Arnold's Back!

Governor Schwarzenegger came to an embassy meet-and-greet on Sunday as part of his activities while leading a California trade delegation to Russia. We, of course, were there for this ground eye view.

Article: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130485332

All-Russia Exhibition Center

Today we toured the All-Russian Exhibition Center, as featured in the recent NYTimes article 36 Hours in Moscow. Farm equipment and Belrusian goods were on display this weekend, but the main attractions, as always, are the old pavilions, statues and fountains.

The Ukraine Pavilion

Vera Mukhina's 1937 monumental Worker and Peasant Woman Statue (24.5 meter or 78 feet high). It originally showed at the World's Fair in Paris, before being moved back to Moscow. The composition was chosen in 1947 to serve as the logo for the film studio Mosfilm. It can be seen in the opening credits many of the Russian films put out by the Mosfilm studio.

Sarah in front of the grain fountain.

St. Petersburg

We took the train from Moscow to St. Petersburg last week to rendezvous with Uncle Jeff and join him at the opening of the newest Coyote Ugly. It was our first time back to St. Petersburg since we lived there in 2003-4. Below, Sarah and Jeff stand on the Griboedov Canal in front of the Church on the Spilled Blood.

Opening night at the Coyote Ugly in St. Petersburg. Fabulous Bar. Huge crowd. Great Atmosphere. (photos are from the pre-opening party)

In between festivities, we had dinner around the corner from the bar, at the Georgian restaurant where we first met. The decor and name have changed, but the place - 3 Belinsky St. - is largely the same, just down the street from Belinsky Bridge, across the Fontanka from the Circus.

During the day, we revisited old favorites, like the Russian Museum seen here from Mikhaelovsky Park...

...and Palace Square, in front of the Hermitage.

Charity Hockey Game

Good seats at the charity hockey game for children harmed by the August forest fires. NHL greats, past and present, played with Russian government officials.

The Washington Capitol's Ovechkin captained one side.

New Jersey Devil's Kovalchuk, standing at net, captained the other side. Detroit Red Wings legend Fetisov skates away at left.

Minister of Finance Kudrin dusts himself off after taking a check into the boards.

Pittsburgh Penguins' Malkin answers questions from the press.

Uspenskiy Cathedral and Monastery

A cloudy day outside Moscow.

The Monastery Grounds

Houses outside the Cathedral

Built by King Yuriy Dmitrievich in the 14th Century

Detail from the Monastery

Tsakhadzor Ski Season 2010

We had crystal-clear views and fresh powder at our first visit to Tsakhadzor for the 2010 ski season. We were there on January 6, which is Christmas Day in the Armenian Apostolic Church.

View on Mount Ararat. I can see Turkey from my house!

Not too cold. Not too hot. Just right.

View on Lake Sevan.

Happy New Year!

This is us on Yerevan's central Republic Square at midnight. Here's to a new year! Happy 2010.