And so we hopped onto a plane and headed to…………………….
Moscow, Russia!!
Yes, I know it seems a tad strange we decided to go to somewhere as far-flung as Russia, but we had good reason to. Chris’ mum lives there! She’s been there for the past 2 years (his parents are both Australian embassy folk). I wanted to see her before our baby is born, because I think it’s a bit strange for someone to ‘suddenly’ become a grandparent, which would be the case if we didn’t see each other until the baby is born. She couldn’t take the leave to come down to Shanghai to visit, so we decided to schedule Moscow into our Eurotrip.
It almost didn’t happen though. If you keep up with international news, you’d have heard that in August Moscow was hit with hundreds of bushfires. The bad kind – the kind that comes from peat and releases huge amounts of carbon monoxide into the air (!). There were reports of the skies being totally smogged-out, residents wearing masks, and embassies evacuating their stuff and issuing “pregnant women should not be in Moscow” alerts – much to our alarm. In fact, a mere 48 hours before our flight, Chris was already on the phone to Air France, asking how we can get a refund on our flight tickets, given the situation.
Then, rain poured down in Moscow, and the skies cleared. And I just decided “OK, let’s just do it” and off we went! It was the right decision, because when we got to Moscow, the weather was PERFECT. Absolutely clear blue skies, fluffy white clouds, and no smog in the air. It was like some sort of big conspiracy or something 😉 Very hard to believe that just a week before we arrived, it was that bad people had to stay indoors in air-conditioned rooms!
In the car from the airport. Dunno what else I was expecting, but Moscow’s
just like any other city! Wide streets, lots of shops, etc..
Lovely wide-open spaces and blue skies
Some sort of government building? I forgot…
See?! Hard to believe it was so smoggy just a week ago!
Map of Moscow
The famous Red Square
Unique Russian architecture
Pretty!
Inside the mall at Red Square.. it was so nice! If only all malls were like this..
Love the airy spaces and natural sunlight
Chilling out with a coffee. Can you spot Chris? 😛
We took the tourist boat one day, up and down the river
Space, glorious space! We miss this in Shanghai 😉
Sailing down the river
Stately gold-topped building
Red Square again, from the river
HELLO FROM RUSSIA!
Oh wow! Didn’t know Chris’ Mom lives in Russia! That’s pretty cool! How often do you get to see her? We noticed a lot of Russian people in Sanya! And Russian writing! That’s good you guys got to see her 🙂
Yeah, she’s been there 2 yrs, but we last saw her at our wedding!
Oh wow! That’s a long time! Will she come when the baby’s born? What day are you finding out what you guys are having? Should be soon!
Yep, she will. We found out the gender a few weeks ago already 🙂
Wow! Not what I expected from Moscow. Looks like any other pretty european city! I somehow expected dingy/decrepit looking buildings and bad facilities.
I agree! It’s a nice modern city, but yet with really cool unique architecture. I liked the wide open spaces the most 🙂
Oh wow! Didn’t know Chris’ Mom lives in Russia! That’s pretty cool! How often do you get to see her? We noticed a lot of Russian people in Sanya! And Russian writing! That’s good you guys got to see her 🙂
Yeah, she’s been there 2 yrs, but we last saw her at our wedding!
Oh wow! That’s a long time! Will she come when the baby’s born? What day are you finding out what you guys are having? Should be soon!
Yep, she will. We found out the gender a few weeks ago already 🙂
Wow! Not what I expected from Moscow. Looks like any other pretty european city! I somehow expected dingy/decrepit looking buildings and bad facilities.
I agree! It’s a nice modern city, but yet with really cool unique architecture. I liked the wide open spaces the most 🙂
So weird to see pics from Moscow in your blog 🙂 I always wondered how it feels for the foreigners in Moscow. Hehehe.
That “stately gold-topped building” is one of the main cathedrals (Christian Orthodox) in Moscow. And on the second photo it’s Bolshoy Theater. One of the most famous Russian theaters. It just got renovated. Last time I’ve been there it was all in woods.
Looking forward to read other posts from Moscow.
P.S. Funny that you are followed by the guy from Perm.
Yep, and that cathedral also has a very interesting history. It was leveled in the Soviet era, because I believe they wanted to building some sort of gigantic Palace of the Soviets or whatever that never got built due to financial issues or something. So they built a giant swimming pool instead, and after the collapse of the Soviet Union, they rebuilt the cathedral. So it’s very symbolic of sort of a new Russia and a return to old ways–and also a symbol of great expense to the city government. 🙂
You’re lucky you didn’t have to pay for a hotel in Moscow! Very expensive, and you don’t get much for what you pay, IMO. But I feel that way about Moscow in general :). That’s why I refuse to move there, even though there are way better jobs for foreigners than in St. Petersburg, where I live now.
Ahh good to know the names, I forgot em all 😛 Wish we had a chance to see the ballet but the theatre was still under construction, dohhh
I love the architecture of Moscow. So interesting.
Yeah, the buildings were just fab, so cool to see
Gorgeous! I’m sure you’re so glad you went!
It was really good to see a country so different to what I’ve seen before.. v fun 🙂
to see real Russia without leaving Moscow try to visit one of the famous writers house-museums. Leo Tolstoy’s one is very close to the center. There is also a pretty church near by. Does your Mom-in-Law enjoy living in Moscow? Are you staying with her? Moscow hotels are way overpriced, I think.
Oh some more places: Ostankino estate (they have nice concerts from time to time, too), Kolomenskoe …
Yeah we stayed with her.. heard the hotels in Moscow are crazy expensive, so glad we didn’t have to stay in one! I loved the cruise down the river the most.. so pretty 🙂
It’s so cool that you’re in Russia! You look cute in the Hello Kitty shirt 😀
Aww thanks.. it’s nice and oversized – super comfy!
Glad to see you in Russia. I am from Russia. if there are any questions ask – answer!
Lucky you! We had trouble getting around Russia ‘cos of the language.. really made me wish I could speak Russian 😛
Please it is possible to communicate in Russian, but unfortunately I live in Perm (2 hours by the plane from Mосквы, 1500 kilometers). Only through Internet – ICQ, Skype, LJ. My name is Ruslan 🙂
http://maps.google.ru/maps/ms?hl=ru&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=110995415883677985737.0004900e78ae8b7aeac72&ll=57.996455,56.513672&spn=6.420504,14.128418&z=6
Пожалуйста можно общаться на русском языке, но к сожалению я живу в Перми (2 часа на самолете от Mосквы, 1500 километров). только через интернет- ICQ, Skype, LJ . Меня зовут Руслан:)
So weird to see pics from Moscow in your blog 🙂 I always wondered how it feels for the foreigners in Moscow. Hehehe.
That “stately gold-topped building” is one of the main cathedrals (Christian Orthodox) in Moscow. And on the second photo it’s Bolshoy Theater. One of the most famous Russian theaters. It just got renovated. Last time I’ve been there it was all in woods.
Looking forward to read other posts from Moscow.
P.S. Funny that you are followed by the guy from Perm.
Yep, and that cathedral also has a very interesting history. It was leveled in the Soviet era, because I believe they wanted to building some sort of gigantic Palace of the Soviets or whatever that never got built due to financial issues or something. So they built a giant swimming pool instead, and after the collapse of the Soviet Union, they rebuilt the cathedral. So it’s very symbolic of sort of a new Russia and a return to old ways–and also a symbol of great expense to the city government. 🙂
You’re lucky you didn’t have to pay for a hotel in Moscow! Very expensive, and you don’t get much for what you pay, IMO. But I feel that way about Moscow in general :). That’s why I refuse to move there, even though there are way better jobs for foreigners than in St. Petersburg, where I live now.
Ahh good to know the names, I forgot em all 😛 Wish we had a chance to see the ballet but the theatre was still under construction, dohhh
I love the architecture of Moscow. So interesting.
Yeah, the buildings were just fab, so cool to see
Gorgeous! I’m sure you’re so glad you went!
It was really good to see a country so different to what I’ve seen before.. v fun 🙂
to see real Russia without leaving Moscow try to visit one of the famous writers house-museums. Leo Tolstoy’s one is very close to the center. There is also a pretty church near by. Does your Mom-in-Law enjoy living in Moscow? Are you staying with her? Moscow hotels are way overpriced, I think.
Oh some more places: Ostankino estate (they have nice concerts from time to time, too), Kolomenskoe …
Yeah we stayed with her.. heard the hotels in Moscow are crazy expensive, so glad we didn’t have to stay in one! I loved the cruise down the river the most.. so pretty 🙂
It’s so cool that you’re in Russia! You look cute in the Hello Kitty shirt 😀
Aww thanks.. it’s nice and oversized – super comfy!
Glad to see you in Russia. I am from Russia. if there are any questions ask – answer!
Lucky you! We had trouble getting around Russia ‘cos of the language.. really made me wish I could speak Russian 😛
Please it is possible to communicate in Russian, but unfortunately I live in Perm (2 hours by the plane from Mосквы, 1500 kilometers). Only through Internet – ICQ, Skype, LJ. My name is Ruslan 🙂
http://maps.google.ru/maps/ms?hl=ru&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=110995415883677985737.0004900e78ae8b7aeac72&ll=57.996455,56.513672&spn=6.420504,14.128418&z=6
Пожалуйста можно общаться на русском языке, но к сожалению я живу в Перми (2 часа на самолете от Mосквы, 1500 километров). только через интернет- ICQ, Skype, LJ . Меня зовут Руслан:)