The Street is Closed but the Sidewalk is Open

So today seemed a good day for a walk....just down the way from our apartment is Independence Square and then a beautiful street, lined with amazing buildings, lights strung across the street, many shops and restaurants.  We went out looking for a certain metro station but got distracted along the way.  The street was closed off, which apparently they do on the weekend.  Todays funny, the street was closed but cars were driving on the sidewalk.  It was kinda like the beaches on Long Island where cars drive right on the beach.  "Hey mom, can I go to the water?"  "Sure, just look before you cross the sand."

I had forgotten how different a city was on the weekend vs mid-week.  Quiet, less hustle and bustle.  If it were warmer out it would have been an absolutely lovely walk.  It was so cold even Jamie was asking to go into a department store just to get out of the cold.  More stunning architecture, and history seeping from every nook and cranny.

We had some lunch and started the walk back.  Under Independence Square is a mall, there is really a whole world underground.  The mall was so nice and warm not to mention fantastic people watching.  I am constantly amazed by the shoes.  I have decided that shoes are a big fashion statement here.  For men, lots of nice leather dress shoes or boots, no sneakers.  For ladies, two classes...heals and boots.  But the heals is an interesting thing, we aren't talking cute little sling backs.  No, no, we are talking platform, 4 inch heals.  With boots they come in all varieties, but over half of them are heals also.  Wedges, chunky heals with a hiking boot kinda tread and the platform killers.  And still, no one slips!  I can't handle walking in them on dry, flat land much less on this frozen, ice & snow covered landscape.  Oh, and add to that that the sidewalks here are not concrete.  They seem to be like a marble, very smooth and slippery all on their own.  In fact, most of the floor surfaces are slippery.  I am sure I have one good wipe out in me.  Some of you know my tendency to fall, even without assistance.

I posted some pictures on Facebook today.  Tomorrow church and a move back to Karen's apartment.  Praying that things get moving on Monday:)  Missing our girls and all of you...thanks for following along.