Back from Russia..

More pics in with the ones at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/paul.tyma/Russia

More things I've learned:
- I need a new passport picture - passport control kept not believing I was me. At passport control entering Russia the woman simply didnt believe me. She had her manager over and was asking me "Where you born?". I thought it was going to be Gulag-city for me.

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- Russian police like to "pull you over" - only I mean, they do this when you're a pedestrian. They then "check your papers". I was told that if they're not in order, you might be charged a *cough*bribe*cough* fine. I was pulled over once walking down the street. Luckily my papers were "in order".
- Moscow is EXPENSIVE.
- Checked-in baggage sucks as much as I remember. First time I've done that in a good 10 years - never again if I can help it.

In Soviet Russia, women in the hotel lobby keep saying "hi" to me

I stopped in Red Square on my way to work today. Here's a few pics.

http://picasaweb.google.com/paul.tyma/Russia

Its a lot like I remember with some key differences. It still took me 2 hours to get through passport control (which by the way, they dont really have those little rope thingies that dictate where the line is - so its like a mob of 1000 people pushing to get to the few opened passport control lines). When I got to the front they then didnt believe I was the guy in my passport photo (well.. I did lose 25lbs and a head of hair since then).

I'm staying at the renaissance which is definitely bougie. I am getting hit on a LOT by very daringly dressed women in the lobby - huh.. maybe I'm cute here!