Singapore/KL Bangkok Stuttgart Washington DC Toronto Colorado Springs San Francisco

Just checking in real quick. Got in here yesterday morning, no problems, got settled in the afternoon. The hotel is nice, and close to Red Square. Took a walk down there last night with a couple other folks, had dinner nearby (at TGI Friday's -- one of the guys has health issues and there's not much he can eat, so I'm going to avoid going out to dinner with him as much as I can!) After breakfast today I went back down for some photos, etc. Strolled around the Square, saw the Kremlin from the oustide (it's closed to visitors), went around the GUM store (capitalism has come to Russia -- it's now full of high-end European stores) and an underground mall (same kinds of stores), walked back up to the hotel. The street I'm on is a big shopping district -- there's a Mexx across the street but I think I'll hold off on that 'til we move back to DC! Meetings are Tuesday and Wednesday (the team leaders have some meetings today as well) so I'll do my walking around today and Thursday, when I hope to see Lenin's Tomb (only open a few days a week) and then go out to a big flea market. The language is slowly coming back to me, which is good. The city feels a lot like New York, though the population is older...or maybe they just look older! Where are the cute boys???

Probably no clubbing, I don't want to venture out too far at night, most clubs are far from here and English isn't that common so cabs could be an issue. Couple of cafes in walking distance, but again, I don't expect to go out by myself much at night. There was talk of having a 2-person rule for venturing out at all but I think we've killed that idea.

Good times so far. More to follow when I get the chance.