13/6 Woke early and made love. About mid morning on the way to Central Moscow had Russian breakfast in Mall and then a haircut and then went to an Agency to get an idea of costs and timescales to get Rit's Int. passport when she picks up domestic one on 18th. Checked them out and they would take 5-7 days. Then headed for Goum and Stalovaya 57 for Russian champagne (ugh - medium dry!) and dessert. Walked to Bolshoi past Lubianka - the old KGB HQ where thousands died and bizarrely next to one of Moscow's largest toy stores! At Bolshoi bought tickets from a "Speculante" (a guy who buys tickets directly and then resells at higher price- we call them touts but in Moscow a respected profession) - a Russian Jew who had been selling tickets from same pitch for 25 years - for Italian opera on Friday. Started to pour with rain so headed back to Olympic Village and bed. At home Rit cooked the cow tongue and we watched football eating tongue/ sturgeon/ beer and ice cold vodka shots. Fell into bed.
14/6 Slept like logs and after Rit spent time on phone talking to passport agencies we decided time to fuck. Midday went down to Mall for lunch and to meet V's mother. Shopped and dropped stuff home and then headed into central Moscow to find the Soviet cold war bunker which is now a Museum. When we got there we found out we had to pre book an English tour but Russian capitalism took over when they offered us a personalized tour at £220- we declined. Then walked along river forever past the construction site for the new Hotel Russia which is bigger than Wembley Stadium inc.surrounds and will be the largest hotel in Europe. Through Red Square and then past serious security- Rita's jaw dropped - into the Kremlin that's now empty and looked like a ghost town (apparently Putin now scared of terrorist attacks). The ballet we had booked - 1001 nights - was in the The Kremlin Palace - an enormous place - used to be used in Soviet era as a parliament for all the various Republic representatives to come and vote yes!! Went to bar on top floor - Soviet style 2/3 size of a football pitch - standing room only - no seats - you had to see it to believe it. A bunch of elderly ladies camped out on large table near us and took out a picnic! Rita said to barman this is like a blast from the past - he said your right, I have to work here!! Bottle and a half of wine later on to the ballet. The ballet - 1001 nights was fantastic - music was Katchurchurian style but by a composer from Azerbaijan. Dancers spectacular and prima ballerinas stunning. At break had a couple of vodkas and thoroughly enjoyed 2nd half. After, went to a Japanese restaurant just outside of Kremlin and had a fabulous meal. If you don't drink wine Moscow is a lot less expensive than London. Anyway restaurant packed to the gills with attractive slim women- where are all the men ? Watching football? By now Rita fairly drunk and wanted to go to Strelka (nightclub) - I took her home by tube - I know her very well now!! Back home by midnight as sun setting fully
15/6 Woke early with the sunrise and we fucked twice - quite brutal but very pleasurable. Rit decided to go into Central to see the grounds of a famous convent. As we came out of tube the heavens opened so scuttled into a really cool bar called 1927 for drinks, prawns and shellfish . When rain stopped headed to the Convent of Saint Sophia - very tranquil. Then walked from there to Smolenskya and then tubed it to Bolshoi. Went to have a snack before performance and by accident ended up in same restaurant as we had been some 10 days ago. Rit spotted some famous Russian film actors at next table. Had snack and 3 vodka shots each and then headed into Bolshoi. Interesting take on Verdi's Nebuchadnezzar as the director had the Assyrians dressed as Nazi Stormtroopers and the Jews in national garb. Despite the fact you probably would not have got away with it in London it was a great performance and acoustics in Bolshoi were superb. Opera in 4 acts so quite a marathon! After left for home and arrived just in time for start of England/Denmark match – good result. Sat drinking champagne and vodka shots, sturgeon and eel. Started to take some photos – put some on site. Collapsed into bed!
