This morning, I decided to leave my smokey room, and go for a walk. Curious about Russia, I boldly ventured out all the way to the end of the parking lot of my Hotel Europe.

Just as I was about to pass the huge Volga, I saw a tiny little cat run across the parking lot. OK, yes, I thought it was a rat at first, even as I tried to get closer to the cat, to take a photo of it.

I saw the guard watching me, so I decided to act natural. I stopped, and took a photo of the big old Volga, then admired the photo for a second. Then I heard the cat move again, towards the fence, so I took a couple of steps to the left. Glanced at the guard, he was looking the other way, I proceeded to find the kitten.

And then I saw it at the fence.

I snapped the photo, and confirmed that it was a cat and started to walk back towards the front end of the parking lot, towards the guard, guarding the gate, that was the only entrance to Hotel Europe, surrounded by a black, metal fence.

“It was a cat,” I said.
“Przua hjuede,” said the guard.
“Sorry .. um, yeah, it was … meow,” I said and smiled.
“Da, da,” said the guard and smiled back.