Where in the World is Cat?

Recently I've been traveling every so often to a friend's house outside of Moscow on the weekend. It's in a city located about an hour and a half outside of the city center to the West. Here, life is a little quieter, a little slower, but by no means any easier. Buildings are shorter, prices are lower, but so is the pay and the quality of life. I was able to snap just a couple of pics without looking like a tourist. This picture to the left is the city center. Not much in comparison to Moscow, but still a thriving metropolis in comparison to the majority of Russian towns.


During my last visit, I "prostudilas", aka - caught a nasty cold. After being bedridden for the good part of a week in my dorm room, I made the trip again to be cured by homemade chicken soup and a traditional Russian remedy: a full glass of vodka with one tablespoon of black pepper. I didn't go there looking for this "cure", but was assured many times over it worked. Well, I got half of this mug (pictured to the left) down before running to the bathroom sink. I was encouraged to drink the rest (unsuccessful in this as well), and then laid to bed in a sweat suit. And perspire I did, all night...and woke up the next morning not sure if I felt better because I was actually healthy or because I had rid my body of the awful poison I had put into it the night before.

I think in the future I'll stick to Tylenol Cold. My American body isn't cut out for traditional Russian cures.