Russia, Day 5

 

 

(L to R) Sasha (Kamil's girl), Pasha, Olga (Pasha's wife), Marina, Allen, Marina's Cousins and Kamil

(L to R) Iskander (our uncle), mom, Dilya, Marina's cousins, Kamil, Sasha, Pasha, Kade, Kade's dude

Dilya, in white blouse, is Timour's niece. She studied in the USA.

Timour and his dad sing their favorite song, a Frank Sinatra classic.  Click here to experience it.

 

Day Five 

We took our handwritten notes on how and where to meet Timour and left the hostel around 2 PM.  Up to then, we lazed around in order to restore our strength, wash some clothes, check out of the current room we were in and do a bit of e-mailing.   The last bit has been hard the whole trip.  One temperamental computer for thirty or more people – a nightmare and one big frustration!   

We arrived at the metro station, Bratislava, which was the farthest stop we’d taken to date.  We exited the station and made our way to the side entrance of a mall, where were supposed to spot Timour.  I heard my name and there he was.  It had been almost ten years - some grey hair and some extra pounds, but easily identifiable!  After embracing and small-talking, we jumped in his car and rode over to his apartment building.  We took the elevator to the thirteenth floor, took off our shoes and then looked around.  Timour’s father quickly greeted us.  Next, it was Sasha, Timour’s step-nephew.  Then, out stepped Marina, Timour’s girlfriend. 

After drinking some instant coffee, we put back on our shoes and went out the door.  Timour and Marina had big plans for us.  It was my first time riding “above ground” in Moscow and this far outside the city.  Huge apartment blocks – some fairly new – were all around us.  There was a lot of traffic.  I noticed how well-maintained the streets were.  Plus, they weren’t as congested as I had thought they’d be.  Timour drove his car to the entrance of Kolomenskoye Estate, parking along the road.  We started our walk.   We saw ruins (many being restored) of churches and palace grounds.  There were many walking paths that took you through brilliantly-manicured gardens and orchards.  As we got closer to the main palace wall and cathedral tower, we noticed several newlyweds having their pictures taken.  We walked through a gate and towards the Moskva River.  The Southern half of the city skyline was a very nice backdrop.  We walked towards a huge pavilion where a rock festival was starting.  As I walked up a hill towards some cabins and restaurants, I was going upstream in a steady flow of young people arriving for the festival.  Many people were dressed in “alternative” and grunge fashions.  Some looked like they could easily walk the streets of downtown Asheville or San Francisco and no one bat an eye.  I noticed some women who were showing their bounty, opting to go bra-less in very thin, light-colored shirts.  As the rain picked up, we found cover underneath a picnic table umbrella at a rustic restaurant.  Timour and I ordered some lamb and chicken shashlik, grabbed some cokes and sat down.  When the first of the shashlik came out, I was surprised at just how hungry I was.  Kade and I both said we thought the chicken wing shaslik was as good as any barbeque we had ever had, period.  We ordered a second helping and enjoyed the moment. Besides, there was nothing else to do.  It was still raining.  After eating, we started our walk back to the car, stopping only to pose for a few pictures and gazing at newlyweds decked in tuxes and gowns.  We then walked past a cabin replica of Peter the Great’s first home.  Finally, we made it to the car. 

As we drove down the road towards the Tsaritsyno Estate, we noticed a convoy of military trucks.  Timour said they were part of the National Guard and they were on their way to the rock festival to maintain security.  Timour says that when you mix Russians, alcohol and rock music, fights are bound to break out.  Timour continued driving.  We were soon at the gates of Tsaritsyno. Timour very cleverly got in with some other cars in a wedding procession.  He says this allowed us to enter an area that, for that day anyway, was closed.  We drove down this long drive towards the park.  Timour parked his car and we got out to walk.  We walked past two Humvee limos and several “wedding couples” and their posses.  Eventually we walked across a bridge and were standing on the grounds of a palace that was being restored thanks to Moscow’s mayor making this a pet project.  Besides the conspicuously beautiful main house, there were other buildings that complemented it very well.  The estate was huge!  We saw big lakes with small islands of trees.  The landscape was exceptional and the paving, brick work and overall reconstruction looked first-rate.  It would be the perfect place for a city get-away.  Fatigue and low glucose levels made us pine for a quick exit.  After some customary photos, we walked back to the car.  It had already been a long day…and more was to come.

 

Returning to Timour’s home district, we decided to refuel by getting an iced latte.  We found a coffee shop in the mall.  Timour had a slight run-in with some local hooligans.  After our coffee, we ventured downstairs to buy some Thai food ingredients and some other things.  We also went to an electronics store to buy an adaptor.  Eventually we made it back to Timour’s apartment and rested.  After some time, dinner was approaching.  And, when I say dinner, I mean DINNER.  Timour started cooking pilaf, guests started arriving and vodka was being chilled.  By dinnertime, there were ten or more people sitting around the table – some of Timour’s relatives and friends and some of Marina’s relatives.  Dinner was a typical Uzbek affair, meaning pilaf was the main entrée.  There were also tons of salads and pickles to go with the smoked herring.  I spent the evening eating, sipping vodka and talking with various people.  I certainly enjoyed chatting with Timour’s cousin, Dilya, and Timour’s friend, Pavel.  The evening’s events went on and on.  Timour and his dad sang “Strangers in the Night”, Kade fell asleep at the table and Marina’s mom gave me a back rub.  I respectfully declined when she asked me to go lie down in the back room.  I’m serious!  It was a good massage, but I insisted on remaining upright in my chair, where the food and action was.  As the evening came to a close, it was obvious I was a bit more than tipsy and surely had spoken more than my share that evening.  What a night!  Timour, Marina and Kade started cleaning the kitchen.  When I fell asleep at the breakfast table in the kitchen, Timour, like a good friend, took me to my bed.  That night I slept very well!