Erica

The water in this lake is painfully blue. The lake bottom is made up of semi-precious gems, or so the locals tell you, and that’s what makes the lake so blue. It could be that, or it could be that the lake is high in the Caucasus Mountains in Georgia and reflects an equally painful blue sky. I realize the pollution in Russia is as bad or worse than anywhere else, but standing on the shore of this lake, you believe that the Industrial Revolution never happened.

I think my favorite part of the whole museum is the Autograph Hall. I’m an amateur graphologist…that’s handwriting analysis for those of you not up on your Ologies. The Autograph Hall is dark and cool, which after some of the bright LOUD displays is a relief. The signatures on the black glass walls are backlit, so they look like they are hovering in space. It was a unique way to present something that to many is pretty boring. Bands like The Beatles and the Rolling Stones are clustered together, so you can compare the various members’ handwriting.
The timed entrance to the Museum was a hassle, but we were there the day it opened, so it was understandable. We also saw the first Concert for the Rock Hall in the now-demolished Cleveland Stadium. Can you tell I lived in Cleveland during this time frame? I don’t know that I’m music fan enough that I would have travelled to experience the opening of the Rock Hall, but ya gotta support the home town attractions.
Cleveland Rocks!

Everyone gets into lines here. If a line forms, locals just join it, not knowing what the line is for, because it might be something worthwhile and the supply is finite.
My friends and I stopped in the street and clustered together, examining our “finds” at the local shops in Moscow. Someone interrupted us to ask what the line was for. We looked around and discovered that a line of people had formed behind us, waiting to see what was available. This was in 1990. Hopefully, supplies of anything are more available now, and lines don’t automatically form when a group stops to look at something.
Also, try tarhun (a green soda pop made from herbs, mostly tarragon that tastes sort of like root beer or birch beer) if you’re ever in Georgia or near the Black Sea. Yum!