This is the Ostankino TV tower, the tallest structure in Europe. As we swung east across the vast city, we caught a glimpse of it. Alexy was definitely a gifted driver as he maneuvered the Mercedes through the heavy traffic. And Dmitri was a well-informed and interesting guide. By now, we were well into the city proper...
We were approaching our destination: the Izmailovo-Vega Hotel, one of the more reasonably-priced hotels in the city, conveniently located near a Metro stop. (After all, Moscow is the most-expensive city in the world, so one has to watch his roubles carefully here.) Passing under a freight line over-pass, the 26-story building appeared, just as the sun broke through the clouds...
There are 5 hotels in this complex built for the 1980 Moscow Olympics. (You remember that one -- the US didn't come here, because there were Russian troops in Afghanistan; now there are US troops in Afghanistan, and here we are.) They are all very similar in size and style -- European Modern. And as a very nice bonus, this rather spectacular view of the ' Izmailovo Kremlin' (It looks the way central Moscow itself must've looked around 1500 or so; only this was also built for the 1980 Olympics).
At last, time for the travelers to have a much needed rest...
