Moscow Update

Hello All-

Sorry for the delay. Internet access in Moscow is very expensive, and I am not able to log on everyday like in Kras. It's about $15 per hour. Everything is very expensive in Moscow. Our airplane ride from Kras to Moscow went pretty well. We started Wednesday at 345am for our ride to the Kras airport. Sergei was sleepy, but was fine for the hour ride to the airport. Flying domestically in Russia is an adventure. Long lines, no computers, poor service. When we checked in, they could not find my ticket, and had Marcie and I not seated together. After but an hour, and an additional 1,300 rubbles for over weight baggage, we were ready to go. We were told to ask when we got on board to try to sit together. Luckily that did work out, and Marcie and I could sit together. Sergei did very good on the plane. He watched the take off, ate a little lunch, and fell asleep for about 3 hours. The plane left 45 mins late because they could not get one of the engines started "technical delay". The flight time was just under 5 hours.

Once we arrived it was straight to a medical exam for Sergei, as required by the US Embassy. After the exam it was off for pictures for Sergei's US visa. Sergei is currently a Russian citizen with a Russian passport. He will not be a US citizen until we arrive in Detroit, and he gets his passport stamped. Finally to the hotel at about 2pm Moscow time. Time change between Kras and Moscow is 4 hrs, so the boys were a bit off schedule. Sergei has adjusted fine, and is back on schedule.

Thursday was a day off, and I spent most of the day in search of diapers. Millions of people in Moscow, and no pampers. They don't sell them in a grocery store, you need to go to a special pharmacy store. We found a nice place to eat and off to bed. We have a stroller in Moscow, so long walks are not a problem.

Today (Friday) we had to go to the US Embassy to get Sergei's visa. Everyone at the embassy was very nice, and the place was packed with adopting families. (At least 20 couples) We also went to Red Square to get some pictures with the boys in front of some landmarks. We went into a store that had Russian Olympic hats and shirts to look for souvenirs. Hats were over $50 each. Yikes.... People here would go crazy if they ever went to a Wal Mart.

Tomorrow we are going to try to go to the Moscow zoo. The weather is much cooler here, and it has been raining off and on. The h0tel room is a great improvement from Kras. There is 400% more of everything (including the cost :) Big beds, space, pillows, soap, and I don't have to use a hand towel to dry off after a shower! The bathroom is as big as the last hotel room. Very exciting.

The attached pictures are; the 3 of us in front of St. Basil's, Sergei standing in the center of Moscow, and our ride from Kras to Moscow. (Boeing 767 this time, we stepped up a couple decades from the last trip)

We are counting down the days until we come home. Only 4 more days.

Love - Rick, Marcie and Sergei