May 4, 2013. Moscow, Russia —

…….and rocket launchers, armored personnel carriers, and mobile missile launchers.No, its not a coup or a throwback to the old May Day displays of military might…well, maybe something like that. It was a rehearsal for the Victory Day celebration next week, to commemorate Russia’s role in the defeat of Nazi Germany (I’ll have to check that out to make sure that I am correct).

We had just checked into our hotel after a 4.5 hour train ride from St. Petersburg that would have put Amtrak to shame; it was clean, modern, comfortable and punctual. The street in front of our hotel — Moscow’s main drag, the Fifth Avenue of Moscow (I know I used that comparison in reference to Nevsky prospekt in St. Petersburg, but its even more appropriate here) — was shut down all the way to Red Square for the rehearsal.

So far, we really like Moscow. Maybe we’ll add it our list of favorite cities as well. Its big, brawny and cosmopolitan, like NYC. Moscow is to NYC, as St. Petersburg is to San Francisco.

To celebrate our arrival in Moscow we topped off the evening at the Oxygen Bar on the roof of the Ritz Carleton (we’re staying at the Intercontinental) overlooking Red Square, the site of the rehearsal, sipping an excellent, if overpriced, glass of vodka. Well worth it, though, considering the spectacular floor show.