Our second morning in Moscow. Only one more to rise and get ready to leave for home. We can't wait to be honest with you. This has been a very tiring trip and adding the schedule and the boys to it really stretches your ability! I awoke at 0530 and made it out of the main bedroom without waking the boys. They have slept well so far. They are sleeping all night and quite loudly I might add. I suppose they had to compete with a dozen or so others in the orphanage for loudness. I suspect its a little quieter there in Chernyahovsk!

The boys were awake at 7am as has become custom. We made our beds, dressed and headed out for a morning walk; just the boys and Papa. It was starting to get crisp in Moscow but with temps only in the 60s. The Russians were wearing their jackets and heavy shirts. I was walking in a short-sleeve golfing shirt. They knew I was foreign. It still surprises me to find the folks who live in the more northern lattitudes wear more clothes than those of us from 'The South.' We had a pleasant walk down to the river and snapped a few pictures.

We enjoyed the buffet breakfast at 0810 and things were a little more well behaved than yesterday. We sat in the main room this time and that seemed to help. There were no differences on the buffet bar. We still didn't find the advertised egg plates, however.

Adrian was picked up at 10am sharp to apply for Visas at the US Embassy. It was a short ride across the river. We parked along the main avenue where the entrance to the Embassy is located on one corner. There is a slight queue there but no line of people at this time of the morning on a Thursday -- reportedly a slow day at the Embassy. We, Tonya and I, made our way through the security checkpoint, showing our passports and entered the building. Security is tight here. No objects of any kind, particularly metal gets through the outer perimeter checkpoint. If you have something on your person, you must leave it tagged at the first desk and pick it up at another window accessible through a different door. Tonya had warned me of this so my pockets were empty except for my wallet -- which they needed full of money for the Visa app! Full to the extent of $670 USD for two boys.

The winding trip into the Embassy remained on the same floor although we ascended a short staircase to the cashier's window to obtain a receipt for the $670. This receipt, along with the package prepared for us in K'grad, was delivered to yet another window where the clerk stamped the application and gave us a slip indicating to return at 2pm for our interview. This was expected.

The US area for applicants was deserted except for two other groups. The Russian area had about three dozen folks waiting for their visas. In the US area one of the other groups was a couple, early 30s, who had an adopted infant in Mama's arms; they were accompanied by their interpreter. There time at the applicant window did not go so well. It seems they did not have their I-171H form. This document is the proof from CIS (was the INS) that your fingerprints have been obtained and that you are granted the right to bring a child to the USA. They were nearly distraught. They had been in-country for two weeks, just like us. They were given two options: stay in Moscow for another two weeks while the paperwork was pursued from Washington, D.C. or have Papa fly to USA to obtain the paperwork, hopefully taking less than the two weeks. In the end, later that day, we found out they opted for the first choice. We were very thankful the agency had ensured we had all our paperwork and in proper order.

We exited the agency and returned to the hotel within 45 minutes. The rest of the crew were summoned from a lobby phone and we all piled into the van to go and visit Red Square. It was another glorious day in Moscow. Nice temps, sunshine and a slight breeze. Excellent tourist weather. And it was time for us to be tourists. We were dropped off at the main entrance to Red Square, just outside the Historial Museum. We snapped a few pictures and let Tanya begin her ritual again. The boys were there for the company; I have no idea what they were thinking and I'm sure they had no idea how much history they were walking across.

The Square was fenced-off for observance of Lenin this morning (10am - 1pm). We walked around to the north side and decided to walk through GUM, just to see what the upper-end of shopping looks like. It was not busy as the following pictures indicate.

We exited GUM and returned to the Square near St. Basil's Cathedral; then down towards the river through the spot where thousands had demonstrated just 10 days ago over the Beslan school incident. It was weighing on my mind the horror and grief the people here felt and feel today. My now being a father put a whole new perspective on the shool event ... how mercilous are these people to take a few hundred children to try and make a point. This is evil; pure and simple. My heart goes out to the Russians who lost their loved ones. I can only imagine how it must grieve their souls. May God shed his grace on those who lost their lives, those who survived and for them, give them hope that they can one day forgive the people who did this.

Our tour ended on the down-slope between St. Basil's Cathedral and the river. Vladimir picked us up and we headed towards University Hill. This area is just south of the city, above the river but overlooking the expanse of Moscow. It is where the Winter Olympics were held in 1980, the one the US boycotted during the term of Jimmy Carter. The scenary is dramatic. One can only imagine the thrill of shooting down the high jump (see below) with the view Moscow along the horizon.

We snapped a few pictures along the wall and then began our journey back into town. It was now time for the boys to eat lunch so Tanya took us to the Russian version of Pizza Hut. We enjoyed pizza and some soft drinks. I think it was a first for the boys. They picked their way through the cheese and dough but did manage to eat enough to constitute a meal. The pizza was actually not bad considering where we were. Afterwards, we returned to the hotel to burn some time before returning to the Embassy. Carol and Christina enjoyed a break in the room while I got to take the boys for a walk around Hotel Ukraine, which included a stop by the courtyard park for some swing and teeter-totter action.

We were picked up at 1330 and arrived at the Embassy (through security and all) by 1345. There were about a dozen other families awaiting the same fate as we. Children ranging in ages from 10 months to 11 yrs old had been adopted. We all had a 2pm interview! Given there were only three windows for interviewers, it was obvious we were in a cattle gate scenario. Hurry up and wait. Just what you need with that many kids in one place. As it turned out, things were not that bad. The first round of parents were finished in 25 minutes and we were summoned. The clerk read through the forms, had us sign the appropriate places, gave us some hints about the meaning of the paperwork (e.g. the boys would become US Citizens the moment the plane touched down in New York) and some clues as to how to return to Russia some day (e.g. make sure the boys have their US passports so (1) they don't need visas either way and (2) they don't get submitted for the draft in Russia!). The clerk was very helpful and we were grateful to be walking out before 3pm. Our last task in Russia was now complete. The visas are in hand ... a huge weight of worry was surely lifted from my shoulders.

The rest of the day was uneventful. We stayed around the hotel, visited the Internet lounge for a check on eMail and had supper in the room. A small grocery complex attached to the hotel made it convenient to pick up bread, ham, cheese and fruit for the boys.

For the record, Carol was not well today or yesterday. I believe the stress of the trip is contributing to her physical state. She has not really eaten since Tuesday and the toil of the trip is hopefully nearing a climax for her. Thank goodness we have but one night left here. We can't begin to describe how good it feels to know that we leave tomorrow for home.

Tomorrow's plan:
+ Breakfast at 0830
+ p/u at 1000 for ride to Airport
+ Delta 31 @ 1330 to JFK
+ Delta 5573 to RDU