9-20-09 4:00am CST, 1pm Moscow time

Well it has been a few days. The first day I stayed up for 34 straight hours to kill the jet lag. It helped but I am still only sleeping 4 hours or so a night but feel pretty good. My Russian is actually not all that bad, at least on my end. People understand me, so thats all thats important. I was a little tenative at first but after going out on my own for a few days, I can definitely get by. My first reaction was, "Wow". As I probably told some of you, Moscow is one of the most expensive cities in the world and has more billionaires than any world city. Before, 90% of the poeple used public transit and now, everyone has cars. And not just the crappy little Volgas, Moskviches and Ladas they had before but all Western cars, Toyotas, Fords, Chevys....And the people who don't have those have ridiculously expensive cars; Maybachs, Ferraris, BMWs, Bentleys, Porches, Mercedes... you get the idea. The ridiculously expensive cars are EVERYWHERE!!! As you might expect, when a city of 15 million people all the sudden becomes auto dependent, the infrastructure is not there to handle it. There aren't parking garages or lots and so people park everywhere they can and traffic is an absolute nightmare. I took some photos of some of the ridiculous places people park; on the sidewalk, in the middle of the street....its pretty chaotic.

Before you could pick out the Russian people pretty easily, bad hair, bad clothes and a bad disposition walking about the street. Now, for the most part, it looks like you are walking down a US street, well maybe a European street.

Red Square had a store called GUM (pronounced Goom) before. It was the State Universal Store, a huge building wherein you were supposed to be able to buy anything. Of the three floors, only the bottom was open and there wasn't anything in there. Now, the place is loaded with stores that only the ridiculously rich can afford. While life for the younger generation is certainly better, the older generation really struggles. Lots of begging. Its a pretty sad sight.

In my photos, you'll notice some pictures in which there are people taking photos of others. I noticed this the first day and Pat nad Lena said its the national pastime. Women go out with their friends they take pictures of each other in all these seductive poses. Of course, these has lead to a bunch of guys walking around with camers trying to smooth talk women into letting them photograph the women. Its pretty comical.

24 hour McDonalds with drive thrus, WiFi zones, flat screen TVs, cell phones and advertisements (advertisements even more so, are almost as common as at home. It doesn't sound like a big deal but remember this is a country where I used to be able to buy a plane ticket for around $1.30 just over 15 years ago.

The financial crisis has hit here probably a little worse than at home. Construction has come to a standstill, but prices have come down. Pat and Lena used to pay $1200/month for a gym membership, now its around $150. I guess thats the advantage of going from the most expensive city in the world to number 2. It does make you feel a little safer walking around though. Before everyone knew you had money with you and you stuck out like a sore thumb so you were always on your toes, not that I ever had any problems. Now, you are just a regular schmo.

Pat and Lena live about two blocks from the Kremlin, so they are right in the heart of the city. It's a perfect location.

Until tomorrow,
RM