Nikita

One of my favorite Elton John song's is Nikita. He sings "Oh Nikita is it cold - in your little corner of the world?"

Well we will soon find out...

Gene and I go to Washington D.C. on April 23 for my ACEC Spring Convention - usually I go to Women's Conference in Utah right after. Not this year though...we're headed to -

MOSCOW (and not the one in Idaho)

I saw an unbelievable fare out of D.C. - $64 on American each way - with tax it was $213! We couldn't pass it up! So we leave D.C. on 28 April, arrive Moscow 29 April and stay until 3 May.

Gene has wanted to go there for awhile now and I am so glad this opportunity came up.

Cynthia and Nadine are joining us so we should have a GREAT time!

We are a little cautious though - the Visa process alone is daunting! Russian Visa requires that you list ALL the colleges you ever attended (no matter how long ago); your last 2 jobs (even if you've worked at the current jobs for decades); your parents names (no matter how long ago they died), every country you've visted in the last 10 years (complete with dates) and tons more info about your life. It took Cynthia literally 2 hours to complete the form!

I have read that once you're in the country be prepared to carry your papers with you at all times cause the police will stop and ask to see them and the police are notorious for giving minorities a hard time unless you pay the a bribe!

Fortunately we have hired a private guide who will be with us from the moment we arrive to the moment we leave.

We are staying at Maxima Zarya Hotel which is out a bit from the city center. Didn't know that Moscow is the most expensive city in the world! Fortunately our hotel is reasonable (about $155 per night and that includes breakfast and dinner for 2) and new,

Will post when we return for sure - but till we leave we are sure filled with excitement and trepidation.

Oh - one more thing I've read about Moscow - bring your own roll of toilet paper - those torn up pieces of newspaper neatly stacked in a box next to the toilet are not for reading!