This is my last day in Russia. Мой последный день в России.

I have to say that I had a great time. Being on my own, without good friends and family was definitely a new experience, but I met a lot of wonderul people along the way and feel that I truly experienced Moscow.

Over a 2 1/2 week period I took 70 hours of Russian classes, went to two medical conferences, worked out at a Russian gym seven times, and saw countless sites around the city. I was out and about the city every day  from morning until late at night. I still can't explain why I love this place and the language. Arleigh is convinced it has something to do with my Russian ancestors and she is probably right (as always).

I have mixed feelings about returning home, because I am really going to miss being in Russia (how crazy is that?). But it will be good to be home, sleeping in my own bed (even though Arleigh is on her way to India as I write this which is why being home will be somewhat bittersweet), and getting back into my normal routine.

Here are some random parting and photos:

I had chicken soup for dinner tonight. Here is a photo of the soup I had the other day (which was quite good....it had vegetables and sour cream). The chicken soup was tonight was awful (like watered down Campbells or Watties)

My second gastro Conference was quite good. I was a little disappointed that I had a lot of difficulty understanding the speakers in Russian. Thankfully, there were several international speakers who all gave their presentations in English (the Russians had to use headphones for simultaneous translations. To get a headphone, they had to hand over their passports as collateral!). The conference was held in  a 1970's era Soviet era building. This is a sign for the 20th annual Russian Digestive Disease Week!!!

Here is the building

Here is my name tag

There were drug company exhibits and, like all conferences, it was kind of crazy:

Yesterday I thought it would be fun to be a tourist. So I went on a tour of Moscow . This is my guide, Marina. The tour was actually free, although you are expected to tip the guide. It was excellent.

 I learned that this is all that is left of the original wall of Moscow. It is in a subway station!

 No tour of Russia would be complete without  a visit to at least 30 churches. This one was a private church owned and used exclusively by the Romanov family who would eventually start a dynasty that would end in 1917.

I could not leave Moscow without visiting the New Zealand embassy.

 No too shabby a building for a small country (below)! It sits between the German and Afganistan embasssies. There were signs outside asking for Russian support for a seat on the Unitied Nations Security Council. I met my one and only fellow New Zealander (who works at the embassy)  at my Russian school.

This hotel, right by Red Square (now a Four Seasons) has a crazy story. The architects gave Stalin two architectual styles to approve for the building. Stalin just scribbled his name in the middle of the two styles without choosing one as he was supposed to . No one would tell him that he made a mistake so the building has two different facades (note that the right and the left side of the building  are very different). This is actually true!

Speaking of Stalin, I bet he never imagined that his tomb would  be the background for a selfie of me! Stalin actually wanted to be placed

next to Lenin in the Mausoleum. But he was moved to a  small grave behind it.

Not far from Stalin's grave is that of Yuri Gagarin, the first man in Space (he beat Alan Shepherd by a about three weeks) and is a National hero.

No visit to Russia would be complete without the obligatory photos in front of the Kremlin and Lenin's Mausoleum and on Red Square (another selfie!)

Below is the old National Hotel (which I highly recommend if you need a bathroom near Revolution Square). It was the temporary home of Lenin (room 107) and the Bolshevic government immediately after the Revolution as the Kremlin was damaged. Some of the famous people who have stayed here include H.G. Wells, John Steinbeck, Bill Clinton, Jack Nicholson, Sean Penn, and Ray Charles.

Finally, the best of American culture has really left its mark on Moscow

Tomorrow: My journey to the Airport