Pompey to Moscow....how hard can it be?: Moscow a deux

Outside our Metro station - rain again!

Graeme had to work today so Arthur and I headed out to find a supermarket that the guide book recommended. I had to do the steps down to the under passes by myself - although I must admit I was helped on 3 occasions! The Russians are kind to women in need! Mental note, leave Graeme behind as you get much more help by yourself. If I am not losing weight with all this walking and stair climbing then I must have a thyroid problem - only conclusion really! Anyway, on the way to the shop I passed a few of the infamous passed out drunks in the park - clutching bottles of vodka. I'm not going to say anything bad about them because that could be me in a few months.
The supermarket was great - I got mince and chicken - which is super cheap compared to home and whizzed about like a native. The things I needed most - a sharp knife and a chopping board - neither of which are provided in the apartment - were the floor below and the escalator wasn't working - yet again, couldn't do stuff with buggy - I'm really starting to believe that people in wheelchairs here must starve. So, when I returned to make my pasta sauce, it took me half an hour to cut a carrot with a blunt knife - excellent.
Passed an English pub on way to shop - I translated the Cyrillic to 'John Bull Pub' - why is it that when people try to replicate English pubs abroad they make them look like something from a Dickens novel? This pub had lanterns hanging outside and a very dark and mysterious inside - I was expecting Bill Sykes to fall drunkenly out of the door at any minute.
Took Arthur to the hotel pool yesterday, not a great experience all round. We went to the little child area but he could reach the floor with his feet which meant he wanted to walk all the time - not so easy in water. We put him in his inflatable float but as soon as I let go he flipped upside down - just his legs in the air and his head under the water! We flipped him back quickly but he coughed quite a lot and most of the Russian swimmers were looking at us as if we were child torturers, marvellous! I then took him to the changing rooms where all the women wanted to talk to little Arthur but they were all naked....now listen, I'm a prudish English person and felt that my personal space was being invaded by a lot of naked Russian women all speaking at me and expecting a reply. Sadly all they got from me was a bemused gurgle and a towel swiftly tightened around my body - in the end I abandoned Arthur to the cooing and whilst they were all distracted got changed in peace! Note to self - famous Russian baths where they steam and whip each other with birch twigs might be a bit much for me at this point.

There is so much room in the hotel for Arthur to crawl about - he loves it! I now take him down to the reception area early evening to get him worn out...there are also some lifts that he thinks are pretty spectacular and lots of fountains...brilliant. If I need a quiet 10 minutes then this is the place to be - terrorising the other guests...