Moscow - Novodevichy Cemetery - again

More? It must all have something to do with the fact that for many years of my life I had conversations and some searches for Uncle Ralph. Not my uncle, but one of my projects in life. I can report we found Uncle Ralph. Not in Novodevichy, but just exactly where he was supposed to be. We will leave the rest of that story with Greg to share next time you see him.

Moscow - Novodevichy Cemetery - part 2

The Convent.

The convent.

Moscow - Novodevichy Cemetery

Took the metro down to the Novodevichy Cemetery today - next to a huge old convent. The cemetery was recommended and quite the site - amazing monuments to so many Russians - including Yeltsin, Tolstoy, Checkov, Gorbachav, Kruschev and many others. Here is a sampling of the monuments. It was about 32F today - and great until the wind came up.

Moscow - around the office

The office is about a 10 minute ride. It is a bit further north than the apartment. Sergey or Ivan pick me up and we pass by the huge arena built for the 1980 Olympics. We also pass by a large miliatary office complex. Our office is a converted tram factory. We have three levels including a roof top bbq and basketball area.

A few shots of the military buildings and the office.

Moscow - the neighborhood

There is a major metro station a couple blocks up the road. There are lots of shops and restaurants very near by. This is the apartment from the metro station and some of the things around it.

Moscow - wow!

Cold and grey would best describe my first week in Moscow. Every morning there seems to be a slight dusting of snow on the ground. They sweep it off the sidewalks with these old style brooms that look like something from the wicked witch of the west in the Wizard of Oz. The bit of snow and the dirt, that always seems to be around, makes for an ugly mix that gets on everything. Everyday I total the back of another pair of pants as I get in and out of the car.

I am staying in the northern part of the center city on the Garden Circle. Right out the window is a major road that circles the city - cars 24 hours a day.

Here are a few pictures of the courtyard you come into in the back of the apartment to get in. And then a few shots from the balcony on level 4.

The exterior and public spaces in apartments are not very well kept. You have to ignore it all until you get into your apartment.

Saint Paul - Once again the "go home when you are tired party" a success - one of many events to finish off 2007

oops - who will clean up all the left overs........................

Commitments brought me back over the holidays and all the connections and events made it even better...........thank you to all. And loved seeing everyone and not enough time spent with anyone - but I am not worrying about time together.................it sounds like there are no weeks left in 2008 if you all schedule things right. Look forward to seeing whoever can get it organized to get to wherever I may be. To a great 2008 for all. Cold, windy night for us in Minnesota tonight....................and those rabbits...eating everywhere.

Rochester MN - Dawit and the geese - all 30,000 or more

Rochester - Family - Christmas - Chaos....it is all good

and for Jimbo no matter what or where - sleep in heavenly peace!

St Paul - winter arrives in December 2007 - been awhile

Snow is nothing new - but hasn't arrived in this amount for quite awhile in Minnesota in December. Hopefully, will keep the multitude of rabbits off the bushes or at least just munching on the top - they have been killers to the yard the last few years.

Madrid - ready for Christmas

Madrid generally starts celebrating the holidays around December 15. There is not the hype and decorations you see in the US. But they do enjoy it and it becomes more of an event each year. They decorate the city with lights. Whole blocks or multiple blocks will have large light structures that expand across the road.

On on the main thoroughfare through the heart of the city we went from amazing white light display to the next. Each one running for several blocks. Most of the large structures use white lights. You can see them blocks before you arrive.

They have an open top bus that tours you to some of the more spectacular points in the heart of the city. I was doing a bit of wandering and shopping last night and tried to capture some of the color from a few spots along my way.

I also got an evening shot of the Department Store wall. I just happened to arrive in time to catch the daily show that they do - they street gets blocked off and fills with people.

Being a very Catholic Country they also have magnificent and multiple nativity displays.