Moscow - Part 8

Saturday, 23 April 2016, 9.30 am

Got off at the right station. All I had to do now was to follow the map and remember the way. Easy. 

I got lost. I walked for about a kilometre before I decided the park can't be that far away. I could see the Moskva river from a distance but I didn't know exactly where to go to cross it. So I stopped at a cafe and asked for directions. I could see people staring at me (dark skin at work again - charm them, Sheila!). I was right. I was on the wrong track. Backtrack the same way until I see a bridge and go across it.

This time I got it right and I was in Gorky Park! The park opened in 1928, situated just across the Moskva River, named after Maxim Gorky, a Russian literary figure. Clean but trees were without leaves which although beautiful, were a bit too bare for me.  

After the park I walked along the Moskva river in the opposite direction, towards the statue of Peter the Great (1682-1725) founder of the Russian fleet, also founded the new capital of Russia - Saint Petersburg. This was when Moscow briefly ceased to be Russia's capital. After the Russian Revolution in 1917, the capital was moved back to Moscow by Vladimir Lenin.

And then time to head back. I accomplished this without getting lost. Well done, Sheila!

Packed up and checked out at 2, then had a pint of Russian draft beer at the hotel bar (something Corona) which was good, although I still preferred Baltikan No. 7. 

And then it was 4 pm and time to go to the airport. Ms. Concierge hugged me goodbye and Mr. Doorman shook my hand. See what smiles and cheerfulness can do. 

My taxi driver, Urmud is a guy from Kyrgystan who was working in England and then decided to come back to Russia as his Russian wife wanted to come back home. He is temporarily driving a taxi with the hope of opening his own taxi company. I think he'll make it, too, he sounds extremely enterprising. We were talking about all things Russian, tourism, politics, government etc. 

Somewhere in this conversation I mentioned to him that I am truly myself when I travel. When I'm home I have to be someone else in order to fit in. And he told me, which is probably the best advice anyone could give me, that I should be myself no matter where I am. But this is of course easier said than done. At home, because you have to work with people or meet people you don't like for whatever reason, you have to be, to a certain extent, a hypocrite. And that is not being myself. This requires more thinking - why can't I be myself in my own country?

And then it was time to go home. Till the next adventure!