Brrrrrrrr! Well, we are definitely in the dead of winter here in Moscow. Today the temperature hit a high of -18 Celcius. Even with a bright sun and clear skies, I felt like my nose was going to shrivel up and fall off! We in the US often think that we know the cold...we certainly do get temperatures in the North that rival Moscow's, but unlike millions of Muscovites - most of us have warm cars that we drive to work. I realized this crucial different during my routine fifteen minute walk to the metro station to buy some concert tickets for the weekend. I needed to stop twice, once in a pharmacy and once in a grocery store, just two warm up and get the feeling back in my limbs!
Additionally, for the longest time, I had heard and read stories of hikers or climbers who found themselves lost or stuck in extreme conditions, who always feared of "falling asleep" in the cold. Apparently, the body's reactions to extreme cold is to slow down, which in turn creates a feeling of sleepiness. I never quite understood this fear, I always thought, "How could you fall asleep if you're THAT cold? I can't fall asleep unless I'm snuggled up under my blankets!" Well, while waiting for the bus today, I learned of this feeling. I stood for 15 minutes on the street corner, bundled up head to toe - down jacket, two scarves, gloves, hat, hood, long johns, wool socks, the works. After 10 minutes of standing in this cold, I had the strongest want for a nap. I even then started to fall asleep on my feet...even though I've gotten plenty of sleep in the last couple of days. It wasn't until this moment that I realized just how defenseless we can be to nature's wrath at times...and became all the more aware of how careful one does have to be in extreme weather conditions.
At the moment however, I'm snuggled up in my room getting ready for bed. The cold really does take a lot out of you! Tomorrow is the Day of the Defenders of the Fatherland - aka - Mens' Day here in Russia. This is basically the Russian equivalent of Father's Day, just broadened to encompass all men. (It's okay, I'll get to enjoy Womens' Day on March 8th ;)) Best part - no school!
Maslinitsa!
Maslinitsa is in concept, the Russian equivalent of Mardi Gras, albiet in this holiday is one of the few in which we Americans outdo the Russians. (Red Square has nothing on New Orleans on this holiday!) Basically, everyone stuffs theirselves silly with blini (think crepes) and jam, or blini with sour cream, sweet milk, and/or meat and other fillings. That and a lot of vodka - 'cause boy is it cold out! The traditional singing and dancing on the streets can be witnessed, as was by yours truly. Here are a few pics of the Maslinitsa celebration on Red Square this past weekend. Enjoy!
(Right) Some Russkis serving up yummy blinis while wearing traditional Russian costumes. (Those blini were huge!)
Tomash, Rosario, Denis and Koichi strolling along Red Square.
Red Square and St. Basil's Cathedral all decked out for the Maslinitsa celebration.
(Right) Some Russkis serving up yummy blinis while wearing traditional Russian costumes. (Those blini were huge!)
Tomash, Rosario, Denis and Koichi strolling along Red Square.
Red Square and St. Basil's Cathedral all decked out for the Maslinitsa celebration.
Finally some pictures!
After many failed attempts, I believe I have finally worked out one of the problems I am experiencing with publishing photos. That being said...here are a few from my recent trip home to the States!
New York, New York!
No silly friends, this isn't in the actual New York, New York - though I did manage to sneak a day or two in there - this is the amazing New York, New York hotel in Las Vegas. The hotel boasts some of the city's most famous buildings in it's skyline, along with a scaled-down version of the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge. Pretty neat, huh?
Ah, the High Stakes gambling room at Ceasar's Palace. Couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement walking by. Maybe somebody got lucky there while I was in town!
The Grand Canyon!
Being a person that isn't particularly keen on gambling, and who had satisfied her appetite for buffets (you wouldn't believe the restaurants in Vegas!) it was time to find something a little more on the adventurous side. That being said, my mom and I planned a day trip to the Grand Canyon. What a day it was! A surprisingly nice bus trip three hours outside of Vegas with stops at the Hoover Dam and the Joshua Tree Forest just outside of the West Rim of the Canyon.
We were lucky enough to be able to take a breathtaking helicopter ride to the bottom of the Canyon, and then have a boat ride down the Colorado River. All of the guides we met along the way, mostly members of the Hualupai Indian Tribe - native to the Canyon's West Rim - were incredibly educated on this particular section of the Canyon, it's history, and how it supports the people and ecological balance in it's area. They were all incredibly welcoming, so much so that I felt more as if I were on a trip with extended family rather than with some people I was paying to show me around their backyard. If you ever get the chance, I highly suggest this specific tour to anyone Grand Canyon bound.
If you're interested, I've also got video of the helicopter ride to the Canyon floor on my Youtube sight. You can reach it simply by clicking on the "Cat's Videos" link to the right. I hope you enjoy it!
New York, New York!
No silly friends, this isn't in the actual New York, New York - though I did manage to sneak a day or two in there - this is the amazing New York, New York hotel in Las Vegas. The hotel boasts some of the city's most famous buildings in it's skyline, along with a scaled-down version of the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge. Pretty neat, huh?
Ah, the High Stakes gambling room at Ceasar's Palace. Couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement walking by. Maybe somebody got lucky there while I was in town!
The Grand Canyon!
Being a person that isn't particularly keen on gambling, and who had satisfied her appetite for buffets (you wouldn't believe the restaurants in Vegas!) it was time to find something a little more on the adventurous side. That being said, my mom and I planned a day trip to the Grand Canyon. What a day it was! A surprisingly nice bus trip three hours outside of Vegas with stops at the Hoover Dam and the Joshua Tree Forest just outside of the West Rim of the Canyon.
We were lucky enough to be able to take a breathtaking helicopter ride to the bottom of the Canyon, and then have a boat ride down the Colorado River. All of the guides we met along the way, mostly members of the Hualupai Indian Tribe - native to the Canyon's West Rim - were incredibly educated on this particular section of the Canyon, it's history, and how it supports the people and ecological balance in it's area. They were all incredibly welcoming, so much so that I felt more as if I were on a trip with extended family rather than with some people I was paying to show me around their backyard. If you ever get the chance, I highly suggest this specific tour to anyone Grand Canyon bound.
If you're interested, I've also got video of the helicopter ride to the Canyon floor on my Youtube sight. You can reach it simply by clicking on the "Cat's Videos" link to the right. I hope you enjoy it!
Peanut butter has not killed me yet
Hello all! Not surprisingly, it's snowing here in Moscow as I write you. As always, thanks to everyone for the emails and support, it's great to hear from all of you and I thank you also for your patience with my response time. (I've gotten somewhat worse at responding to emails since I've moved to Moscow. I consider it a result of my assimilation to Russian culture.)
To those of you who have written me about the recent dangers of peanut butter - thank you. I would have never considered my jar of Peter Pan to be dangerous - who would have ever thought we'd be finding samonella in peanut butter? I can tell you I was very sad to have to toss my two precious jars that travelled with me all the way from the States...thank God I thought to buy a jar of Skippy as well!
To those of you who have written me about the recent dangers of peanut butter - thank you. I would have never considered my jar of Peter Pan to be dangerous - who would have ever thought we'd be finding samonella in peanut butter? I can tell you I was very sad to have to toss my two precious jars that travelled with me all the way from the States...thank God I thought to buy a jar of Skippy as well!
Photos from Las Vegas - I hope!
Alrighty....hopefully these photos will come out - Blogger has been pretty mean to me lately, and if I can't some photos up soon then I'm afraid I may have to change the location of my beloved blog. Hopefulyly that's not going to have to happen!
Las Vegas Photos!
I'm always trying to improve my blog. One of the newest features I've found is Web Albums by Picasa...so, I'm trying it out! Here are pictures from my trip to Las Vegas with my parents. Enjoy! (Click on the following link)
-Okay - this link doesn't work either! Thanks to all of you who let me know it wasn't working properly. Working on it!
-Okay - this link doesn't work either! Thanks to all of you who let me know it wasn't working properly. Working on it!
Back in New York
Well, thank you to everyone who IMed, emailed, or called while I was away to ask where photos from my time in the States are. Believe it or not - I forgot my camera when I went to Las Vegas (a complete disaster!)...but luckily my mom had her new camera with her. So I've stolen some of her pictures and put them here. Also, I just opened a YouTube account, so you can see some video from there as well. The link is off to the right, titled "Cat's Videos". I'm always trying to add more - I'll probably continue to add the the Butterfly.com albums, as I can't fit everything here on Blogger.com...so check on that from time to time as well.
More to come soon!
-Cat
More to come soon!
-Cat
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