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I haven’t written in awhile because…vacation in Finland and Estonia then work in Moldova. I loved all those places…oh the food and atmosphere!
Well, today is my cosmonaut day. I walked out noticing the gloomy day hoping it would not last. It didn’t. I ambled over to the globes watching men pretend to “hold up the planet”. I turned around to see a humongous statue looking like a long ray stretching into the sky with a rocket at the tip. People climbed atop parts of the bottom section to pose with the carvings. Time to enter the cosmonaut museum for its wondrous exhibits! Cool rockets here and cool pods there! The space age artistry on the ceilings and walls further entrenched me into the outer surfaces of the galaxy. Seeing displays of female astronauts reminded me that the US works with Russia in good ways sometimes.

I exited into an amusement park atmosphere close by. The park used to host the world fair in 1959. Grand palaces intermingled with children’s rides intermingled with roller bladers intermingled with me! I had to dash in between the little vehicles and their tiny drivers. I swish here and a swish there. All the while silly music swirled around us.

I veered into many of the buildings once used for the world fair. Grand and statuesque buildings on the outside only to have short, basic stalls with goods to sell. Talk about surreal. I thought I would see opulence inside. No…I saw dolls. I saw cassette tapes. I saw hole in the wall cafes. I looked up at the walls and ceilings picturing the grandeur of 1959 then looked down at the worn out floor and soiled lights to see the reality of today. I sighed at what was and what could be then moved on. The amazingly tiled entrance to one of the buildings…the finely carved fresco at the top of another building…the fair must have been amazing!

I continued to meander past the outdoor restaurants striving to keep the summer alive. I meandered past the intricately painted plane striving to show Russia’s importance to space while a kids trains streaked by. I entered the awesomely large warehouse string to understand how it turned into a garden market. The man’s face at the end of the impressive dome topped building never imagined that the important discussion would be buying pretty roses.

Seeking rest, I entered a concrete room now hosting a café with greenery trying to soften its harsh edges but not quite winning. I sat in the corner having ordered my pastry hoping I could savor something scrumptious while enjoying the “serene environment”. Disappointment! I had three bites of the dry and hardened pastry to return it with unhappiness. I left being more impressed by a statue of a bull and boy playing together on top of a building more than my meal!

I needed more food to survive. A kabob place to try it one more time in a park. Talk about large chunks of meat! I asked the guy for half a stick and settled for two pieces. I tasted the marinade in the first piece with happiness but then the next one not so much happiness. Over $20 for three pieces of meat and small pieces of potatoes. NOT worth it!

A nice walk through the botanic garden. Thinking I would see flowers. No. Tall grass mixed with tall trees mixed with zooming bicyclists. Finally…I smelled wonderful trees and hear harmonic birds. I sat on one of the many benches to soak in the air. Great ending to the day. NATURE!

I exited my metro stop to see Peruvian singers performing on a sidewalk...in Russia of all places!
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