The last two weekends meant a trip to Berlin one weekend and then Stockholm another weekend. Berlin meant a cool concert under the Brandenburg Gate, a cold walk through the Potsdam palace, and a condensed walk around the Berlin Wall. Stockholm meant a misty canal boat ride around the city, a rainy walk around a motorless island, a stroll through Sweden’s past, and a venture with Sweden’s royalty.

To say the least, I took into today with a casualness lasting all day…before I knew it. I knew I didn’t want to visit another museum any time soon. I wanted to walk outside breathing in Moscow’s “rich” air. That meant a walk through Moscow’s botanical garden. First, I had to find the entrance. I left the metro following people even though I had a general sense where an entrance would be. I found it; it being a broken gate not normally used. Oh well…I passed the piles of debris and the training tooting nearby to find the trail. The birds kept me company…until I came upon the Japanese Garden. How did I know it was the Japanese Garden? Well, several Russians dressed in Japanese traditional garb with make up to accompany the ensemble meandered by me eating potato chips. I eagerly paid my way…only to hear the furious mating calls into the sky from the frogs in a nearby pond. They were the star letting everyone know. I knew. The couple on the bridge with me knew. I can say I won’t forget the air bubbles on the side of their heads before theirs calls wafted into the air. I kept going along the path. The weeds popped here and there and here and there. I recognized some of the shrub as well as the houses but felt disappointed by the garden. I kept saying to myself, “I paid almost $10 for this”. Oh well…

The rain dribbling made me long to walk faster but their tiredness also held me back. I made it to the greenhouses cheering its cover from the rain. With sign language I made it into the entrance excitedly. Well, it was in ok shape. I kept warm walking around to see which trees were ok and which were thriving. They were doing the best they could with what they had. I passed school groups enthusiastically learning about nature. They seemed enthralled. What enthralled me were the two HUGE greenhouses; definitely much more than 200 feet high. Closed. They hovered over everyone. I definitely felt tiny! The bunches of lilac trees nearby soaked up my attention with their different shades of purple as well as bright white. I loved the white ones. People posed this way and that with their favorite trees. I took this angle and that too. I loved the deep colors.

I finally pulled myself away. I walked past the photographer taking shots of the bride and groom playing badminton. I entered the upside down house with the chairs…cabinets…tubs…and anything else nailed to the ceiling. The Russians loved that house not believing they were upside down in a right side life! I kept walking passing the roller bladers and baby strollers to find my place for a rest. Set in an old building, I found Armenia in Russia. With the high ceiling “nurturing” me, I chose my little bit of brandy and large bit of cheese pastry. What a combination? People communed and shared and relaxed. I needed that too. I almost fell asleep. I almost did.

On my way out I passed a youth empowerment festival. What did it have? It had girls taking short rides on motorcycles. It had boys driving ATVs. It had face painting. It had hair braiding. It had all you can think to excite young people. They were…most of the time…especially with the pop singers! I couldn’t stop laughing at the kids. They cracked me up. Even more so were the kids frolicking in the amusement park next door. Running here. Flying there. Having fun everywhere. I wished I were a kid on those rides!

My stomach rumbled. Where was real food? My lime flavored vanilla ice cream wasn’t enough. Georgian food called out to me. I made it to the restaurant with no time to spare; no tables available 5 seconds later. Very popular! Three large, scrumptious, delicious potato and cheese dumplings seized my stomach. The bread and cheese and raw egg combo showed up soon thereafter. I swirled the egg until it blended with the cheese. I tore off bits of the bread at the end, dipping them into the saucy middle until it became nothing. I savored each bite…each morsel…each taste. Georgian food…you have got to try it! I think I returned to my house at 9 pm…long day!