This past weekend, though not exciting to retell, was really delightful. Anya and Grisha really wanted to go swimming on Friday, so we dropped Lyova off with Grisha's mother, picked up his 9-year-old sister Varya, and headed to a nearby fitness club. Mostly it was not notable, but a few things struck me: it cost 400 rubles (over thirteen bucks, yikes), we had to put plastic things over our shoes when we came in (presumably because the streets are so dusty), we had to shower before we went into the pool (likely for the same reason), all of the women wore bathing caps (...I looked terrible), and the sauna was SO ridiculously hot. My bathing cap started to burn my ears after a while. I'm not much of a swimmer, so I just spent most of the time watching Varya goof off or floating on my back.
On Saturday, Anya, Grisha, Lyova and I headed out around 11 for a flea market that they were really excited to show me. It was a long trip--we took a bus to a Metro stop, took the Metro to a suburban train (элестричка) station, and took the train a few stops to the market. Best part of the train: they sold ice cream. For real. The market was delightfully run-down, just a long street dotted by sellers' tarps, on which were clothes, knick-knacks, dishes, jewelry, furniture, vinyl, army uniforms. Anyone into stuff from the Soviet era would've had a field day. I kept thinking, "Well, I won't buy that now, in case I run into something else I want. I have to take all of this stuff back to the US." But that screwed me in the end because I didn't buy anything, and after a while it started raining and most of the sellers began packing up. I left empty-handed, but I hope to go back. I want one of these (click for picture). They're metal holders for glasses. Why? I have no idea! But they're an old Russian thing, and some of them are really lovely.
After the flea market, we came back into the city and walked around other stores. I got a pair of tights to replace the ones I'd ripped on Friday (putting tights back on after being in a pool/shower is sort of difficult) at this great store which is basically just stuff for feet and legs. By the time we headed home at about 10, I was exhausted. 11 hours of walkin' around. Anya had wanted to watch Kill Freud, a Spanish film she loves, but we settled down in the kitchen for a snack and didn't leave until 2, when we couldn't stay awake any longer. We spent the whole time talking about relationships openly, and for some reason Anya and I were really giggly at some points. It was wonderful. I feel closer to them every day; it's going to be very difficult to leave.
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