Who'd have thought 20 years ago?

I did not intend to post anything today as it has been a quite relaxed day. still, the most frustrating thing here is of course the immense language barrier. all those typical answers you need when visiting a new city are so far beyond reach. tourist center to be found where? wep key to free wifi? NO! is breakfast included in the hotel price? how do I get to the red square from this metro station? what is the name of this *$@%**^ station? it is really a nightmare. I'd go crazy if I had to stay longer without someone who masters russian and english. basically you are shut out of the society and system and ppl are very non service minded and don't want any contact at all. a few very short and perhaps cryptic notes from today:

no hot water in the hotel this moring

rain water from roof in reception

got stopped by police to show passport and papers. he didn't bother after all as he couldn't communicate with us

had an extremely bad sandwich with ham and cheese for twice the price as a hamburger at McDonalds.

angry old woman at post office was very kind to me and actually spoke a little english

spent most of the day near the red square

visiting an extremely luxurious galleria, much like you'd expect in London or Paris

went to the st basil's cathedral and was amazed by the beautiful icons inside

crazy repeat of a song about Moscow outside hotel

actually the subway is very clean and beautiful with monuments and sculptures

when I was a little boy, going to Russia seemed like a complete impossibility but here I am 2010

shoplift alarm went off when in grocery store. we were searched by guards but the left very soon because we're speaking only english, swedish and dutch

dinner in city centre at McDonalds. so busy I had to stand up and eat. finally I got french fries with my big mac, a guy at the counter understood what I was asking for, good thing. i just can't eat another burger now, i'm turning into one soon. super size me

back home in the rain and finish packing for tomorrow's queue

I'll just watch sex and the city in russian for 5 mins and listen to the rain before it's lights out. waking up at 6 am and off to the queue