The Secret Order of the Narwhal

We made it back.  Everything went smoothly.  We even had an ecounter with Roberto Benigni.  This was a really weird trip and our Benigni story is just the icing on the WTF cupcake.

Here’s your Karl Marx photo:

Uncle Karl

The shot with me in it didn’t come out.  Which is a shame because today was the first time in over three weeks that I wore something other than black pants.  It seems that the men of Moscow are multi-chromatic unlike the guys in Birobidzhan, and I can wear khakis without causing alarm and civic unrest.

The Embassy visit lasted less than an hour from the time we entered the building (bypassing the long line outside, either because of our citizenship status or because we had an appointment), to the time we received Vladik’s visa and immigration paperwork.  The last remaining hurdle is getting through immigration in Russia.

Vladik Flirting

So we’ve gotten to the point where I can only take photographs of Vladik when he’s not looking.  Otherwise he charges me like Sean Penn going after the paparazzi.  I think he’s unhappy with his hair right now.  But that didn’t stop him from flirting with a girl on the Arbat today.

Arbat Street

Above is a slightly underexposed shot of Arbat Street looking southwest.  The enourmous building in the background is one of the Seven Sisters, this one housing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Another View of the Arbat

Tomorrow there will be a bit more sightseeing in the morning and then off to the airport for the flight back.

Yesterday was medical examination day and today is Embassy day.  If all goes well, by the end of today we should have Vladik’s visa to enter the U.S., just in time for our Wednesday afternoon flight to New York.

Aside from the hopefully brief visit to the Embassy, today and tomorrow morning should be filled with sightseeing.  I should have photos up later of me and Uncle Karl (Marx).

After breakfast we crossed the Moscow River further East, right across from Red Square.  Here’s the view:

Red Square from theBoshoy Moskvoretsky Bridge

Joe with St. Basil's in the Distance

A Better View of St. Basil's Cathedral

Vladik Hurrying Back to the Hotel

By the time we took the above picture, Vladik had decided that he would no longer participate in any photography.  In fact, he seemed mostly disinterested in Red Sqare and the Kremlin, preferring to go back to the hotel to play video games.  We did go back for an hour or so to rest but dragged him out in the early afternoon to visit the Armory in the Kremlin, which houses several Faberge Eggs.  Vladik flew right by those, instead interesed in large swords and guns.  So Shelly saw the Faberge Eggs for about 15 seconds before we had to chase after the kid.

Tonight we are going to the Old Moscow Circus.  I hope Vladik likes it better than the video games.

It wasn’t until we got to Moscow that I realized how much I missed breakfast while in Birobidzhan.  The day we left Birobidzhan, we ate in the Vostok Hotel restaurant.  The set breakfast menu started with a cole slaw and imitation crab salad, moved on to a watery omelet with some kind of really sweet cheese, and ended with what looked like a promising crepe but ended up being a blini filled with mystery meat that I initially thought was liver but my first (and only) bite also yielded a bone fragment and I don’t recall liver being boney.

Moscow is seven hours behind Birobidzhan, so Vladik was up at 12:30 a.m. initially and then woke up for good around 5:00 a.m.  I set him up with a computer game (using headphones) and that distracted him long enough so that we were able to sleep until 7:00 a.m.  And I was totally jonesing for some eggs and meat.  So we took an early Sunday morning walk past the West side of the Kremlin and across the Moscow River to the Starlite Diner.  Ordinarily when traveling I would avoid an American themed restaurant like the plague.  But after the disappointment of liver and bone filled pancakes this was all kinds of awesome.

Steak and Eggs

A Tired and Cranky Vladislav

Joe in Front of Lenin's Tomb

I am the walrus.

We made it to Moscow.  The 8 1/2 hour flight from Khabarovsk got us in at around 3:30 p.m. Moscow time, which is 10:30 p.m. Birobidzhan time.  By the time we got to the hotel it was around 6:00 p.m.  We couldn’t convince Vladislav to sleep on the flight so he pretty much crashed once we got to the hotel.  I wish I could  sleep but I can’t… because tonight are the finals of the Eurovision Song Contest, held right here in Moscow!  I’ve  yet to meet a European who will admit to watching this crapfest but apparently 120 million watched last year.  I love a good train wreck so I’m staying up to watch.

Today was Vladik’s last day in the orphanage.  We picked him up in the early afternoon and then spent the rest of the day driving around getting the last of the paperwork completed.  We’re now in the hotel in Birobidzhan for one last night before setting off early in the morning for Khabarovsk where we’ll catch a flight to Moscow.  We were too busy to take photos so here’s one from a few days ago of Vladik and Joe playing Connect Four in the orphanage.  In case your wondering, it is a travel version of Connect Four that is so small it is almost invisible.

On the Floor Playing Connect Four

We’ll hopefully be back online on Saturday night in Moscow.

I was out walking this morning and finally made it down to the river.  The Bira runs through Birobidzhan and gives it part of its name.  There was a concrete wall that prevented me from scrambling down the banks for a closer look.  I’m not sure if that’s to protect the river or to protect me.

The Bira

Kid Park Entrance

Near the riverbank is a children’s park with three rides that offend my American risk-adverse liability-conscious sensibilities.  They were not open today but appeared to be freshly painted and lovingly cared for.

Train Ride

Spinning Ride

Ferris Wheel Type Thingy

A few people were doing maintenance on the building that houses the ticket window and concession stand.  A new sign was being painted.  Apparently the ferris wheel type ride is appropriate for moose, blue rabbits, and pink complexioned young female humans.

Getting Ready

Today was the farewell party for Vladislav.  We held it at the bowling alley, a hotspot for kid parties in Birobidzhan.  We were at such a party last week where a guy dressed like Tigger.  Occasionally the bowling alley also hosts a male revue.  So it’s a versatile space.  This is the third time in three weeks we found ourselves here.  About 16 kids from Vladik’s orphanage took the drive from Vladgeym to Birobidzhan for an afternoon of bowling, cold pizza, and hot tea.  Also along for the ride was Vladik’s girlfriend, Vicka.

Vladik, Vicka, and her Friend

Vladik, Vicka, and Tanya

Bowling was hysterical.  I’ve never seen so many balls bounce off the equipment while the pins were being reset.  We ended up breaking one so badly we had to change lanes.

Some of the Kids

Two of the caretakers also joined us.  Natalia is particularly good to Vladik but seems happy he’s coming home with us.

Joe Being Manhandled by Natalia

Afterwards we finally got to sample Birobidzhan pizza.  Let’s just say it’s no Frank Pepe’s.  I’ll spare you the close up photos.

Pizza Party