Its been a while since my last life-style post, so this one will be dedicated to my recent trips to Moscow, as now I live sort of 'one month here, one over there' life and as much as I hate airports and not having my constant work place, my own desk and my books with me all the time, I think I started to enjoy this lifestyle as much as I can and I even admit that recently Moscow was friendlier to me than ever.
So I would like to introduce you to some of my favorite places and events over there:

STOLLE PIES!

RUSSIAN PIES!

Stolle pie-place

One of my favorite cafes in Moscow - cozy Stolle cafe that serves best PIEROGI (pies) in the world! The next best thing after food there is interior of the cafe that was inspired by interiors of Russian cities of the end of XIX and beginning of XX century: oak parquetry, solid wooden doors, cast brass chandeliers, leathern sofas, natural tones facing. While sitting and eating chicken-pie 'Kurnik' I sort of waited for Chekhov to enter the room. The best thing about this place is its democratic family-type atmosphere, very cozy, very tasty.

USADBA JAZZ festival

http://www.usadba-jazz.ru/en

as images speak louder than words, here is a promo of the 2011 festival that I've attended:

Shortly about the festival (quoted from http://www.usadba-jazz.ru/en )

' "Usadba.Jazz" is a festival that takes place during the first weekend of summer in the manor Arkhangelskoe near Moscow.Festival has five stylistically different stages: Parter (mainstream), Aristocrat (traditional jazz and avangard), Caprice (swing, blues, rockabilly), Waterfront (acid-jazz, cool-jazz, dj's) and LiveJournal (rock, funk , ethno). Each stage offers full program of performances. In addition, you will find many different interactive areas, playground, art objects, exhibitions, fairs, coffee shops.

Arkhangelskoe is a palace and park ensemble of classicism, a monument of Russian culture, the estate that once belonged to knyaz Golitsyn, then Yusupov. The artistic value of the estate, intended "for fun, not for profit", had already been noted in the XVIII century. Arkhangelskoe has always been a center of arts and social life. And in the beginning of the XXI century jazz took place in here. Jazz integrated into the heart of the Russian Country Estate and made us look with new eyes at palaces and scenic beauty, enjoy the riot of colors and mixing genres, savoring every drop of art like good wine, dive into the mystery of new music. '

My favourite act personally from what I saw at USADBA JAZZ was Georgian diva and an energetic life-performer Nino Katamadze: (sorry, the only proper sounding video I could find was a life-act from the previous (not recent) Usadba Jazz festival, but I hope you'll get the idea). And no, I don't understand Georgian, but it still sounds great to me..

MOSCOW ITSELF

There is not enough place in the whole blogasphere to show or describe the beauty of what is left from the Moscows old-town and central area - a mix something European and something Asian, of something imperial and grandiosic and something that chaces that grandiosity. A mix of something that could be called Soviet futurism and something, that was a Soviet reality.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

After almost three years of visiting Moscow I finally took a ride on a public bus! Pretty cozy after all :)) even if it was a midnight in the middle of somewhere outside the metro-area. Not sure if I took a bus if I were alone at night in Moscow but anyway, a driver seemed very friendly :))

But ofcourse there is nothing as Moscow Metro, starting with names of central stations - Chekhovskaya, Pushkinskaya, Mayakovskaya.. and ending with gorgeous interiors full of marble, ornamental decor, sculptures, paintings, murals, etc., its like a history lesson in live action:

photo taken from http://www.trekexchange.com/tours/131

photo taken from http://www.226-design.com/review/blogimages/2008/1116-moscow-metro.jpg

photo taken from http://www.thisarchitecture.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/moscow-metro-subway-art.jpg

photo taken from http://www.thisarchitecture.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/masterpiece-architecture-in-public-area.jpg

but as beutiful as metro in Moscow is, there is nothing better than a train that takes you home. Or at least a train that takes you back to the airport :) bye bye, Moscow, for now, see you soon!