WEDNESDAY - Leaving tomorrow

We head out tomorrow for the long trip back to the states. We've had an amazing time in Moscow and successfully navigated a major international city better than I could have hoped. It really was easier to me to get around than I have found it in New York or Chicago.

The people of Moscow were very patient and polite, and I will miss the rhythm and the pace of life here. I can't express it well, but while there is much work going on here and people are very busy, they have never seemed to unnecessarily hurry. No one here rudely shoved their way past me; no one shot me a disapproving look.

With its high ratio of park lands, low buildings, efficient metro, great restaurants, northern climate, and wide sidewalks, Moscow is the first large urban landscape I've ever been comfortable in, the first that doesn't seem suffocating.

As we were finishing packing we both noted that this was a great first overseas trip for us, and that we're looking forward to our next! Stay tuned...