Phungo Travelblog: Moscow

Editor's Note:


I had composed this post over the weekend for publication tonight.  I could not foresee the terrorist attacks at Domodedevo Airport in Moscow earlier today.  I don't know much about what happened, but my fiancee has several colleagues and knows students that pass through the arrival terminal frequently (we were both in that terminal within the last year).  Thankfully, As far as we know none of our friends were flying to or from Moscow today.

For the record there was some ethnic violence while we were in Moscow, but in general I never felt as if I was in danger.  In general other then the language barrier I felt as safe and comfortable in Moscow as I would in any major city. 

Ok onto today's regularly scheduled posting:  
 
If you have been been reading Phungo for a while you may know that my fiancee works and studies Russian.  Her career path took her to Moscow for almost half of last year.  I was fortunate enough to spend a few months of that time on the road with her.

In two months abroad you get to see a lot of things and I cannot really sum up our adventure in a single blog posting but I will try and cover a few highlights here.

Of course Traveling gives Team Phungo the opportunity to take lots of Photos for Phungo Cards.

2011 Phungo #31 St Basil's Cathedral

One of Russia's most iconic structures is St Basil's Cathedral.  The Cathedral is one of the significant tourist attractions that make up part of Moscow's Red Square.  The landmark is easily identified by the onion domes of Russian architecture.  The blue and white onion on the left is the one that is most quickly recognized when viewing photos of St Basil's.

2010 10 29 Lenin's Tomb 

This is the outside of Lenin's Tomb.  We did not visit the tomb on one of the few days that it is open.  Quick Russian Language - first the backwards N is not an N at all it is actually an I the two 'H's are 'N's and the upside down V is a Russian L.  There you have it LENIN.

2010 10 29 Kremlin Clocktower  

This is the most famous of the Kremlins many lookouts and towers.  The Kremlin, Lenin's Tomb and St Basil's are all part of Red Square.

Team Phugo of course had to take in some sports while in Moscow. We got to catch a Hockey Game between CSKA and the Moscow Dynamo.  The Dynamo won the game 3-2.

2010 12 12 Moscow Dynamo Honored Numbers 

I don't really know much hockey and didn't recognize any of the names in the Dynamo Honored Numbers list.  There certainly were a lot of them.  For more on the game check my original game report from last month.

2010 11 25 Neva River St Petersburg

We spent Thanksgiving week in St Petersburg, the northernmost city of over 100,000 people on the planet.  This is ht Neva river at night - here you can see it partially frozen over. 

2010 11 25 Team Phungo hangs with Ozzy.  

I question the veracity of this autograph - but if it is real we at our Thanksgiving dinner in a wine bar where Osbourne once dined.

There were several other highlights, iconic places we visited were Red Square, the Bolshoi Theater, Gorky Park, and the Hermitage.  There were many other lesser known museums and parks and we also got to dine in a variety of restaurants featuring cuisine from across the globe.  Moscow is huge city and there are more things to check out then anyone can see in a few months or even a year. 

It wasn't always fun or easy.  Living in a foreign country speaking a different language can be complicated and sometimes scary.   But if you have the means and the right temperament, I think it is a very worthwhile experience.

Phungo Game Report - 2010 12 12 CSKA Moscow 2 @ Dynamo Moscow 3: Kontinental Hockey League

Do not adjust your internet.  The above names in the title are Correct and are real Professional Hockey Teams - In Russia.

Dynamo Moscow Hockey Banner
 
If my recent posts have seemed distant it is because they are - For those of you that don't know I have been living and studying in Moscow the last few months.  My fiancee, Jo, has been interning here since the summer and I have been fortunate enough to spend the last few months with her.  If you have been watching your blog stats you may have seen several hits from Moscow and wondered what the heck is that all about.  Well that was me, as I have had a bit of free time while Jo is working.

I will have a travelblog and some interesting card and sports (that means futbol not football) related posts up eventually, but I wanted to start by filing a game report in a semi-timely manner. 

My Apologies - I like Hockey however, my knowledge of the Rules, Players and History of the game is amateur at best. 

The KHL (Kontinental Hockey League) is the Russian professional Hockey League.  for the 2010-11 season the League consists of 23 Teams many of which represent Moscow.  Dynamo is the top team in the league, while CSKA is one of the cellar dwellers.

Neither team in the game we saw featured any players that I knew well from the NHL.  Former Rangers goalie Steve Valiquette was in Goal for CSKA.   

The league has several other noteworthies:  Alexei Yashin, Marcel Hossa, Chris Simon , Former Flyers Robert Esche, Josh Gratton, and Patrick Thoreson, and Alexander Radulov - the one time Nashville Predator who was involved in a contract squabble between the NHL and KHL.  Former Dynamo players of note include Yashin, Alexander Ovechkin and Evgeni Nabokov.    

The Dynamo won the game 3-2 and were clearly a better team.  The entire first period was spent in the CSKA end, although the Dynamo were unable to score.  The Dynamo then scored all 3 of their goals in the 2nd period while attacking our end - so we got to see a lot of the scoring action.    


There were no fights and relatively few penalties.  I think they allow the two line pass (as with current NHL rules).  Dynamo scored all 3 of their goals in the 2nd period, into the net on our end, so we got to see a lot of the scoring action.    

They Dynamo also have Cheerleaders or Dancers.  Unfortunately Team Phungo was screened from the Dancers as they were in a blind spot to our left.   There was a pregame concert as well.  Some Male Russian artist who sort of looked like Howard Stern in his 20s. 

The Game has a very collegiate atmosphere - Check photo of Giant Dynamo Flag above- we originally sat in a section containing many enthusiastic CSKA faithful.  They had several chants and bantered with a similar Dynamo cheering section seated on the other side of the arena.  The CSKA fans had a giant drum that Chief Wahoo would envy.

Tickets to our section a few rows from the top of the arena were likely among the cheapest in the stadium at 300 rubles ($10) which is less then I pay for parking at a Flyers game.  You can buy snacks and beer at the stadium, but you are prohibited from bringing drinks into the seating area.  So most people run out to grab a beer and chug it in the consourse during the intermission.

Snapshots

Minor Arena at the Luzhniki Sports Complex

The Luzhniki Sports Complex was host to the 1980 Summer Olympics (the ones boycotted by the US and several other countries) as several other international sporting events.  There is a Futbol Stadium and at least two Hockey Arenas.  The Minor Arena above is the smaller (capacity 8700) of the two rinks.  The Larger Arena is referred to as the Luzhniki Palace of Sports.

CSKA Defender

I have no idea who this guy is, there is no #26 on the CSKA roster.  But it was one of my better photos.

Face Off

Check it out a Face Off with the puck resting on the ice prior to being hit by either player. 

I had a great time at the game, and Glad we were able to go.  I am interested in many sports and to experience a Hockey Game played at the professional level in Mosow was a very memorable experience.

We will be back home soon and hopefully get to some more regular postings.