My Kind of Moscow Day 3

A bit about the ship before discussing the day:  We are on the Viking Ingvar which is a riverboat.  It holds 200 passengers and is full. It is a narrow ship and there is no

Viking Ingvar

Our room - pole dancing encouraged

passing in hallways - one must step aside if you run into someone traveling the other direction.  There are 4 floors accessible to the passengers and only 1 elevator.  The inclines are a tad steeper than a regular cruise ship, so we should be well exercised by the time we debark. I would guess we are about half Americans and half British – everybody is super friendly and always introducing themselves and chatting amiably.  Mealtimes are fixed but seating in the dining room is open so you can sit anywhere, with anyone – we like this because we enjoy meeting new people.  The crew is quite friendly and seems to be a mix of Russian, Philippino, and other Europeans – all speak very good English…  Having never sailed on Viking before we had no idea about river cruising…  We will have spent 3 nights in Moscow and sail tomorrow so we will see.  So far it has been an interesting but hectic journey.

However today we were on our own and I had researched a market I wanted to explore and shop.  At breakfast we mentioned to our table mates, Michelle & Charles from Stratford on Avon, that we were going shopping.  Michelle perked up and Charles said we said the magic words – shopping!  So we all decided to go together.  The metro station is about a 20 minute walk from the ship, so we asked about a taxi – the response was “we have a fixed price - $40 – no matter where you travel”  Hmm, so we opted to take the taxi all the way to the Izmaylovsky Market.  An hour later he dropped us in front of an enchanted villiage and gave us his phone number saying he would be happy to pick us up as he live nearby.  

Izmaylovsky Village and Market is a fairy tale – a cross between a Renaissance Faire and Solvang in California.  The architect is all scrollwork, curlicues, crown molding and gingerbread painted in all colors of a Crayola box .  There is a chapel there and multiple weddings were in progress while we visited.  But because it was a Thursday, most of the flea market/shops were closed.  I bought a couple of nesting dolls but was a bit disappointed about the shopping.  Then we met up again with Charles  and he said, “I’ve found the market!”  Michelle was standing in front waiting but Charles said it was because he had her purse, she couldn’t buy anything…lol  The market was marvelous and typical of any outdoor market.  Stall after stall of colorful good but always Matryoshka dolls – they usual Russian woman as well as political figures, Minions and even Star Wars!  There were also lacquer boxes, fur hats, wood carvings etc., etc…  We had a marvelous time and enjoyed our escapade  at Izmaylovsky Market.

It was about 2pm when we decided to return to the ship but this time by Metro.  Charles and Michelle were up for another adventure so we elected Brian our leader and followed him the half mile to the Metro.  Along the way I caught some more Pokémon and leveled up to 13!  We managed to navigate the underground system with no glitches even tho we had to change lines from the Blue to the Green and arrived at the ship’s Metro stop about an hour later.  

300 feet down under

Riding the Metro

Emerging from the underground, we saw a McDonald’s, Starbuck’s and KFC on one side and the mall on the other.  Lol!  We entered the mall because it also included a grocery store.  B explored and bought chocolate & soda and Michelle and Charles bought tonic water to drink with their gin back on the ship.  The taxi line was right outside the mall so I suggested we grab a cab because I was pooped and those damned soda bottles were heavy and would geteven  heavier walking back.  So we asked all the drivers if they spoke English, 3 stepped away while pointing at the other guy…lol!  I showed him a card that had the address in Russian and asked how much – he said 500 Rubles…  Now remember we could have paid $40 if we’d arranged with the ship, so we immediately accepted his quoted price as it was about $9!!! And worth every penny…lol! 

We had plans for a late evening tour, Moscow by Night, that was leaving at 9pm and returning after midnight…  So upon returning to our cabin after shopping we both took a nap.  B fell asleep within 5 minutes of collapsing on the bed but I read a bit until my book kept falling in my lap…

After an interesting meal:  food was good but service was peculiar…we boarded our bus for the night tour.  It turns out it was the same as the day tour except at night and without the “convenience” stop…lol!  However it also included a canal tour which was quite marvelous.  If you have been to
San Antonio Riverwalk boat ride, it was like that in Moscow…  The weather was brisk and the views were pretty terrific.  We got a different view of Red Square and the Kremlin and well as lots of interesting architecture.  The cathedrals here a onion-domed and painted gold.  We took lots of photos and had a very pleasant  evening on the “Moscow Riverwalk” canal boatride.  And even better, there were tons of Pokemon around...the most I have ever caught in one session!  LOL!
It was after 1230am when we began our journey back to the ship.  Lo and behold!  It is only a 25 minute ride if you travel after midnight and before 5am…lol!!!  “Traffic” is always the responded excuse for everything…

Tomorrow is another day and we will sail away from Moscow…