Olympics Trip - Part 2 - Russia
Moscow
After taking all day yesterday to travel. Three trains a plane and a taxi, we arrived in Moscow, Russia. The day was long and with a three hour time change we had time for McDonalds dinner (which we managed to overcome the language barrier and order two chicken nugget happy meals and two Big Mac meals)... And then bed.... At the Ritz Carlton... Upgraded to the suite.
It was already free on Brian's points but this was just the icing on the cake.
Today we walked around Red Square. We saw the outside of the Kremlin, we toured St. Basil's Cathedral museum (Beautiful) and skated outside in the square. It was awesome! Both kids tried figure skating for the first time because they didn't have hockey skates in kids sizes.
Dinner was at a Russian restaurant in the hotel called Cafe Russe. I had the beef and bacon cutlet with cranberry sauce. Basically meatloaf wrapped in bacon. Brian had the dumplings...Pelmeni.
Plus we splurged and got some caviar. Brian is a fan. The rest of us tasted it and that was enough.
After dinner we took the kids swimming in a beautiful pool in the hotel. It looked like stars above us with the lighting and the black bottom pool. The hot tub was also quite nice.
A nice relaxing way to end the day.
28 hours
The train was 28 hours long and the kids did amazing. We only watched one movie and then our devices were unusable as we forgot our plug adapters at home. With dominoes, puzzles and a few other games we made do. The kids loved playing on the top bunk.
The restaurant on board was expensive. The food was ok.
The train seemed old and language was a definite barrier. Still our pod with four beds was good for us. The ride didn't feel long. The scenery was birch birch and more birch trees. Mostly flat land like south western Ontario flat. Snow until we went to sleep and then none. When we got close to Sochi we saw hills and the mountains and the Black Sea.
We had Valentines day dinner at a pizzeria and then got the keys to our condo. After taking our things to our place we went grocery shopping.
Day 1 Olympics
We learned a lot today. It takes about half an hour by train to get to Olympic Park. The train is right outside our condo.
Waiting in line for our spectator passes we learned that it is actually hot here. T shirt hot. Resort temperatures by day and later at night... Spring night weather. There are palm trees here.
Russians love Canadians! After the 2.5 hour wait we were only half way through the line and then the crowd ushered us to the front because we had small children. It turned out we got to the front but we sure were not supposed to be there but... Of course the people in charge fixed it and we got our spectator passes. I am sure this saved us an additional 2.5 hours. Later another Russian came up to me and asked me to trade my Canada mittens for a Russian hat. Sure. I have another pair at home and it is warm here.
We went to the USA vs Russia hockey game today. The kids were quite into it. It was tied at the end of the game, tied again at the end of over time and at the end of 8 shots in shoot outs USA won.
After the game we were quite hungry. Brian was in line for hot dogs conversing with three Russians via Google translate on a tablet. Russians love Canadians!
Today was Brian's birthday. I think we celebrated well. Ending with a toast to celebrate with vodka and OJ.
It's now 3am and I feel a little homesick. Normally I don't feel this way on vacation. I think the fact that we haven't had internet in days is getting to me. I just want to let people back home know we are okay. Plus there is so much house stuff in my head that I can't seem to shake.
Today we found a USB plug adapter so now we can charge most of our devices (just not my camera battery). However, so far Brian's phone has been charging all night and is at 65%.
I still have 26% charge left. Hoping to wake in an hour or so to switch the cables.
Olympics Day 2
Always learning. After giving away my mittens yesterday today is COLD! I miss my mittens. I wouldn't be so upset but I found out today that the hat she traded me was size 5-8 kids. It looks great on Hadley!
However, I am wearing a sweater with pockets and not a winter coat so all is still good.
After leaving our condo this morning we bumped into about 15 Canadian media guys. Awesome!
We went to the Canada house today but only family and friends of Olympians were invited in. We were disappointed. As were many others.
However, the Canadians outside were still really friendly.
We also met a really nice couple from the Netherlands. They gave the kids pins with Dutch wooden shoes on them and we gave them a Canada pin.
At the Russia vs Slovakia mens hockey game Russia won in the best two of three shoot outs. The kids both proudly chant RU SSI A. Someone gave Easton a hockey pin and another person gave Hadley a coin with the Olympic characters on it.
Later still at the Samsung building both kids were gifted pins (where it was actually noted that none were left). Hadley remembered that we should gift back and gave a Canada pin. All over people recognize our Canada gear and ask to take our photo. Tonight we watched the end of the Canada Finland hockey game and Canada won in overtime!!!
Oh...We got internet for our phones today. Hooray!
I feel connected!
On a side note, food consumption and weight watchers don't seem to be going well. Some days I eat high points worth of food other days we miss meals and walk lots.
Day 3
Today we have no sporting events. Time to try to figure out the Russian washing machine.
The condo has "just enough" of everything. One bowl, blankets that just cover us, walk space that allows us to shimmy (I may fold up my rock hard cot tonight and sleep on the pull out couch with the kids). The kitchen table is big enough to charge our devices so they don't get stepped on. The hot water is "just enough" to make you want a quick shower. There are mugs and wine glasses. There are two chairs but we are constantly moving coats from the chairs to the cot. The stove will keep water boiling with a lid but not otherwise.
The food from the grocery store is backyard fresh. The apples look like they were just picked off the tree not like we see at home with barely a blemish. The bananas are yellow and ready to eat right away not green. (Eat today or make banana bread tomorrow). Eggs are farm fresh with feathers on the eggs. Toilet paper doesn't come on rolls. I mean it is rolled just no cardboard tube in the middle.
I figured out the washing machine!
The cot is folded up... The place feels so much bigger.
Later we ventured around Sochi finding flowers in bloom including tulips, and daffodils. We found a Bosco store (the official Sochi gear store) and got me (and Brian) some Olympic mittens. :)
They were completely sold out of hats! Now that I have new mitts I am happy for the trade I made especially since Hadley loves the hat so much.
We had planned to take a boat from Sochi to Trabzon Turkey. Thankfully we did not pre pay for this as the Port of Sochi has been closed by the Russian government to all ferry traffic. So we will have to find another way.
Day 4
Today was another day off. So we bundled up and ventured in the rain to the mountain cluster. We thought we would see snow after travelling over an hour by train but instead it was lots of mud, grass and more rain. If we had tickets we could have gone up the gondolas but no such luck.
We did however find a kids play area where a little Russian girl quickly decided that her English was good enough to play with Hadley and Easton. Afterwards we gave her a Canada pin and she was so excited.
After exploring all day and finding very little we went out for dinner, got a few more groceries and headed to the condo for some time just relaxing and travel research. (And moving laundry around to dry indoors as there is no dryer).
Day 5
Today after playing with the kids at the condo we went to the airport. It felt a little like we were on the TV show The Amazing Race. We originally thought we would boat to Trabzon Turkey but with the ports closed we needed a plan B. So after spending almost all afternoon in the airport we now have almost impossible tickets to get out of Russia on the last day of the Olympics. (The day our Visa expires). Yes, there was a running through the airport part to acquiring the tickets.
We went for an evening walk by our condo and managed to somehow get a Russian guard to open a locked gate to the Black Sea. The kids threw rocks in the water for bit. I put my fingers in the cold water, Brian took photos.
Tonight I made a chicken and rice dinner. I miss fruit and vegetables. I mean I have about one a day here but nothing like in Canada.
We also found out the Russian men's hockey team will not be playing for Gold.
Day 6
We arrived at Olympic Park yesterday at 2pm and left at 2am.
It was a fun filled day wandering around the park. The kids loved that we found a kids park inside. The kids also got to hug the bear mascot.
The high light of course was going to the women's gold medal hockey game. It was so cool to see so many Canadians.
The CBC couldn't resist interviewing the kids once they heard Easton in line yelling go Canada go! Hadley told them how we put a lucky loonie in the wishing well by the Olympic flame. We sat with the CBC Team and one American.
Hadley quickly made friends and received many pins. She was very excited. The American (who was dating a Canadian later converted to a Canadian fan). Easton was awake until just a minute before the first period ended. In his defence it was 9:41pm.
The first two periods were okay hockey but we were down by two. Then the last three minutes we scored two and won in overtime! It was awesome! I hope Hadley holds this memory. Based on the last Olympics Easton may be too little. Still he will have photos.
After singing we are the the national anthem and we are the champions we stayed until they ushered us out.
Just outside the door Hadley high five 'd a whole row of volunteers (twice). And both kids hugged some other volunteers who were holding a free hug sign. Lots of people wanted to have a photo with us. Brian exchanged his Canada hat with a volunteer. The kids loved the attention. I felt proud to be Canadian. Apparently we were seen on TV back home.
It was great to connect via Facebook on the train ride back to our condo.
The kids were very tired at 2am.
Day 7
Today we slept in a little. Then the afternoon was spent in Olympic Park exploring the Russian exposition buildings. The kids were showered with small gifts because of their Canadian gear which they loved! They even dressed in traditional costumes. Then we headed to our final ticketed event... Speed skating. Canada lost two of the three races but still competes tomorrow for bronze. Easton slept through most of it.
Afterwards we went to the House of Switzerland to have dinner and watch the Canadian men win the semi final hockey game. The kids traded pins and we talked to many people. Then after the win we walked through the bar area (at around midnight) and the kids were hugged and high five'd and shown how much Canada loves them! (Since the Canada house is only open to the Olympians and their families, a lot of Canadians head to the Swiss house). Good times!!!
Day 8
Today we had the day to explore the Dendrarium botanical gardens.
In February things are green with some flowers.
We spent four hours wandering the park. I wasn't feeling so well (something stomach related... Not sure) but it went okay. We took a gondola to the top of the hill which the kids loved and wandered down.
It was a cool day, like an early spring day.
I should mention that there are many strays here. Both dogs and cats. However all that we have come across have been tame and friendly. The kids love them.
Day 9
Today we went for a walk around Khosta where our condo is. We saw many shops, went to a local fair where the kids enjoyed some rides. Including the merry go round, the air planes that they got to control themselves and cars that they were able to drive around.
We also spent some time at the beach building castles and inukshuks.
For dinner we went to the local Pizzeria to watch the Gold medal men's hockey game. Canada wins!
We were the only Canadians there so it wasn't quite the same experience as being at the women's gold medal game in person.
After the game we went to the beach to watch the sunset. The Olympics close tonight. Time to pack up and head to the airport.