24 February 2007

Since our return from Moscow we have been busy making plans for our next (and last trip)! Flights were a little difficult because it will be during "spring break" - not a problem for our flight to Moscow - but difficult for the connecting flights. Thankfully, we were able to get a direct flight from JFK to Moscow on Aeroflot (russian airline). We will be in Moscow for one week, returning home on St. Patrick's Day. We have also decided to rent an apartment rather than stay in a hotel. The cost is less and we have a full kitchen, washer/dryer, and even a computer. The apartment is near the Red Square which is a great location. Scott is looking forward to another visit to the mansion style grocery store "Yeliseev's Food Hall" on Tverskaya Street as well. It will be really nice to be able to prepare our own meals.
It is so exciting to finally be able to bring Andrew home!

Happy belated birthday to Bruce!

14 February 2007
It's official! We just returned to the hotel after our court appearance. Thankfully everything went as planned.....we are now officially parents to Andrew Hale Williams :) Unfortunately, we are not able to see him today because of his nap schedule and the availability of our translater Elena. We will be returning to Moscow mid March to take him home.
At the court hearing, the orphanage director gave us his Russian Orthodox Christian baptismal certificate - we will also ask for the cross that was given to him at the baptism on our next visit.
Now we are off to see some more underground rail stations and then to the Kremlin ballet tonight. It will be an early night as our driver will be picking us up at 0430 hours for our flight to Paris, and then on to Boston. Hope the weather cooperates with our travel plans!
We are both very excited and consider ourselves very lucky - what a great Valentine's day gift!
Love to all,
Scott and Lisa

10 February 2007
We left Newport on Saturday for Moscow via Paris on Air France 747 (very large and very full). Disembarking on the plane from Charles De Gaulle airport seemed a bit primative as we went down the stairs onto the tarmac onto a bus in the pouring rain. We were then shuttled for a good 1/2 hour to another terminal, where once again, we got on another bus and were driven to a different terminal. After a brief stay in Paris airport, we boarded yet another bus to our plane to Moscow. The flight to Moscow was great - it was a very clear day and we were able to see much of the Russian countryside which appears to be as flat as Australia as far as we could see. Elena, our interpreter, was at the Moscow airport to meet us. We gathered our luggage and headed to the Renaissance Marriott for a much needed rest.

12 February 2007
We had a wake up call at 0700 hours, as we had not been to the supermarket, we went downstairs to the cafe for possibly one of the most expensive breakfast ever. As sumptuous as the food was, the lady playing the harp made it all the more better and relaxing. At 0910 hours we met Elena in the lobby. We went straight to the orphanage to meet Andrew. They immediately brought him to the playroom, he was looking very smart in his sailboat cardigan - he is still wearing his pink sandals! He seemed healthy and happy - he really liked the toy car that we brought for him. He also, liked looking at the pictures of him on the camera. We took a banana and a bottle of water which he also enjoyed immensely. It was time for Andrews lunch so we had to say goodbye until tomorrow. Next stop, the grocery store to avoid the high cost of eating in the hotel and restaurants. We stopped briefly downtown and were able to purchase tickets to "Giselle" at the Kremlin palace auditorium. Our plan was to meet Lauren downtown for dinner - it was about a 1/2 hour walk to town - and with Scotts amazing navigation skills there was no doubt of ever getting lost. We briefly stopped at the mansion deli where we will possibly return to make some purchases. We met Lauren and had dinner at Il Tartufo, followed by coffee with Jeff (minus Maria) at a local coffee shop. Deciding not to walk home, we caught a cab.

13 February 2007
At 0910 hours, Elena was a bit late due to weather, snow (sneg) was falling when we awoke. We went directly to the orphanage and Andrew looked somewhat sleepy, but immediately sparked up when he saw us. Once again, he enjoyed car, banana and water. We briefly met with some social workers, who observed our interaction with Andrew. Midday, it was time for his lunch, it was hard for us to leave, as it was our last day with him before we return to take him home. Elena dropped us off at Arbat street, where she gave us a quick tutorial on how to use the Metro and helped us to purchase tickets. We tried to not get duped at the local vendor stalls and bought a pin and doll. Then we went into the Moscow metro. Traversing down the laragest escalator ever seen, much to Lisas horror, we entered into the bowels of the Moscow metro. Built in the 1930's, Moscow is renowned for having one of the most efficient and architecturally beautiful underground rail systems in the world. Tonight at the hote, Casino Royale will be playing in English. That is all for now.....
Love, Scott and Lisa