a park you go to to enjoy the scenery or to sit around. It is a sports park. There are running paths, exercise equipment, and even a rope castle for the kids (but not me <frown>).

I walked to the top of a hill, big mistake, the wind had nothing to slow it down now. I noticed there are 3 types of paths, concrete brick, shredded rubber (in different colors), and gravel. I wonder if they have different uses, like this is for running, this is for bikes, etc.

They had a duck pond, with someone’s dog lapping at the edge.

Honestly, this is not the park for me, I’m already in perfect shape.

I check the map, there’s Leningradsky Park, near by. Don’t ask why that’s in Moscow and not the former Leningrad.

One thing Russian cities have if green space. I have to walk down a very narrow park to get to the next park.

Leningradsky is nice enough, but nothing to see.

Another map check, there is something I have marked, the Experimentanium. I think it is a children’s science museum, but even though I found the building, there is no sign as to the entrance.

Getting hungry, I enter a “French” bakery and choose a black bread sandwich. You know what they say, “Once you go black bread…”

This was actually the first thing I’ve eaten that did not have cucumber or dill sprigs on it. But it wasn’t cut all the way through, so the back half had very little filling.

After eating, I jumped on the subway and headed to see the “animal” house. This is a building with exaggerated animal shapes covering it, but guess what, it is surrounded by scaffolding. Under repair or just being repainted.

As I walk about, I see a green, yellow, and blue flag. A quick search says it is the flag of Gabon. There is no writing or signs on the building, but perhaps it is the embassy of Gabon. I do occasionally see guard huts next to gates, with mirrored glass, so you can’t see them.

Yesterday, I saw the Mexican embassy and Italy’s. This is the nation’s capital, so there should be lots of them.

Seeing the Gabon flag search, reminded me that Texas has an embassy in London, yes still. Somehow I missed seeing it on our trip. Strange that I had not thought of it for 8 years.

Later I see the building for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Yes, please, sign me up).

I was right, it has gone up to 73F. Take that you dumb jacket.