A Week In Moscow ---------------- Sunday 8th December I couldn't sleep at all. I had thought in the night that this could be my last day alive. I didnt really believe that, but if I was to die today, I was ready to accept it. I was about to make a journey which could change my life forever. I got out of my bed at 4.45am. My bags were already packed and waiting near the front door. I had decided I would wear a white t-shirt with pale blue shirt and no tie. I had my black suit on. I knew there are some marks on the sleeve of my jacket, but there was no time to take it to the cleaners. I went to the bathroom and started shaving and brushing my teeth. I put on some Calvin Klien 'Escape' aftershave, and put my razor and toothbrush into my bags. I went outside my house. Everything was quiet and it was dark. I had moved the car to the front of the house so that I can put my bags in it quickly. I checked my tickets and passport three times. I was now on the road. Driving the same journey I have made many times, towards my parents house. I told myself 'This is it Jaseman, you are on your way to Moscow!'. The roads were quiet, I passed about 5 cars. When I got to my parents house they were ready to go. I parked my car on the driveway and transferred my bags to Barry's car. I was soon on my way to Manchester Airport. My mother was sat in the back of the car, and I decided to send her a text message, to make sure it was working properly. We chatted about how we think it will be in Russia, but the journey seemed to pass very quickly. We pulled into the drop-off area at Terminal One. 'Do you want us to come in with you?' my mum asked. 'No, it's okay.' I replied, picking up my bags from the back of the car. 'Okay, then, have a good time and be careful.' They said. I walked through the doors and didnt look back. My parents seemed relaxed. I wondered if they are worrying about me. I was feeling very nervous. I must first find the Lufthansa Check-in point. It was easy to find, and there were no other people around. I got my bags tagged and went through the metal detector. A man working there noticed my big coat. He said, you shouldnt wear a big coat on the flight or you wont feel the benefit of it when you get there. I was about to explain to him I am going to Russia, but I decided he does not need to know this, and just smiled at him and walked away to the departure gate. I sat down in the waiting area. There was just a strange looking girl and boy waiting there. I could not notice which country they were from, but I don't think they were Germans. I was on my way to Frankfurt. The time passed very slowly. I sat and closed my eyes. More people started to congregate in the waiting area. The stange girl had headphones on, and was listening to some horrible european music on a portable cd player. Her head was moving to the music, and her lips were moving to the words of the song. I dont know how old this couple were - Maybe teenagers or early 20's. Finally I was handing my boarding pass to the Lufthansa women, and walked down the gangway and onto the aircraft. I was looking for seat 12A. Fortunately I had a window seat. I gazed out of the window into the darkness of Manchester Airport. Strange looking vehicles were moving around, and there was lots of activity outside. As other people started to find their places, I thought that most of them are speaking German, and I wondered if the language difference is going to be a problem for me. We seemed to be waiting a long time. Always waiting, but I had become accustomed to having to wait for things. I paid little attention to the other people on the flight, and I tried to act as if I am someone who makes this same journey everyday. I don't know if people could sense that in reality I was nervous and had no idea what was going to happen to me. It was starting to get lighter outside, and once we were through the clouds I was surprised how bright it became. The sunlight lifted my spirits and I felt calmer. We were served drinks and a tongue sandwich. I was feeling quite hungry at this point, as I had not eaten anything when I awoke but mainly I was thirsty. As we approached Germany the clouds were breaking and I could see from the window, many towns and lakes, and I thought of the people below me, who are just living their normal lives, and these people know nothing about me or my adventure. The plane landed and the passengers walked down some stairs onto the runway, and straight onto a bus which carried us to the airport. It was -2 degrees and quite cold, but the sun was shining. I wondered how cold will it be in Moscow and if I will be able to survive it. Once in the airport terminal I was very surprised at how quickly I found the gate for my connecting flight. I sat next to a television, which was showing world news in both English and in German. I sent text messages to Irina and to my parents to let them know everything was going according to plan. Some russian people started to appear in the waiting lounge - My first sight of russian people. There was an elderly man, talking on his mobile phone to someone in German. He seemed too old to be on a business trip, but I got the feeling he might be some kind of teacher or professor. He had the look of a stubborn and proud man. I looked over my shoulder and noticed a very beautiful blonde russian girl. I thought to myself 'Perhaps I will see many beautiful girls. I have one waiting for me. I wonder if she will like me or not. If not, perhaps I will meet another girl! At this time, anything was possible, but Irina was already in my heart, and I could not know what my own feelings would be.' Lets do that again!' I said. Irina's parents took me to the Izmailovo hotel Monday 9th taxi and then a bus talked about irinas real father Irina's Bank - Talked to man in sports shop Went to one place for tea but we didnt like it there Noticed Irina looks like Julia Roberts - We were very nervous Japanese Restaurant - Lemon Tea Bought green scalf at Ismailovo street market kissed in the hotel room 'you make me feel like a teenager again!' put her hat on i took it off again for more kissing looked to get a bottle of water underground to kremlin ate 55 different food place starving woman was at the window we ran because we were late for the ballet lots of people at theatre, interval - bought some drinks 7up, lots of children went to see the orchestra and the harp talked about school plays held hands i looked at her and we moved are arms around to hold hands she looked at me from the corner of her eye and we smiled after the ballet we walked to 4 horses kissed there back to the underground bought water and fruit walked to hotel door and kissed text messages Tuesday 10th white cathedral and lit a candle pushkin museum had pizza found cinema and watched red dragon cafe with glass window surrounding Wednesday bus excursion around the underground bought weekend magazine ate in restaurant - moved to window table and had ice-cream went to hotel went to my hotel room lay on the bed kissing Thursday Bolshoi Theatre met irinas friend lesha and elen and we went to pizza restaurant again had some wine very romantic walk around the kremlin talked about alexei Friday saw bears near my hotel Izmailovo Market - Bought Fur Hat and Dolls took the dolls and hat to the hotel room into the bed Found cyber cafe Ate at restaurant Went to gorky park Had tea and cheesecake/strawberries and creme Saturday Irina came to hotel went on underground coka cola and snickers and crisps mini bus to fryazino- talked about jonathan etc. walked to irinas home woman with dog- wait for them to go inside went in and met mama irina and babooshka anastasia ate pineapples and pancakes camera shop drove around fryazino walked to a church and another one in the trees and then a palace around the trees and across the frozen lake as sunsets looked at graveyard told story of living in a hole under the ground collected photos from the shop back to irinas house to look at old photos chicken and mashed potatoes gifts computer Sunday