so much to do, so little time
Our last day. We visited my mom and my brother. This has been their place for the last ten years. Maybe because mom and I have lived apart for so long I still do not completely accept her relocation. It feels like she is still …
Our last morning of the Golden Ring trip was in Pereslavl-Zalessky, an old Russian city about 140 km, 87 miles, northeast of Moscow. It was founded by the same prince, Yuri Dolgoruky, and at the same time, as Moscow. In 1374, an important congress of …
Leaving the Myshkin house, with its overgrown garden was not easy. In the morning, we walked around quite a bit taking pictures. It was sad knowing that most likely we will never come back here again. The world is big and time is scarce. Final …
The business of renting a car in Moscow is not for the faint at heart. Last night, we tried so many different places, even Charlotte without much Russian found a few numbers to call. It seemed like car rental offices in Moscow did not have …
When someone asks me about my roots, it feels odd to say I am from Russia. I am Russian but from the Soviet Union. To me, Russia before the Soviet Union, the Soviet Union, and Russia after the Soviet Union are three different countries. My …
We did get a few sympathetic words from friends about night flight hardships but it was our firm plan to fly a red eye. Direct. JFK to Moscow. Nine hours and some. Our plane was scheduled to take off after midnight NY time and land …
From the mostly autobiographical novel “This is Me — Edichka” by Eduard Limonov which protagonist is a Russian immigrant abandoned by his wife living on welfare in New York (translation is mine — forgive me, Edichka): “If, between 1 and 3 pm, you happen to …
After a hike in the Tallman Mountain Park, it seemed like a good idea to try O Lar, a tiny hole-in-the-wall restaurant on the main drag in Piermont with the focus on Mediterranean food. Many recommended this place and reviews were promising. It was Saturday …
The original plan for the weekend was Jersey Shore but the weather was not cooperating. Over Central Jersey, the radar loop was showing solid green band with occasional yellow-red spots. Since the skies up north looked better, we decided to cross another trip off our …
7:10 PM on a Saturday night. Getting on an uptown Q at Broadway & Spring. Doors open. No one’s by the door to get off and I’m about to step in. Here one of those, you know, “oh-look-this-stop-is-ours” slow pokes and a girlfriend who for …