This morning I dropped my bags at the train station then wandered around the center of the city while Almira had a class. I can’t believe how fortunate I’ve been with weather. It was sunny and bright all day long, and I thought the forecast had called for clouds so I didn’t throw any sunglasses into my bag. The last few weeks in Moscow have been wonderful, too. Золотая Осень, or Golden Autumn, as they call it.

While walking around, oversize camera in hand, I was twice asked for directions in the span of an hour. Yesterday Almira and I were stopped and asked for directions a few times even though we were chatting English. I can’t help but wonder how many times I’d have been stopped if I’d made it less obvious I was a tourist.

After her class, Almira and I walked around more of downtown and I marveled at the stark differences between old and new. This contrast exists in Moscow, but it’s not nearly so pronounced because, at least downtown, that which is old has been or is being repaired. In Kazan, right in the middle of the city, there are a few lingering wooden houses in various stages of dilapidation. As someone who often finds disrepair more beautiful than renovation, Kazan is a wonderful place to stroll.

One of my favorite things about Kazan was how much more relaxed people seemed. That may be because I visited on a Friday and Saturday, but those are both school days so timing can’t entirely explain it. Kazan is a big city with a population over a million. Even so, people didn’t seem to bustle everywhere as they do here.

We were able to ride the entire length of the metro because with its five stops it is one of the shortest in the world. There are only two metro systems with fewer stops, and one of those is connected to a larger system. The other has two stations.

Another highlight of the day was going up in the main building of Kazan State University and getting to look out at the city. It is about fifteen stories high and one of the tallest building in the city. From the two windows I looked out, I saw nothing anywhere near its height, and we were only on the eleventh floor. If there are any students of science reading this, please restrain yourself: according to Wikipedia, Kazan State was the birthplace of Organic Chemistry. Now you know who to blame, but I promise, everyone I met there was very nice. Except the women in the cafeteria.

As excited as I am to go to Izhevsk and see Hannah, it was quite sad to leave Almira and this beautiful city behind.