We dont wanna put in......

The most bizarre thing here in Dimalandia are the lookie-likies all around Red Square, some of which are better than others. We really liked this guy 'cos as soon as we took the photo he called out to us and said in a deep Russian accent, which I can't impersonate, "Come here and give me money".......seems to me like something the real thing would say as well....

As you might have guessed from the photo above today was tourist day but all our well thought out plans came to nothing 'cos we didn't get out of bed this morning....well we are on holiday, that's our excuse and we are sticking to it. However this meant that we didn't get to the press centre until quite late....more on that drama later on but first the tourist stuff........



First stop was the local branch of the Ruskie version of Tescos.....the various members of the AKOE team and other assorted ESC revellers are coming to our place tonight for drinkies and nibbles, hence posh shopping was called for.....well Mr Mills is well known for his penchant for M&S foodstuffs so we could not let the side down.....


It was actually a truly amazing building, like something straight out of the history books this Yeliseyev's "shop"...more like an emporium....with prices to match Harrods in London. Won't be going their again in a hurry....now which way was LIDL's and we don't care if there are black bits on the food we are cheap and proud of it!!!!!!!

So food was done and had a free hour so we decided that the day was sunny and perfect so we should go to Red Square and do a bit of sightseeing....not too much you can say and I guess you've all seen the pictures before so will just leave you with the one iconic image of Russia that in the flesh is not as impressive as it's seems.....


SO BACK TO THIS MORNING'S DRAMAS

Accreditation is never a pain free process and this year the Russians seemed to have outdone all previous years with the picking-up-the-badge-procedure!!!!!

First we were told that all the cards would be ready and yes that part was true but when you went to collect them they had been put into boxes according to last name....fine I hear you say, until they can't find your card and wham, bamb out comes the other box of unsorted cards (approx 400 or so) and somewhere in this pile is your lovely badge....it just takes an age to find.

Whole process took about 45 minutes but we were first in the queue of people and when we left the building the queue was trailing out the door and down the street. In fact some old Ruskie babushka had joined the end of the queue 'cos the rumour was going around Moscow that they were handing out free bread.....she's gonna be disappointed when she finally gets to the front.....LOL

That over it was time to check out the press centre....which seems very well equiped and very spacious.....take a look for yourselves and the eagle eyed amoung you we see a very busy member of the press hard at work in the corner.....if you look real close....
And so the final joyous task of the day was to finally check out the stage in real life. Yes yes yes I know it's only a stage but take it from me this year it is very very very impressive.

A departure from the usual ESC stage with a more industrial feel about it...when all the gizmos start working it will probably be rated as one of the best in years. I was worried that the performers might get a bit lost but as you can see the focus is on them in the centre and the rigging accompanies them rather than drowns them out.......we also met the pufferfish.....can't wait to see them in action.....




Anyway that's all for now......madness starts tomorrow so check back in for the
OMG's
LOL's
ROFLMAO's
and the
That was so bad it might actually win's

M+D