We started the day with a lovely breakfast in the stately
dining room before the girls and boys went their separate ways for the day –
John and Steve to find a country train station for the 90-minute trip to the
Central Air Force Museum and Liz, Jenny and Sue to the Ismailovski
markets. Both involved our first foray
onto the Moscow Metro system, which provided a hint of some of the beautiful
subterranean stations we will visit over the next few days.
The markets comprise an enormous two-storey complex with
shop after shop of Russian souvenirs (and Sue was the clear winner in the
souvenir-buying stakes). Lunch was a
delicious offering of kebabs, salad and roll.
We were very proud of ourselves in negotiating the metro, changing lines
and walking from and to our hotel without getting lost or having to seek
directions. We are finding that the
locals are very polite and friendly, always standing for us “oldies”, and
helpful with directions and advice when needed.
Language is a bit of a challenge but with patience and a smile that
challenge can be overcome. Jen is our
interpreter with a knowledge of the Russian alphabet.
Back at our hotel, the girls had a swim in the small indoor
pool – very refreshing after a long hot day (and it has been surprisingly hot
here in Moscow!), then met for afternoon tea in the large central lounge area
on our floor. The boys eventually
arrived back just before 7pm after negotiating long walks getting to and from
the museum, which is a couple of kilometres from the small town of Monin, and
walking around the huge open-air museum, a site of several hectares, displaying
scores of military aircraft dating back from the Wright Brothers era to modern
day, from single-engine fighters to huge supersonic airliners and transport
planes.
We then ventured out for dinner – fish and chips - at a
nearby pub. A perfect end to a perfect
day.
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