Steve met PUTIN!

Okay, well he didn't really meet him, but he shook his hand! Crazy. This is how the weekend unravelled... (pre-Putin):

Moscow was awesome! I got picked up at 3am on Sunday to make the drive there... (that part not awesome) and I have to say that even though I was worried we were making the trip in a complete blizzard and in the middle of the night to boot, it was a blessing in disguise because the driver couldn't go faster that 110 or 120km/h. When we arrived a few weeks ago, the same driver scared the lights out of us weaving in and out of traffic, never going below 140. SO! I got to Moscow safe and sound and me up with Steve - we were dropped off at a very luxe hotel-casino complex (www.korston.ru) where the rooms are apparently upwards of 400 USD a night so that was a treat! The food was great there - full on gourmet buffet with fresh fruits and vegetables and SALAD! I went crazy. The dessert was super yummy too - I could just talk about the food....

Anyways, I'm not sure if I even said why we went to Moscow - Steve was selected to play in the All-Star game, in which a Russian all-star team takes on a team of foreigners. So there were a few guys there that we knew, and their significant others had also come along so I had friends! Picki Soto's wife Mimmi was there, and I knew her because Steve and Soto played in Cagliari (Sardinia, Italy) together a few years ago. So that was great to see her and hang out. (Reed Priddy's wife Lindsay was there too, and she was super nice, yay.)

So we got settled into the deluxo hotel and made our way downtown to the Red Square - it was super impressive and very beautiful! We cruised around a bit, did some shopping, had crepes, the usual and then headed back to the hotel. We didn't get too much sightseeing in - Steve and the guys had practise... but I took the metro back downtown in search of some boots and a nicer jacket (I feel like SUCH a bum wearing Sorels and a men's down jacket... people give me judgemental looks for SURE -mean).. but no luck. I learned the words for too small (malinki), difficult (trudnih) and I wanted to learn UGLY so I could point at my Sorel's for some sympathy but all I could get from my little dictionary was 'not beautiful' - nyet krasivih - .... so there you go.

I really wanted to go inside the Kremlin, into St. Basil's church and see more of the sights but ... we'll have to go back! I would have had to go without Steve anyways so ....

SO Tuesday night was the game, it was a mega all star line up and the game was sold out - it was packed! There were rumours that Putin was supposed to come, and we were all wondering if that was why the game didn't start on time - we were awaiting el presidente. Anyways, the game started and Russia kind of dominated. Steve started and was 100% in attack! one for one.... good job. But the level was great, they all made the court look so mini. So second set comes along and PUTIN arrives... the crowd applauds, everyone stands up and cameras are going off... but the attention soon went back to the game. He just came and sat in the VIP section with a boatload of other business men dressed in suits and looking very important. He sat beside a famous Russian volleyball player, Elena Godina, because apparently it was the first time he's been to a volleyball game.. but how cool! So Russia won 3-0 (in front of Putin, losing was not an option I guess...), and Putin came down to the court afterwards to congratulate them - shook all of their hands. AND at just this moment my camera's battery ran out (doh!) so I had to do a quick change and didn't get any good Putin handshake shots. Mimmi did though so I'm waiting for a pic from her. So.. that's it!

We got in late Tuesday night and are now getting back into the Yaroslavl routine. Hopefully the internet continues to work and the phone gets fixed... Here are some pics! Miss everyone!