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Saturday was an absolutely beautiful day and we went on a road trip to Vyborg, RU. It is about 2 hours away via rather scary roads filled with fast cars and all kinds of trucks, especially ones filled with cars. Cars are shipped from Finland and I am sure we saw dozens of trucks filled with new cars for the growing Russian middle class. However I have still not seen a single pick-up truck. Sam and Justus, in the past couple of weeks we saw all kinds of interesting construction vehicles of varying vintages but were not able to get a clear picture to share. We'll keep trying.
Vyborg is a very old village that was a part of Finland until Stalin. After WWII this region was actually supposed to go back to the Finns but at the last moment, the Russians decided to keep the area - we are told, to spite a local Finn leader. The area was beautiful - reminded me of the NW of the US - as the pictures taken from the top of the old fort and the bell tower of the church show. There were a steady stream of visitors at the fort, few at the church site. In both places we had to climb stairs, very 'rickety' at that. We would never see a tourist site like these in the US- not at all safe, but we had no mishaps. Perhaps we are just wimps as a lovely lady in pumps and a beautiful outfit climbed down from the bell tower as we went up and she was smiling! I must say we were huffing and puffing from the climb. However once up there it was beautiful. The tower is all that is left of the Church, except for part of the brick sides of the building. In the fort there was an art show of local painters and an exhibition of painted trays - even the guys enjoyed looking at them. At the top of the fort there were a bunch of people - we had a chicken wire fence to keep us on the walkway- they were renovating the exterior of the tower so that is the green mesh stuff you see. Below was a bridge across the inlet and we saw two weddings - Remember I told you that after the ceremonies, wedding parties go around town taking pictures? Well one of the pictures is as the groom to carries the bride across a bridge. In St. Petersburg, there are many lovely SHORT bridges. However, this one was 1/4 mile or more and the groom needed help from the best man (the guy with the ribbon) to make it across. John was able to photograph the 'exchange'! We had a lovely lunch at a spot outside the fort - traditional fare that we are getting used to. It tastes fine and it is much healthier than what we Americans eat, but it is still different.
On Sunday after Mass we met our Russian traveling buddy. Elena grew up in St. Pete and studied languages at the University here. Her major was Polish and Slavic languages. Of course she took English in school since she was a child. In the 1990s she went to work at a paper mill on the Russian side of the Finish border as an interpreter (International Paper had recently bought the mill). She met Mark, her now husband there. Mark is from Tennessee and now Elena is a US citizen. Mark will be working at one of the mills BEK is working on but currently he is in Tennessee because there are no golf courses here and he wants to get in all the golf he can before he comes to Russia to work (there is only one golf course here we understand - and 6 million people). So Elena is great to have along - she understands us and the Russians understand her.
She told me about a monthly jewelry craft show and we drug John along. I thought it would be a few booths - Boy was I mistaken. It was in the Art Institute where there are classes. The building is huge and pretty on the outside but absolutely stunning inside. It has not been restored and does need work but the walls were painted with intricate scenes; there were wood sculptures in addition to marble statutes; a series of wrought iron gates/fretwork lined one hallway; the floors were beautiful wood inlays and tile work. All the people seem oblivious to the beauty around them. They were buying jewelry, hats, scarves, paintings, etc. We had enough battery to take a few pictures. Elena told me we would go next month - it is at an exhibition hall so it is 'easier' to shop - more open space!. I can't wait until it comes back to this place again.
Last weekend we went on a different road trip. I'll tell you about it in the next email!
John and I will be in Alabama late Tuesday night for about 10 days (two Auburn games!) Clare and Rachel are coming home too - I am excited to see them
Love to all,
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