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HOT News
November 24, 2007
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Today was the second day of competition for Cup of Russia (Grand Prix of Figure Skating 2007/2008 in Moscow) and I was very happy when Johnny told me himself that he is in first place so far in context.
I worked with Johnny about 10 days before the competition for Cup of Russia which started for him yesterday, NOV. 23, 2007. Mostly I worked with him as professional driver, not as a guide - he has visited Moscow many times and knows the city pretty well :-), but everyday he needed transportation to/from ice rink for his practices and for shopping when he had some free time.
It was not so easy to provide transportation for him and his trainer, Galina Yakovlevna, from the hotel Cosmos to the skate rink in THE Olympic Sport Complex because of terrible traffic near the hotel. One bridge on Prospect Mira, a main highway, is being reconstructed, and the traffic in the whole district was almost paralyzed during workdays. But using long "detours" and side-roads, I was able to be on time almost everyday, but honestly it was very hard work and I still feel exhausted after 2 days off. From the first day of competition for the Cup of Russia Johnny didn't requested my services because
the Sport Committee of Russian Federation organized special buses for all skaters to the actual competition in the new Ice Palace in Hodynka, where the competition will end tomorrow, NOV. 25.
No doubt, that it was very interesting for me to know the results of this competition, but I have not opportunity to see it on TV because of I have not satellite channels (the competition is currently broadcasting by the main commercial TV company "NTV PLUS"). So, this morning, when Galina Yakovlevna dialed my phone number by mistake, I asked: “How is Johnny". She told me, "He was second in short program and Stephane Lambiel, who took the first place, was excellent!". Of course, second place is a very good result, but following some Russian customs, during this day I tried to use STRONG words and CLENCHED MY FISTS TIGHTS to send support to Johnny. :-)
This evening, I had no patience to wait for the results, so I called his trainer. She responded, "Johnny is nearby and he wants to tell you directly", and she passed the phone to Johnny.
"I am first"
Those were his first words from the phone...
To finish this news from Grand Prix of Figure Skating in Moscow, I would like to say here: Go, Johnny, Go! Good luck for you tomorrow to finish the current competition in this exhibition; good luck for you in two weeks on final in Turin (Italy) and in future figure skating competitions! You are the BEST!
Useful Links:
1. Official website of Johnny Weir
2. Published on official ISU site Results - Cup of Russia 2007/2008 - Men
3. My photo with Johnny Weir (GUM, 2005)
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November 16, 2007
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Recently, Millie Ball, who is travel journalist from New Orleans, USA, posted at her blog two very interesting stories about her trip to Russia. She was here, in Moscow, with her husband, Keith Marshall, at the end of October and used my services as a guide and driver couple of days. It was very interesting to work with them: they like Russia, had a lot of questions about everything (life, people, culture, politic, history and many personal questions), we had a lot of fun during our sightseeing tours around famous places of Moscow.
Yesterday she informed me that her stories about Moscow and St. Petersburg are already online and I think that her experience and information are worth to learn for all people who have interest to Russia:
1. Moscow: 16 years later
2. St. Petersburg, Russia 16 years later
My story about Millie and Keith with their photo, which I took at Old Arbat street near one gifs shop, you can see in special photo-album of My Dear Clients.
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November 14, 2007
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Yesterday was the first strong snowfall in Moscow, about 10 centimeters of snow. Many drivers were not prepared with their winter tires for the winter season, and as a result, there were about 2,000 accidents in the city yesterday, according to the news. I was not prepared also, and by providence escaped a couple of times from damaging my car.
I am currently working with my repeat client, Johnny Weir, a figure skater from USA, who has returned to Moscow again to participate in the competition for the Cup Of Russia. After I dropped him and his Russian trainer off at her apartment near the Metropol hotel, at about 11 pm I ran out to my wife's parent's garage about 50km outside of Moscow to retrieve winter tires for my car. So I returned back to Moscow almost about 2 am, and had to wait in line in a service station until 7 am to change the wheels on my car. After changing the wheels I returned back to my home, took care of our pets, had a small breakfast and by 9 am was already near Metropol hotel, ready to drive my client to the skate rink to practice. What a day.
PS: I am working with Johnny this time quite long - from 12 to 26 of November. The first week Johnny is going to train hard under supervision of Russian trainer Galina Yakovlevna Zmievskaya and he will start competition for the Cup Of Russia approximately from November 22nd. Let's cross our fingers for good luck for Johnny!
My photo with Johnny Wieir taken in 2005 in GUM.
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September 25, 2007
I and my wife Olga just returned back to our home from South of Russia, Black Sea. We spent great time there, visited a lot of places from Lazarevskoe (where we rented a house close to the beach) to Abhazia. I took a lot of pictures and hope to make interesting photoalbum on my website soon.
I would like to say "thank you" for your patience in waiting my replies on your messages and requests. I will try to respond on all of them as soon as possible!
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September 09, 2007
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PLEASE NOTE: In a few days, I am going with my wife Olga to the south of Russia, to the Black Sea. This will be our first vacation in 5 years. We will take a train on the 11th of September and in 30 hours we will be 1,500 km away from Moscow in a quiet place near the famous resort of Sochi. This is the city that will host the Winter Olympic Games in 2014. We will return home in the early morning of the 25th. While we are away, I will not have regular access to email, but I'll respond to your message when I return to Moscow on the 25th. I hope to take some interesting pictures during our vacation and to make a special photo album about our trip on my website as time permits.
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Moscow, Russia 
Contact Info: Arthur Lookyanov