- 2/20/2008 10:00:00 PMMoscow Trip - Day 10We pulled into Moscow around 7:00 AM and Dima the driver was waiting at the train station for us. We walked to Dima's van which was parked outside the train station and across the street. He drives a Hundai 5 speed mini-van. It looks like it has seen better days. We got in, he turned the key and "click click click" - it wouldn't start. Not a problem. Dima just simply and quickly lifted his drivers seat, disconnected and reconnected the battery terminals and "varroom!" we were off and running. I had heard about this sort of thing before and I was expecting it - so I wasn't worried. The most alarming parts of the trip were yet to come.
Dima drove us to Marina's flat. On the way there, Dima and I talked about the size of Moscow. He said that while the maps often portray Moscow as having 8 million people, it actually has a little over 15 million. Also, I was dead wrong about Moscow not having the concept of the belt way. They have 4 of them! It was around 7:30 and there were cars going in every direction. I asked Dima, if this was the morning rush hour. He said, "No, that starts around 8:00 AM".
Like other Moscow drivers, Dima also possesses some impressive operating skills. I observed him in a situation where we were stopped at a red light and there were 2 left turn lanes . We were in the left (or inner) lane. In America, this kind of situation typically means that the inside lane MUST turn left and the outside lane has the option to turn left or go straight. In our case, the outside lane turned left and we went straight. I'm not sure how we made it through but we did. I looked back at Peggy and her eyes were the size of beach balls.
We arrived at Marina's apartment complex. It is very big. The complex forms a large square consisting of 5 buildings - 2 smaller 5 floor buildings and 3 larger 15 floor buildings. We enter the complex by passing in between the two smaller buildings and drive into a large court yard. The three larger buildings form a kid of horse-shoe shape in the back. It is quite attractive.
Marina's apartment is on the 10th floor and you get an awesome view of the entire complex from her kitchen. Her mother and father have been staying there taking care of her cats while she is away doing Lighthouse business. As soon as we arrived she said, "You are home now. Today you get some rest." Her apartment is beautifully decorated and very comfortable. She is a very good hostess and works very hard. She has piles and piles of orphan paperwork to go through as she prepares for the next orphan trip. when she is not doing paperwork, she is on the phone making arrangements or follow up calls. Her heart for children is obvious.
She showed us the room we will be sleeping in along with Yuri. We have a nice queen sized bed and Yuri will get a twin mattress on the floor. Marina's mother made us a nice breakfast that consisted of scrambled eggs, cheese, sausage slices, small e'clairs and some coffee. In case I had not mentioned it previously, all the meals we've eaten so far seem to always be served with a plate of cheese and meat or some kind of fruit/vegetable combination. It is a refreshing change from American meals and I think we will adopt some of the eating habits when we get home.
