Rural Russia

We were only in our apartment long enough to put some things away and make a needs list when we had to pack a bag yet again for more travels...to Russia for five nights.  In order to complete our Russian visas we must stay within their borders until our passports return from St. Petersburg.  Thank goodness for expedited services!!

The rural parts of Russia are definitely what you would expect or have seen on TV or in pictures.  They are not as fortunate as us spoiled Americans, but they don't seem to mind.  I guess it's all they know.  It is very interesting to see and be immersed in for this short while.  I will say they could work on some better food choices!  Oh, but they would probably say the same about our food.  Matt and I have been ordering the same thing on the hotel menu every day, and lets just say I may wait a few months before eating salmon again.  Harris and I have been going to their park in the mornings and sometimes in the afternoons.  Definitely not the Little Tykes sets that we have back home.  Very functional though with some grafiti here and there.  Yesterday we took a trip to the Svetogorsk hospital for a "clinic" visit.  Harris had a croupy cough the night before last and to prevent a hospital trip without a translator in the middle of the night, we took him as a precautionary measure during the day so that an IP admin assisstant could help us with translation.  No more croupy cough, but he is now developing a cold it seems like.  Ugh!  On another note, I've got a great idea for a mission trip for those of you interested...build a new hospital in Svetogorsk, Russia!!

We have connected with two IP American families who have been extremely kind and have taken us under their wings.  Laura and George live here in Svetogorsk during the week and Imatra on the weekends.  Angi and Mike live in Imatra with their two children.  Many many thanks to them for taking care of us this week!!  They have been lifesavers!

                  If you look in front of the white car you can see Russia's border control station.

                 We went to the park after dinner yesterday.  The sun is still beaming at 7pm here!

           Harris loves all of the animal figures scattered throughout the park and can name them all.

                                    Harris found him a little Russian that was sweet on him!

                                This is a typical apartment building.  Not many houses here.

This is a view outside our hotel window.  Hard to see but the little glob at the bottom is a group of young girls with sleeping bags and umbrellas.  Guess they wanted to picnic or sleep in the rain??  Thought it was pretty cute!  There is a small circle of dirt around a tree in the back left...there are two rope swings that the kids play on in the afternoons.  Laura and George live in the apartment building behind the swing.

Love to all,
Stacy