Sunday was another big day. I started off the day with invitations from two different groups to team up with them for sightseeing. Unfortunately, both duos were still passed out when I was ready to hit the streets, so I made my way alone. First, I wanted to visit Novodevichy Convent & Cemetary. The Convent was supposed to be amazing, and was the place where Peter I locked up his half-sister after she tried to over-throw him. The adjacent cemetary is the latter-day home of many of Russia's greatest luminaries.
I took the metro, arriving at Sportivnaya station with no problem. Then, I had a choice: exit to the right or the left. I chose right and ended up in the biggest flea market I've ever seen. Seriously, there were tour buses that had brought Russians in to do their shopping from all over the area. No wonder Russian women are so stylish! They have these amazing places to buy $10 knock-off Chloe purses, etc. It was tempting, but all I had to do was remember that I'd have to carry it, and I was able to resist buying anything. Unfortunately, I was lost. There were no handy signs saying, "this way to the cemetary". Russia is one of the least tourist-friendly places I have ever been. I finally asked two bus drivers which way to the convent, convulsing them with laughter. I'm guessing that they'd been drinking. With their gestures, I did end up finding the place.
Wow, I entered the grounds of the cemetary first. Amazing. Check out my pictures. I lost hope quickly of actually finding any of the famous graves, since there are thousands, and there are no signs reading "-----> this way to Chekhov!" Instead, I wandered around enjoying the individual gravestones, happening upon Popov by chance. After I'd enjoyed the peace for an hour or so, I started making my way out when I ran into a Japanese tour group. Hah! They led me straight to Molotov and Chekhov.
With that glow of success, I made my way to the Convent. I had assumed that I'd catch a bite to eat there. Nope. Like I said, Russia. Anywhere else in the world, where there's a tourist site there will also be restaurants, food kiosks, soda stands, etc. Not in Russia. Nothing.
Well, I still wanted to explore the convent, even hungry and thirsty. I bought my ticket and even sprung for the photo pass. I learned that this is actually still a working convent. Go figure. The chapels were beautiful. The icons were ornate. I was wearing my bandana (with respect this time) and all seemed well. Then, I was evicted by a nun. I was in a chapel, taking a photo, when a nun came at me. I showed her my photo pass. Apparently, that's no good in this particular chapel, which would have been fine if someone had told me (all other chapels, photos are fine). I said sorry. She yelled. I checked my camera to see if the one shot I'd gotten was any good (no). She thought I was taking another picture. I was tossed from the church. Wow! Nuns really are scary!
I refused to let a crazy (or deeply spiritual depending on your point of view) woman ruin my day, and continued viewing the convent grounds. Then, I went off on a serious search for food. I'd had cornflakes and a banana at 9am. It was now 3:30pm and I was STARVING. Wouldn't you know. Nothing. I took the metro to the Kremlin area and instead of heading straight for Sbarro at the Garden, I stupidly looked for a restaurant. Nope. I also had a boat trip on my itinerary for the day and decided to combine the two by crossing over to the little island in the Moscow River. I crossed a bridge to find the 2 restaurants nearby both closed. I did find the boat launch though and decided to settle for mini-croissants and a water on the boat and lunch afterward.
My river cruise was refreshing, and the croissants revived me enough to fortify me for a trip back to Kuznesky Most area for a caviar blini. Yum. Seriously, I LOVE salmon egg blinis with sour cream. They are so, so good. By the way, for those not in the know, I figure that if I eat chicken eggs, logically, I can eat fish eggs. That's how it fits in with my vegetarian diet.
After blinis, I determined to find an internet cafe. Armed with the Lonely Planet, I found a giant nightclub/gaming den, with no Skype. I found an internet club whose only advert of existence was a tiny brass plaque in Cyrillic lettering on the inside doorway of a building under construction. No Skype. I found an expensive Italian sidewalk restaurant where an internet cafe once was - that was on an awesome little pedestrian street filled with sidewalk cafes. Then, I entered the underground mall. At Okhotny Ryad metro station, if you continue down past the subway level, you'll discover three floors of underground shopping. On the very bottom floor is Time Online, the one internet cafe with Skype, Yahoo! Messenger, MSN Messenger, etc. in all of Moscow. For 100 ruples an hour, I was able to call home.
Successful, I stopped for Mexican food and then called it a night. Cheese quesadillas in Russia are a little odd, but still good. The strawberry salad was even less authentic, but delicious! Belly full, I toddled off to bed, footsore, but happy.
For pictures, please see: http://picasaweb.google.com/christine7world/Moscow
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