Russia and other funny places

Red Square. The week leading up to VE, Victory Day.

Unknown to me, the summer of 2007 set up one of my long term recurring goals. After spending eight weeks in the Mother Russia, I made a deal with myself that I would try and take an international trip at least once a year. So far, the only year I haven't breached the borders of the US was 2009.

My first "real" international excursion, Russia, opened my eyes to how very little I knew about myself. I learned that, yes, I do love pepper and I will spend any amount of money to use something other than salt to season my food.

I can't believe we didn't break anything!

We spent most of our time in good old Moscow (hitching rides and bargaining cabbies down til they cried) with random side trips to places like Vladamir and Suzdal. We spent a ridiculous amount of time looking at the crystal collection in Vladamir which was actually not a complete waste of time.

My favorite part of the whole trip, though, has to be the week we spend in Siberia! We stayed in a touristy yurt camp on Olhon Island in the middle of Lake Baikal. I not only learned that it's flipping cold in Southern Siberia in July, but that a fox head bracelet makes for a very stylistic conversation piece. (Disclaimer: It was on the other guy's wrist. I'm pretty sure it was stuffed a bit before I got there). On the bright side, I officially learned how to build a fire from scratch because I didn't feel like crawling across camp at 0300 to wake our lovely hosts in 20 degree weather.

Mother Russia, thank you for creating this monster of a traveler. My bank account might not appreciate it, but I sure do.