FINALLY... INTERNET!!!

So, This is why I called it a "Tenative" blog. Apparently in Russia, either internet cafes are not very popular, or the gov't is trying to crush them, b/c they are impossible to find, and are few and far between. So, when I'm back in the good old U.S.A. I will do a post with details from our whole trip, but for today, I just wanted to let you know that we are alive and well, and just lacking any internet access anywhere we go. Both of our hotels were supposed that have internet access and from what we can understand it never works here. We walked 2 miles to find this internet cafe and we probably wont have time (or energy) to find it again.

That being said, we are having a great time -- the cathedrals are beautiful works of art, and completely awe-inspiring. The Kremlin and Red Square, St. Basil's Cathedral, all absolutely amazing to see first hand. St. Basils and the gold domes (of the cathedrals) of the Kremlin have been my favorite sites so far. I also loved the lively atmosphere of the Artbat (a "bohemian" street/area of Moscow). We just arrived in St. Petersburg and we have a great view from our room of the Winter Palace and Peter and Paul's Fortress (imagine a postcard scene - which was total luck by the way - we had to argue over the price they promised us. we didn't care about the view, just the price they quoted in an email from 4 months ago -- and luckily we had a copy of the email, then we somehow also ended up w/ the great view and the good price!). So the trip has been really beautiful and amazing in many respects.

At the same time, imagine a totally different standard of living!! It really makes you miss the U.S.A. and our conveniences and comfort level A LOT. And also, in China and South Africa they seemed to LOVE seeing us and greeting us, helping us... here... well lets just say, we've gotten a lot of eyes rolled at us and ATTITUDE, but that's ok. If a Russian tourist walked up to me in Atlanta and wanted directions to an internet cafe, I'd like to think --- no I'm positive -- that I'd be happy to oblige, but here, they really don't seem happy to see us. I don't know why, I think we're so nice!! Oh well, I'm generalizing, b/c its not EVERYONE... some people have been somewhat helpful. Its mostly the workers at our hotels (you know, where we're PAYING them) who seem to hate tourists like us.

Can't wait to see all back in the usa! Our flight on the 18th was overbooked so we've been bumped to the 19th, but that they can't change.

This is probably the last time I'll see email/internet until we get back, so at that time I'll write again about all of our adventures and mishaps, and send out pix as well. In the meantime, GO BRAVES (I see we're only 2 games back now? Better than when I left!) and God Bless the USA!!
Love, Meagan

Good news for the flight over!

We found out today that we made our "waitlisted" flight (the direct one from ATL to Moscow)! Basically this means we leave about 8 hours later on Thursday, but arrive about the same time we would have, had we flown through NYC and left much earlier in the morning. So the trip is off to a good start and we haven't even left yet!

I'm all packed and ready to go (minus a few items I'll throw in last minute like my hair dryer and toothbrush), and I'll be very excited by the time we're on the plane. Since it turns out we'll be in town a few hours longer I am going to one last Braves/work event (at 11 AM at a Boys and Girls Club only blocks from Enrique's house, NOT AT TURNER FIELD), and once that is over I'll feel like my vacation has really started.

Sweet wonderful Sarah is taking us to the marta station at 12:15 so we can head to the airport and get on our way.

Mom, Dad, Ry, Sarah, Amy, Riley, and Amelia - I love you all very much, and I'll be in touch!!! Uncle Ted and Aunt Kris, if you're reading this, Dito!

I wont be able to write again until we're there and I've found a place to go online... again we get there about 10:30 AM or so Friday (Moscow time, which I've found out is 7 or is it 8?? hours ahead of EST). Talk to everyone soon, Love, Meagan

This is a tenative blog

Enrique and I leave for Russia on Thursday, and a friend of mine in the local media here suggested that I "Blog" about our trip. Mom, I know you'll like this especially, so even if you're the only person who checks it while we're gone, that's ok by me! I don't know how often I'll be able to write updates, since I'm not sure of the internet situation in Moscow and St. Petersburg yet, but if we have convenient outlets, I'll definitely try to post entries about our daily excursions.

So Mom, and anyone else who is interested... here is a very brief rundown of our itinerary.
June 7 - leave for Russia. Fly from Atlanta to NY to Moscow.
June 8 - arrive in Moscow in the AM (Russia time)
June 11 - fly or take train (TBD) to St. Petersburg
June 17 (or possibly 18th - depends on our Skymiles, we are waitlisted for the 17th, but that's when we're hoping to come back) - Fly home to the USA, arrive in the ATL, I'm not sure what time, but when I figure it out, I'll let you know!

When we get to Russia I'll try to write again. Until then Do svidaniya!