Wandering and being lost

It has been raining off and on all day, one time it rained hard just as I was no where close to shelter.  I have a rain coat, which I was wearing  but I had my camera in my bag and other things I didn't want to get wet.  I had just bought something at an amazing church and monastery, and so I dumped the contents of that bag into my bag, and tied the plastic bag around my actual bag.  Between that and my rolled up jeans, I was quite a sight.  Fortunately I don't think anyone was looking, they were all trying to stay dry too.

I mentioned before that I have some language challenges.  I have an index card with some words, and the Russian alphabet, and I use it to 'read' the words on the street sign so that I can find where I am on my map, which is not in Russian, but in English.

So I know that this sign says:  Malee(or ih)oy Keesehlnihee, except it doesn't. 

And this sign says Rozhlestvehnskaya. Again, not right, but then I look at my map in the area where I think I am, and try to find a name that looks a lot like what I have just spelled out.  

Sometimes I get it right away, but most of the time I have to walk around an intersection, or down to the next street to figure out where I am-so I know how to get where it is I want to go.  

Today I had fair success, except for one spectacular failure after getting off the Metro.  That is always the hardest, because there are usually multiple exits/entrances to different corners or streets, so I am not sure where I am coming up.  The lack of sunny days doesn't help, I don't usually know which way is north until I find myself on the map.  It sounds tiring, and it is, but it is also fun.  Sometimes I just wander, if the neighborhood is interesting.

I had to go pick up my onward train tickets today at an office that involved a Metro ride, which was intimidating me after my first attempt.  Eventually I bit the bullet, even got a multiple ride ticket from a machine, and got on and off at the right places.  Tomorrow I will do some more Metro riding because I am going in search of a couple of English language bookstores.

Even with the Metro, I walk pretty much all day.  I would like to find a place with pierogis, and probably have walked right by some without knowing it.  

To cross major intersections, you have to go underground, as in Warsaw.  Many of the pedestrian tunnels are basic walkways, but some have shops, musicians playing with their hats out, and access to the Metro.  All of them are a warm place to get out of the rain.  I have noticed a few beggars there, and in front of churches, and almost all of them are old women.  I saw one old woman breaking down a cardboard box this evening, presumably to sleep on?  I find this heartbreaking for some reason, and so now I have found a use for all the change that I have been collecting from every transaction.  I don't usually give money to beggars but I cannot pass these by.