Day 3 4/9/11 - Russia

Moscow

Highlight

• Another latish start. It was colder today, but no rain. The sun came in and out.
• Metro to Kolomenskaya then followed the crowd to Kolomenskoe Estate. Turns out there is some Historic Day on, so there were lots of people and activities. Best of all everything was free.
• Walked around, saw Church of Our Lady of Kazan, where everyone was praying and kissing portraits.
• Went through the Front Gate to see a great view of the Church of the Ascension.
• Walked down to the river to hear the Belgian marching band, and watched families go about.
• Finished the rest of the sites including the museums, the water tower, the interesting Peter the Great’s Wooden Cabin.
• No time to do much else, headed to Dorogomilovsky Market. It was actually very interesting and different to the usual markets. All tiny stalls, selling one specialty. Lots of whole carcasses, caviar, smoked fish and cigarettes.
• We got a few fried bread from 4 different stores. Yum!
• Decided to tour the shopping centre and ate at the fast food chain. Interesting buffet style experience. Not that great but agreeable.
• Left us time to enjoy the pool at last at the hotel. There was no one else there so we had lots of fun.

Food

• Hilton breakfast:
  • poached egg
  • cream cheese fritter
  • tomatoes, grilled vegetables, noodles, sausage, bacon, mushrooms, hash brown
  • smoked salmon with dill, smoked white fish, herrings
  • cold cuts
  • cheese
  • ham and onion cake
  • lemon poppy seed cake
  • pear tart
  • fresh fruit
• fried bread with dill and pickled onions
• baked bread with mince and onion
• bread filled with jam
• fried bread with minced meat
• Grabli:
  • Kholodets - meat and garlic in jelly
  • borsche
  • courgette, tomato stew and rice
  • chicken in egg coating
  • blini with ham and cheese