On our second day in Moscow, Georgia, just recovering from a lengthy illness, and worn out by the various stresses which are involved in such a long journey, by the strains of a rather ambitious guided tour of Moscow on our first day there, found herself unable to continue with the planned activities of the second day. Instead of joining the planned visits to Star City, the "Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Centre," Red Square the site where, during the Soviet regime vaste military parades were held, and finally, a visit to Moscow's Metro subway which included a trip on the trains, we wondered just how to deal with Georgia's exhaustion.

Instead, we visited the 'Amercan Clinic' to get some medical help and advice. This second, quieter day and the medical care Georgia received, got us ready for the the start of our cruise on the following day.

The ILYA REPIN was scheduled to leave Moscow's Northern River port at noon. Heading off to buy some bottled water, I went to find a store that would carry such an item. Between where the vessel was moored and the seemingly most likely spot where to find it involved a walk past the huge Northern port Terminal Building built during Stalin's time in what is locally known as "Stalinist Gothic" and through a very pretty and extensive park. Only after that, did I arrive at a very busy road boardered on its far side, by various commercial enterprises. The traffic was heavy and rather intimidating, and, to top it off, there were no traffic lights to allow me, easily to get there.

Rather than scrambling across to where the stores were, I decided to walk a little further until the stores would appear on my side too. I walked and walked for a goodly distance but was out of luck. No stores appeared on my side. Just at the point when I had stopped walking and considered what I should to next, a large truck pulled up to the curb of the road and stopped. Since it was most unlikely to be selling bottled water, I paid little attention to it.

Several seconds later, the driver of the vehicle appeared and approached me. Smiling at me, he addressed me in Russian. Between his questioning body language gestures and the fact that I heard the word Novgorod, I was able to determine that what he was doing, was to ask me directions about how to get there. As pleased as I was for having been taken for a local rather than an obvious foreigner, I did have a problem. Not only had I no idea whatever, but even beyond that, how would I go about telling him that?

I did answer his question, though I am not at all sure exactly how. I doubt that I used either French or German to try to communicate with him and I suspect that it also wasn't my English which conveyed my meaning. Still, between what I said and the gestures and body language I used, he seemed to get my point. But clearly, I was an intriguing puzzle for him, for instead of going back to his truck and finding someone else who could help him, he started to question me. It is amazing what body language can do, for, without having any idea at all of what he was saying, I knew that he was trying to find out where I was from.

"I'm from Canada," I told him, but knew instantly that he had not understood. Several times he questioned me, and several times I answered without any success.

Finally, I had a brainwave. "Canada - hockey" I told him, and suddenly a big smile of understanding lit up his face.

"Ah, Hockey! Canada! Kharoshii!" We shook hands, he remounted his truck and clearly pleased, drove off.

And, to tell the truth, I, too, was pleased. Not only had I been mistaken for a Russian, but, in a way, I had passed the test - I had talked to him in my strange, but understandable Russian.

I did not find a store which was likely to sell water and returned via a rather circuitous route past private, commercial and institutional buildings in a lovely park setting, to the shores of the Moskva River. Having arrived there, a long way in the distance, I could see several river boats, one of which, no doubt, was bound to be the ILYA REPIN. Only after I was close enough to actually read the name on the bow of our vessel, did I find, in the lee of the Terminal Building, a little, temporary tent-like store, where I could have bought water before heading off on my odyssey, if only I had looked around. But, on the other hand, if I had done that, I should have missed my marvellous adventure.

Travel story to be continued ASAP.