Last day in Moscow

Our task for this morning was to register at the US Embassy. We headed for the metro station near Red Square. We figured out that it required two transfers, got the tickets and found the first train. With the aid of a helpful attendant and a friendly young man, we managed to find our way.


Once out of the metro, it was another task to find the right street and then maneuver the underground passages to get to the correct side. Meanwhile the clock was running. The Embassy is closed from noon to two. We went through two security checks before we finally got to the office. A young fellow provided the forms and said they were closing early because they are all going to a 9/11 remembrance at the Embassy compound. They did not invite us along and we couldn’t figure out how to get there.


Outside a group of somber young people were putting red and white carnations on the boulevard in front of the compound. They had an easel with a list of items; news stations were interviewing and filming the group’s spokesman. As we moved down the street, I took this photo. The security guards quickly told us that photos were not allowed. No one seemed to be stopping the camera crews.


The return trip on the Metro was much simpler. We wondered why it had seemed more complicated at the beginning of our excursion. This is the way one Metro passage was decorated. Each stop was different and very interesting.



We had a snack at the Gum Department store on Red Square. It is a huge collection of shops and restaurants.































After we checked out of the hotel, we went across the street to the NetLand Internet Café. We had been using their WiFi at our hotel. Turns out there was a charge to use their computers but no charge for use of the WiFi, located in the bar. Bob dialed up his office on Skype. Here he is talking to Jane.














Our train to Novosibirsk departed from Yaroslavsky station at 10:40 PM. We were there very early which gave us a chance to watch the crowd accumulate for the outgoing trains. A porter got us to the correct wagon and lugged our bags to our compartment. This is how it looked when we arrived.



This is where we will be for the next 48 hours!