Live... From Moscow!

(From July 5, 2007)

Hi!

I know it has been a while since I wrote, but our internet connection is off and on and has been this way since we got here.

I am in one of the nicest arenas in Europe, Spartak Arena... where the Women's Champions, Spartak play. It is a quaint but nice arena!

Right now, our team will be playing in the quarterfinals of the Women's U21 World Championships. We play Belgium tonight, and if we win, we play the winner of Russia and Hungary!

So, here is a mini-recap on the trip...

In France, we went to Cannes! This is the place where the Film Festival is held. The town is right on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The views are spectacular! When I get back, I will share some photos... We went to another place called San Paluo... it is a "fortress city" -- built up on a mountain with a wall about 20 feet high... I guess so no intruders can get in... It was a really nice place! Now it is just a tourist trap... but definitely worth it...

On our trip to Russia, we had 13 missing bags, which was pretty frustrating since four of the bags were mine... we didn't have game gear or practice gear for the first day... no worries, as the bags arrived the next day... the bags were a sight for sore eyes, indeed!

In Moscow, we went to Red Square and to the Kremlin! I have some cool photos of St. Basil's Cathedral as well as the surrounding area. It is pretty amazing to see all the places that I read in the school books... Red Square is totally different from 15-20 years ago, when the Soviets and Communism were strong! I think it is pretty amazing to have been there.

What was also amazing was our visit to the US Embassy... Finally, a visit to the USA! We practiced there and did a little clinic with some Embassy kids... THEN, we went to an INVITE ONLY event at the Russian Ambassador to the US's house! About 4000 people were invited!

We went and personally met the Ambassador, gave him a shirt and pen and ate some really good food... This was a party that had some pretty VIP types from the political world... Supposedly Newt Gingrich and Kasparov (the chess player) were there... I didn't see them, but I saw a lot of military leaders from various countries. It was unbelievable we got that opportunity and one I shall not forget...

I will write more later, but just wanted to let you know I am alive and Moscow is cool!