Has everyone checked out Autolog yet?  As I said before it’s a great way for businesses in the auto industry to get their name out to the public otherwise out of reach.  At the same time, you can also create a profile for yourself showing your vehicle, joining club, and meeting new people.  I think it’s a brilliant idea, and others should get on board.  I have my own profile.  Yes, redwinegoesbig is autologged!

At the same time, there is  twresourcegroup that has a blog talking about their goals and ideas they want to accomplish on autolog.  Movie clips are included for you to see as well.  Its worth your time to check it out.  Don’t forget to leave a comment.  I left one.

Now, remember me saying that I would pay for my actions the next day, I did indeed.  Having to catch an early flight out of Moscow was not the best plan.  In order to arrive back at work on time, I didn’t have any other alternatives. 

Mav woke me up and I was very much, still intoxicated.  Two weeks later, I would ask who it was who woke me up.  HAHA.  I thought it was the driver who woke me up.  Trying to find where I was supposed to be for check in wasn’t that bad.  It was standing in line waiting to check in that was very miserable.  After about 45 minutes, I was checked in and walking to customs. 

Once I was cleared of customs and in the international terminal, my first stop was the pub for an early adult beverage to aid my recovery.  My hangover was intensifying with every passing minute, and I knew what I had to do.  In thirty minutes time, I had nursed the first drink, and consumed a couple others.  Feeling refreshed now, I boarded the plane for my departure from Moscow, and my journey back to work.

My friend Toby introduced me to a website where you can create a profile for your vehicle.  This site offers you a place to keep your maintenance records as well as meeting people and joining groups.  It’s a fun site to be on.  I made a profile for my 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500.  If you are looking for a better way to keep your maintenance records organized, or you just want to meet other people interested in the same vehicles as you, there is no better place.  Check it out!

After Alex, Mav and I returned to their place from seeing the sites in Moscow, we sat down for some lunch.  Mav brought out some beer he brought back with them from their trip to Thailand over Christmas.  I knew I had better pace myself since I hadn’t drank any alcohol since my first arrival into Saudi Arabia.  It didn’t work out as well as I’d hoped.

Mav and I traded pictures taken earlier in the day, and relaxed for a bit while their daughter took a nap.  Since the food here isn’t the best, we decided on a restaurant for dinner.  An American owned restaurant that Alex and Mav enjoy eating at.  Arriving to the restaurant, I was already feeling the effects of the alcohol from the few beers I had at the house.  The food was out of this world, and the waitress kept the beers flowing.  The manager came over and talked with us for a while as well.  I was very impressed with the restaurant and would recommend it to anyone visiting Moscow.  Alex, I can’t remember the name of the restaurant, so please leave me a comment.

Now, at this point I am quite intoxicated.  On our way home, we stopped at a kiosk that sold alcohol.  These are located on almost every street.  Its brilliant! HAHA.  Our driver drove the Tahoe off the road and onto the sidewalk cutting off a few people arriving there as well thus ensuring we were served first.  Making our selection from the variety of beers (Mav choosing since I had no knowledge of the beers there) we bought 6 more beers for the house.  As soon as we finished our purchase, the kiosk closed and didn’t sell to the others waiting.  Talk about perfect timing.

We sat back at the house enjoying our adult beverages and music, talking more about things we’re involved in at this point in our lives.  It was great conversation.  The time with my friends was great, I couldn’t have asked for a better day.  The next day, I would pay for my actions.

The time I spent with Alexandra and Mav was perhaps the best part of my trip.  It was so very nice to see my friends again.  The first thing we did was sit down for coffee and breakfast, along with catching up.  The pancakes were so fantastic!  They asked my lots of questions about my time here in Saudi Arabia, and I also asked them many questions about their living in Moscow.  During the conversation, we also put together a rough plan on what our agenda was for the day.  Of course Red Square was on the list of places to see in Moscow.

Leaving their house, we drove through the city and as we were approaching Red Square, Mav pointed out the building that was once used by the KGB.  This was a wake up call for me.  As we turned a corner, St. Basil’s Cathedral stood in front of me glistening in the early afternoon sun.  I was amazed how Red Square came out of nowhere.   I couldn’t have asked for a better atmosphere for winter, the sun was out and snow was falling.  We didn’t stick around too long.  After walking around St. Basil’s Cathedral, we headed over to the mall and caught up with Alex in the mall.

View Photo Album: Moscow

Tea time in the mall capped off my visit to Red Square.  It’s amazing that when you are in the company of your best friends, it doesn’t matter what you do, it’s being together that really matters.  I didn’t do any shopping, Moscow is a very expensive city.  Besides, I purchased everything I wanted in Volgograd and Volzhsky.   After tea, we made the rest of our rounds at Red Square, and we walked into the Underground Mall on the other side of the Square.  Both malls were outstanding.

Our next stop was on top of the hill by Moscow State University.  The view was wonderful and it’s also the site of the Olympics ski jump.  More pictures taken and there was vendors selling items here.  Having looked at everything, I purchased a few t-shirts, and a present for my friend Toby.  Can’t talk about this, it’s still a surprise for him.  Sorry Toby, HAHA.  You have to wait a while longer. 

This concluded the sites trip for me.  Only being there for one day, I wasn’t too worried about seeing everything.  I am already planning another trip to Moscow to visit Alex and Mav again.  With the sightseeing trip over, it was time for Mav to introduce me to the wonderful beers of Russia.