So Friday night was our last night in Moscow, and we had called a taxi well ahead of time to come pick us up at 630. It had taken us maybe 20-25 minutes to get to our apartment from the train station earlier in the week, but we were driving at 6am and there was very little traffic.

Thus, although our train didnt leave until 819pm, we wanted to be early because of the traffic we anticipated. I am always aware of time, and so I was very happy that others were taking the traffic into consideration as well. I was glad we were leaving 2 hours early, even if that meant sitting in the station.

Well, we were in the taxi for about 45 minutes, and I was so thankful that we had left early. I kept thinking to myself. Wow, its only 715...I cant imagine if we had left at 7...and it was 745...I would be freaking out. But its only 715.

30 minutes later, we are dead stopped in traffic. We had gone down so many side streets, turned around so many times, driven on the side walk, back tracked, driven on the wrong side of the road....and we were still undeniably stuck. I could see bumper to bumper traffic for what looked like miles. Our driver was talking to the other driver( who was driving the other 4 girls), and kept jumping out of the car in the middle of the street. To run to the other car. Why? I have no idea...it looked to me that their walkie talkies were working fine. But whatever.

Anyway...by this point I am freaking. I am no longer on schedule...and my train isnt going to wait for me. Omg, I dont want to be here another day...the next train didnt leave until the next night. So anyway, Amanda (can speak Russian) asked our cabbie about the metro....could he just drop us off so we could try to make the train? Its 748...

He knew we wouldnt make it in the car, so he stopped again, in the middle of the road, popped the trunk and wished us luck. Brighid Amanda (because she can read Russian too) and I started for the metro. We rushed past everyone, and actually met some really helpful people along the way, pointing us to which metro to take and which way to turn. Its 802.

After we run up the steps we see the station, its 805...Now this place is a heck of a lot bigger than Vologda's two tracks.... We need to read which track our train is on. We ask these two guys who definitely point us in the wrong direction....We keep running...and see a sign, we keep going...Oh, there it is...its 811. We are car number 9. The cars start at 1...we start running faster. We get to the car, and out of breath, thrust our passports and tickets at the woman standing there. Its 814...we are on the train.

5 minutes later...the train is rolling....