We are about 2 hours from New York. I have slept some, but not enough to do more than give myself a second wind. My tailbone is sore from 3 to 4 days of 8-9 hour flights. We have just had the last of out Russian meals for this trip. "High tea" a roll with soft, mellow buttery cheese, some cold cut (just one), carrot, sesame seed and red onion, a small tomato and 3 cucumber fingers. And of course the dark, strong bread. And a small chocolate bar. I've learned some things on this trip. First everything is translated literally i.e. "where do you live?" means "where are you staying?" Water with or without gas means with or without carbonation. I have moved my wedding band back to my left hand. In Russia, if you wear your wedding band on your left hand it means you are widowed or divorced. If you are married you wear your band on your right hand. This time the plane is thankfully much cooler. I feel like and have already cried today. I think first out of sadness for leaving our baby behind. Two out of relief in getting back to the U.S. I have realized I have not drank enough water and too much coffee on this trip. I need to remember to drink more water. I can't wait to land at JFK and meet Fred and Nancy. Hopefully Fred got my SOS plea for a huge WAWA coffee. A small piece of home. I will probably sleep on the trip to Jersey and be awake all night. It will make going to work tomorrow fun. I look forward to seeing my cozy, messy house, my cats and my Co-workers. We got an insight on how lucky we are this morning. A couple we met were flying 4 hours then had to drive another 3 for a one time 2 hour visit with their baby. We have been very blessed with the 10 hours or so we got to spend with Katya. Everyone (except grouchy maid at the Arbat) has been very nice to us. I hope that trend continues with our next trip.

We're in the air on our way home. Getting through customs was nothing - we went through the green line - nothing to declare. We packed 6 bottles of Russian vodka and some chocolate. Security is especially tight on flights to the US. Not only did we go through 3 sets of x-ray but they hand searched our bags, etc. That is how it should be. We didn't get to see the Kremlin - it was closed, maybe next trip.

Well, I didn't sleep the night through. I woke up at 3:30 Moscow time. My body is so out of whack it's not even funny. Joe finally got up at 5 Moscow time. I think I got up at 6 or so. We met some other American couples at breakfast. Actually, they would be "westerners". 2 of the couples were from Canada, and one was from North Carolina. The southern couple were on their exiting visit with their 10 month old son. One of the Canadian couples had arrived to go to court and one had arrived last night on their first visit. We passed along our little pieces of wisdom, (Don't drink the water), order cocoa, not hot chocolate as everything is taken literally and don't forget to tip. We walked Arbat St. one more time and then waited for Natasha. When we came back from our walk Joe accidentally stepped on the towel I had put down on the bathroom floor ( i did this because the shower leaked all over the floor). When we checked out we were charged like 150 Rubles (Actually a little over 300) for the "damaged" towel! I said fine, but jokingly said to Natasha, I put down the towel because the shower leaked. If I have to pay for the towel I want it. I'll take it home with me to remind me to let the shower leak. Natasha tells the maid what I said, and that I want the towel. The maid put the towel in a bag and gave it to me! OK! Well, I've learned my lesson. Don't say anything you don't want translated and let the shower flood and let the maids clean it up. We wanted to tour the Kremlin but it was 1800 Rubles or $60 per person. Ouch. I guess that will have to wait for our next trip. We went to a chocolate factory and bought some chocolate and a liquor store and bought our vodka. Have I mentioned there are few stop signs here but alot of yield signs? And did I mention the drivers here can scare NASCAR drivers? Our drive was a real NASCAR driver, wedging our shuttle van in where ever he wanted or felt he needed to be. Overall, I feel the trip has been good and very educational. I have had lunch/dinner now and 2 glasses of wine, so along with the wickedly strong airline coffee I have a buzz and am wide awake. Momentarily. Joe is sleeping with blanket, eye mask and walkman beside me. Fred and Nancy will meet us at JFK in 7 hours, and our daughter waits for her court date. 7 time zones behind us. Yup, Jerry Garcia was right, what a long strange trip it has been.