Back to the Novadevichy

So, change of plans. Was planning on going to the Bulgakov Museum and Yeliseev, but decided not to do either. I was supposed to go with Jake to Yeliseev, but he just got back from Kazan and was dead to the world for most of the day. And, when I woke up this morning, I decided I just wanted to walk around and use as little brain power as possible. Susan agreed and, after finding out that going to Bulgakov would take some of that brain power we both abhor, decided to walk to the Novadevichy Convent. We had already gone a couple of months ago (remember the Sergeis and Uncle Solo?), but didn't get to see all of it.

It was nice out today, a little overcast but quite warm, so we decided to walk from the university to the convent. It was only about 3 miles or so and it takes us by a beautiful little park and the river. Or so we thought. Turns out the map made everything look a lot simpler than it really was. After attempting to slide down a steep embankment (unsuccessfully) we took the long way around and were almost swept aside by a fast running stream of melting snow. After we finally crossed the river, we get to a dead end and then ended up in the middle of a random market that was blocked all the way around by a 12 ft., metal fence. Fortunately, my sense of direction was not completely broken and we eventually made our way to the convent.

At the convent, we walked behind a group of people with our hoods pulled up, so as not to be recognized by Sergei and Sergei, the slightly creepy security guards turned tour guides. We spent a couple of hours looking around the cemetery, finding graves of famous people we missed before and other, nondescript graves that we just liked. Our favorite was the grave of a man named Фохт. If you can read and pronounce Cyrillic, you will know why it was out favorite. If you don't, well, it's probably for the best. I found the graves of Mayakovsky, yep more poetry, and then Alexei Tolstoy, at which point I nearly cried. It was so cool. Now I just need to figure out where Pushkin, Tolstoy and Dostoesvsky are buried (not at the Novadevichy, that's all I know. I think Tolstoy might be buried at Yasnaya Polyana...) and I will be good.

Turns out, we were not so sneaky as we had hoped and were later found by Sergei. Multiple times. I swear, the men here are like rashes or some other annoying metaphor... Anyways, eventually, the cemetery closed and we had to leave. I think we may go back again if there is time. Dead people are cool...

Now, all I have left are the Bulgakov House, Yeliseev, the Armory, and Lenin's mosoleum (Bimini, I am waiting for you. When you do come?) and I will pretty much be done with everything I absolutely must see this time around in Moscow. Once that is done, I will have more time just to walk around and take my time. I would really like to spend more time in the numerous markets around the city. So, for the next couple of weeks, I am just going to finish those things, do the theater at least once a week (yea for student tickets!) and go out of town. Vladamir, Suzdal, and St. Petersburg are a must. If I have time, I am also going to see if I can make it to Yasnaya Polyana and Arkangelskoe. We will see, we will see.

Wednesday (April 1st) marked the official beginning of the end. I know a month is still a long time, but it seems so short. So, I am a bit melancholy at the moment. I want to stay... Some friends and I are scheming to figure out how we can get a various passports (I want an EU one and they want either a US or EU one, depending on which country they come from). I think we figured out it could work if we all married each other. So, if I come home a married woman, don't worry. It was only for the passport...