MOSCOW

It is pouring with rain. It rains in Russia like everything else Russian - with huge excess-- A cloudburst that results in immediate street flooding. I left the flat to come read my email and immediately regretted my choice of footwear. There was, just outside the gate, a sea of water. Helpfully someone had arranged some broken bits of brick into stepping stones and I joined the queue of people waiting to demonstrate their sense of balance. I spent most of today just lounging around the flat. Towards late afternoon I was drawn to the windows on one side of the apartment where I saw a sea of kneeling men at prayer. There appears to be a makeshift mosque down there - I shall go and investigate tomorrow. A little later out the other windows there was something transpiring in an embassy compound - It looked like a wedding or maybe a theatrical performance. THe bride wasn't wearing white but something huge and golden and at one point a man in a suit picked her up and twirled about with her. Then it started to rain and everyone ran inside.
I intend to post regularly because this place continues to be as weird as always. You just venture outside and are amazed.