Finding Our Way

this morning we decided to walk to work.  it's about a 45 minute walk.  and it was -19 C.  but we decided to do it anyway, to help us get a better understanding of the lay of the land.  it was myself, anne, jorge (closing ceremony psm, from mexico), sara b (casting director for opening and closing, from italy), and another stage manager from mexico.  other than our noses freezing off, it was a beautiful morning.  and we walked past a fabulous bakery chain, the post office, the gorgeous belaruskaya train/metro station, and lots of other fun shops and restaurants.  all in all, a success.  i captured our journey in pictures...

This is on leningradski prospect...the large road that runs behind our hotel...and it is a BIG road.  like, 5 lanes of traffic on either side.  i've found that there are many large roads here...of at least 3-4 lanes on each side.  AND, rarely can you cross them...you have to use underpasses, and go below the streets.  which is actually kinda nice, cuz it takes you out of the cold (or the wind anyway) for a moment, gets you some exercise going up and down stairs, and there are fun kiosks down there selling things like, oh, pastries, cigarettes, sweaters, socks, dresses, boots, and ashtrays, or some other kind of totchkies in various shapes (like, um, breasts).  there is an orthodox church in this photo...if it's not too dark to see.  with the iconic ice-cream-scoop tops on the chapels.  a beautiful building...and somewhat out of place amongst the more modern architecture...the city is such a mish-mash, it's incredible.

sara b (left) and anne leading the way.  still on leningradski prospect.

this is what inner-city train stations look like in moscow.  belaruskaya station.  it is also a metro (subway) stop.

this is the entrance to the belaruskaya metro stop.  gorgeous!

this is us pausing to check the map.  jorge thinks he knows which way to go.  also, this is a good time to mention the kiosks in the background...if i remember correctly, these sprung up in the early 90's when it was suddenly possible to have commercial enterprises...kiosks like these opened up on street-corners selling clothing, leather jackets, socks, food, etc.  our exec producer, andre (just one year older than me!!! makes me wonder what i have done with my life... ha ha!) told us he remembers his dad going to wait in line for several days just to buy some beers.  and then suddenly, one day, you can go to a kiosk and buy a leather jacket!  this country has been through so much...it's like a yo-yo.  the resiliency of the people is amazing.

yes, we think we know the way now!

oh wait, um, maybe not...better check the map again...this is anne's new map that she got when we went to a fancy bookstore last night!  it was so fun.  i got a fancy moleskin notebook (the "professional" version...complete with special note-taking pages, and removable task lists!!  totally nerded out with that one...), some copies of old russian propaganda cards, and a small russian-english dictionary so i can have one at home and one at the office.  i also got a map.  and we found a small english book section.  there are 2-3 bookstores in moscow that sell english-language books.  yay! (as my sister roles her eyes...)


this is a beautiful catholic cathedral we passed on our way.  it gives mass in english, spanish, portugese and french i think!  it is really rare to see a catholic church, because only 3% of the population here is catholic.  the vast majority (well, say 95%) is russian orthodox.  and they are proud.  during soviet times, religion was not really supported, or, um allowed in some cases.  so now that it is, or at least the government supports it again, it is roaring back with popularity.  ok, that's a very simplified look, but it does help explain why there is such a large percentage of orthodox practicers here.

we made it!!!  and went for a celebratory coffee at anderson cafe, my fave cafe (as some might remember) right next door to the office.  i got to ask, all in russian, for "one double espresso please.  thank you very much."  so proud.

this is jorge celebrating making it and not freezing to death.

so that's it!  we are finding our way.  slowly but surely.  :)