I had to drive my car somewhere so why not Borovsk. It sounded interesting. I said why not Borovsk. I needed to leave early. Why? Moscow has been designated as having the worst traffic jam in the world. THEY ARE RIGHT! I hate driving in Moscow while I love driving. I have driven more car rentals outside Russia than my own car in Russia. A sad but true tale. Well, I left at 6am readying myself for the on slot of traffic. I was pleasantly surprised at how little traffic I met instead being only 30 minutes behind my original GPS time.

The large Samsung TV factory loomed over me as I made my final turn toward Borovsk. I was ready for the country. I definitely met it when I stopped at the monastery. Of course, my red diplomatic plates stood out immediately when a man across the street stopped talking to his souvenir selling friend to stare at my car. He stared at me leaving my car. He stared and followed me as I walked down the street to take outside shots of the monastery. He went into the parking lot thinking I would know he followed me. I knew. I returned toward the entrance and stopped. He was on the other side of the street, turned, and stared at me again. I was ready for the return stare. He kind of jumped. I smiled. I entered the monastery grounds with him “escorting” me. I kept walking but felt kind of awkward. Then a man called out to me in Russian. I replied in English that I didn’t understand. His broken English helped me understand I needed to cover my shorts; women cannot wear pants when on monastery grounds. I placed mine on dutifully while the security guards “kept watch” over me. They followed me the whole time while I walked around. They are definitely NOT used to foreigners here!

I entered the main church to see its artwork. The woman cleaning the area around Virgin Mary interested me even more. She was detailed, precise, and measured…while the people in the ever increasingly long line were antsy, anticipating, willing her to speed up the process. She swiped the glass clean. They swiped their brows clean with sweat. She leaned down to pick items up. They looked up wishing it would go faster. She finally finished with an older lady almost nudging her out of the way.

I left with a wave towards the security guards for “protecting me”. Next was the market place. I sauntered over to the small produce area. One stand stood out with grandmother’s vying for their place in line. All I wanted were some cherries I missed so much of! I spoke and pointed to the vendor. She said something in Russian. I said yes…1 kilo. $6 later I had my cherries and a few bumps from the grandmothers. I returned to my car placing the cherries into the trunk while a car next to me backed up. Seeing my plates he said something in Russian. Once again I said I didn’t know what he said. At my English he smiled, nodded, spoke yet more Russian, and drove off. I returned to the market to meander among the older people selling plants galore; flowers, herbs, and other plants. They knew each other, spent time together, and lived long lives together. I wish I could buy something but I knew no Russian AND I would kill it in no time. Travel does that.

I had to take a walk to see the neighbor. I passed the forlorn theater used no more with the weeds growing through the roof and the letters falling off the front. So sad. Then it was a sad tower now a part of a park entrance. So sad. I felt better passing old log homes; some painted while others paint withering away. The wedding limo honking into the air woke me up. They shouted for joy at yet another wedding. I saw many wedding parties that day. More walking. Past a girl pushing a cart with a doll pretending to be an adult. She has plenty of time to grow up!

I hopped into my car ready for a little drive into the country. I took a street and drove. The countryside opened up with small groups of homes. Some had electricity while others had none. They were from yesteryear of wooden homes where most strived to be alive but others fell in disrepair. The roads turned from ok to not so ok to not ok at all to bad to very bad to gravel. At one point I gave up driving any further. I really wanted to go on but the roads said no. I turned around knowing it was time to return and ready to do so. The lake with people steadily fishing helped ease the sadness of leaving the country where I wanted to explore more.

I was much easier than returning to Moscow! It took me 30 minutes to take a ramp from one freeway to another because of the horrible traffic. Not to say the least passing 2 accidents where people literally sat on their car while congested traffic tried to zoom by. I bypassed that frustration when I saw the shiny silver Lexus in the shopping center lot. Talk about hilarious imitation of Superman! I needed that!