Morado, Budapest, Hungary

wourpet


Posted Apr 6, 2007, 12:45 am
After I was picked up in Springerville Arizona I traveled to Farmington New Mexico and saw some really neat rocks.  One of them had a hole in it and one looks like a giant ship.
This picture is of me and my family at the lodge in Springerville Arizona before we left.  B)  A Movie of our Trip
wourpet


Posted Jun 10, 2007, 8:31 pm
I didn't actually get to see much of Denver but I spent the morning at the airport there.
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_0300.jpg
wourpet


Posted Jun 10, 2007, 8:35 pm
I went to Iowa and while I was there I visited places like Ames, Des Moines, Nevada and a couple of others.  I saw the capitol building in Des Moines but the picture isn't very good and I'm not in it because I had to keep my seat belt on.
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/capitol.jpg
wourpet


Posted Jun 10, 2007, 8:52 pm
I'm currently back at the house in New Mexico and today while I was out for a walk in the back yard I bumped into Florence.  She has been visiting here for about a month and we both feel its time to go traveling. 
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_0680.jpg
wourpet


Posted Jun 10, 2007, 9:51 pm
I got to fly down to Florida for a visit in May and went all the way to the docks at Daytona Beach but I stayed in the car.  I had to take this picture myself because my friend was driving. I saw the speedway as we drove by but the picture of it is just tree tops. 
I stayed in Orange City and and on the way back home I met Florence at the airport and brought her home with us to New Mexico.
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_0459.jpg
wourpet


Posted Jun 12, 2007, 3:30 pm
Morado is excited about this trip.  He looks forward to stopping off for a visit with BunTraveler in Oregon (where its rumored his brother Picado is also heading after visiting Willow in Australia) and after that he is heading to Kitimat where steelxrose will be helping him along with his travels.  He hopes to get pictures posted.
steelxrose


Posted Jul 6, 2007, 4:28 am
Today I arrived in Kitimat to visit with steelxrose. I got to meet up with two of my fellow voyagers, Kuma and SmallFry. Here we are lounging on steelxrose's deck!
steelxrose


Posted Aug 23, 2007, 3:27 am
Today steelxrose took me for a tour around Kitimat.

1) Enjoying the view of Douglas Channel at Coglin Park.
2) She took me out to see the big snowflake, but the picture is too dark. =|
3) At Moore Falls
4) Here I am overlooking the Douglas Channel at Moon Bay.
Pandamao


Posted Aug 31, 2007, 11:17 pm
Hi there, I have arrived safely in Munich. Pictures will follow. Just want to say that I'm fine.
Pandamao


Posted Sep 22, 2007, 7:52 pm
we have a new TV here to visit - Florence who has arrived from Prague, just in time for the Oktoberfest. Oktoberfest started today and there were already lots of people dressed in traditional clothes in the subway. My host promised that she will take me along to the Oktoberfest.
Pandamao


Posted Sep 24, 2007, 10:40 pm
Did a bit of sight-seeing today. The photo shows the Gärtnerplatz with Opera.
Pandamao


Posted Sep 30, 2007, 9:39 pm
Today I went for a walk as it was sunny. I passed by the German Museum (Science and Technology Museum). Outside there are several exhibits - like this huge turbine.
Pandamao


Posted Sep 30, 2007, 10:00 pm
Then I went swimming in the Müller'sches Volksbad. The Volksbad is a beautiful Art Nouveau building and is still in use as an indoor swimming-pool.
Pandamao


Posted Sep 30, 2007, 10:16 pm
On the way back home I walked along the Isar river. I saw a fountain at the Isar riverside - and wonder why it's name is "Father Rhine"?
And I also saw the Isartor (Isar gate) which in former times was one of the old town gates.
Pandamao


Posted Oct 5, 2007, 7:46 pm
Today I went to Oktoberfest. First I had to take the subway to get there. And it was so crowded already ..... there are masses of people going there. Then - the real thing. It is so huge, you cannot imagine. I got some photos outside of the Oktoberfest. Inside the tents everybody has fun, drinking a lot of beer, singing, dancing on the benches .... can you believe that one tent can hold several thousand persons?
Pandamao


Posted Oct 16, 2007, 9:33 pm
As the weather was nice, we all went for a nice walk. First we took the S-Bahn to Herrsching at the Ammersee (lake). From there we walked more than one hour to the Andechs monastery. It is a huge complex as you can see in the photo.
Pandamao


Posted Oct 16, 2007, 9:50 pm
The forest was really nice in all the autumn colors. I enjoyed the walk from the Andechs monastery through the Kiental back to Herrsching. In Herrsching I saw a golden statue of the Virgin Mary. There are a lot of those statues in this area.
Pandamao


Posted Nov 6, 2007, 7:29 pm
I went to Frankfurt for the weekend. The photo shows me on a brigde over the Main river with the skyline of Frankfurt. Some people call Frankfurt "Mainhattan" because there are a lot of skycrapers - most of them used by banks.
Pandamao


Posted Dec 1, 2007, 12:59 pm
I accompanied my host to the Kloster Bernried (Bernried monastery) close to the Starnberger See to get one week of Qigong training. Very nice and relaxing even though the weather was foggy. Sometimes I though I would sit in a white cloud when looking out of the window.
Pandamao


Posted Dec 1, 2007, 2:02 pm
Today I went to Marienplatz - the Christmas market has started and everywhere is the smell of cookies and mulled wine  B)
I also saw the Hofbräuhaus - what a huge beer hall!
Pandamao


Posted Dec 10, 2007, 9:21 pm
I went strolling around town - oh god, there were masses of people doing their Christmas shopping. So I prefered just to take a photo of the Stachus (Karlsplatz) where there was a skating rink set up and later some more photos of different  market places in the dark
Pandamao


Posted Dec 10, 2007, 9:41 pm
On Sunday we went for a walk along the Ammersee (lake south of Munich). After 2 hours we decided that it's time for a mulled wine at the Dießen Christmas market. This Xmas market is held only at one weekend at Dießen. And there is no electricity allowed and the goods sold are solely hand-made. It was great when it was getting dark and everything was lit by little candles. In the middle of the market a real blacksmith was working on the metal. It's a pity that the camera could not take photos in the dark.
Pandamao


Posted Dec 23, 2007, 9:53 pm
Tried on our host's new cross-country ski set. As there was no snow in Munich we took the train to Bayrischzell and went skiing there.
Pandamao


Posted Dec 23, 2007, 10:02 pm
I had a nice, long walk in the English Garden today and had a mulled wine at the Christmas market at the Chinese tower.
Pandamao


Posted Dec 27, 2007, 10:02 pm
Visited the famous Nuremberg Christkindl market.
Pandamao


Posted Dec 28, 2007, 10:01 pm
Well, today is my last evening in Munich and my host said that I should have a mulled wine before hopping into the envelope and travel to Yumi in Japan.
The usual mulled wine is made with red wine and spices. For my farewell I got a special one - made with elderberry wine! Mmmmh, delicious  :p
yumi


Posted Jan 12, 2008, 3:46 pm
Florence and I arrived at Yumi's home in Japan safely today.

We met her toyvoyager Tokio.
yumi


Posted Jan 16, 2008, 5:04 pm
Florence and I visited Oyama Shrine today.

In Japan we visit a shrine to pray for happiness and health on the new year.

yumi


Posted Jan 16, 2008, 5:34 pm
I found some cabbages in borders.
I asked Yumi
'Why cabbages are planted here?
She answered
'It is a kind of cabbage but we never eat it. It is called 'Habotan' in Japanese. We display it for the new year.'

I also found a pair of habotan and bamboo decorations in front of the shrine and I asked Yumi again.
'What is this?
Yumi answered 'it is one of new year's decorations. It called 'Kadomatsu'. It was made assembled pine branches enhanced by stem of bamboo and sprays of plum trees. During the new year a pair of them, one for each side are placed in front of house/building as in Japan pine, bamboo, and plum tree are taken as good luck'
yumi


Posted Jan 17, 2008, 1:28 pm
As a shrine is a sacred place, we wash our hands first.

Then I found a lot of small tablets drawn mice.
I asked Yumi. 'What is that?'
She answered
'That is called Ema. We write our wishes on the tablet..For example, our health, happiness, and success. The tablets are mostly used in praying for success in passing entrance exams'

I also found a lot of long narrow paper tied in a rope.
Yumi told me 'When we visit a shrine in the new year, we usually draw Omikuji (a fortune slip). We tied one to a rope or a tree after we read'
yumi


Posted Jan 26, 2008, 4:59 am
I found a small garden at the shrine.

The garden has a pond with carps, a lantern and an old bridge.
yumi


Posted Jan 26, 2008, 5:26 am
Two new friends arrived at Yumi's home today.

They were Mara-Joy and Mocha who were sent from Hong Kong.
We became friends at once!
yumi


Posted Jan 26, 2008, 5:29 am
One more new friend arrived at Yumi's home today.

She was Pussy Galore who came from Australia.
yumi


Posted Jan 28, 2008, 3:44 pm
I decided to stay with other toyvoyagers at Yumi's house today as the weather wasn't good

We watched Sumo on TV.
Sumo is Japanese traditional wrestling (the national sport).
In a sumo match, two wrestlers who wear a sumo wrestler's loincloth enter the rung fight until on either leaves the ring or touch the ground with any part of his body other than the bottom of his feet.
I was very excited to watch!!
yumi


Posted Jan 29, 2008, 5:19 pm
Yumi told me that we're going somewhere today.

I waited for her with Florence, Mara-Joy, Mocha and Pussy Galore in her bag.
yumi


Posted Jan 29, 2008, 5:42 pm
We visited Kanazawa 21st museum where was opened in 2004.

The museum has some kinds of chairs and benchs to sit and relax.
yumi


Posted Feb 1, 2008, 4:02 pm
When we were walking at the museum, we found a swimming pool.

Why is a swimming pool here? We thought...
The next moment, we all were very surprised that some people were standing in the swimming pool. WHY???
yumi


Posted Feb 2, 2008, 2:57 pm
Yahoooo!!
I'm under the swimming pool


I read a leaflet on the museum.

Swimming Pool designed by Leandro Erlich (so we call it Leandro's pool)

A layer of water above thick glass forms a border, through which people above encounter people below (inside the pool)
yumi


Posted Feb 8, 2008, 3:53 pm
After we enjoyed the museum, we visited another one named Kanazawa Folklore museum.

The building of the museum built in 1899 was once used as a school. At present a junior high school is built next to the museum.

Unfortunately the museum isn't allowed photography...
(Yumi told me it was okay when I visited here last year)
We were only taken in front of the museum.

The last photo is the leaflet for the museum.
yumi


Posted Feb 10, 2008, 4:03 am
The time has come to leave for Russia.

I said good-bye to Florence, Mara-Joy, Mocha, Pussy Galore and Tokio.
I hope I will arrive in Russia safely and soon.
Miss_Nadine


Posted Feb 21, 2008, 7:24 pm
Oh my! Finally! I've arrived to Krasnodar! 21 days in the plastic envelope - that's definetely  not what they tell you in the tourists ads...Anyway!  B) I start my journey on RTVT in Krasnodar - "the hospitable south capital of Russia"...Well, let's see!
Miss_Nadine


Posted Feb 21, 2008, 7:35 pm
First impressions

The post office was very crowded, but I got a sneak peak on their displays and...oh wow!  :stare:they sell socks and other funny stuff in the post offices! I knew u won't believe me so took a quick picture with Miss_Nadine's phone of that miracle and we rushed out to the fresh air>>>>>
Miss_Nadine


Posted Feb 21, 2008, 8:19 pm
When we got outside I was again shocked - it was really very snowy for the south! 
Miss_Nadine told, that Krasnodar is situated near  Black sea, so normally  there is not so much snow, but I got a special luck....Still, near one house I saw a southern man - all tanned and with little clothes... :)
I've made lots of pictures and will update them soon. I am very sleepy now so...see you!

Kisses,
Morado
Miss_Nadine


Posted Feb 22, 2008, 7:45 am
:stare: When I first saw this beautiful flower on the snow I was mega surprised! But then my host told me that's a joke - she just bought it nearby and put in the snow just for me...Awww...THat's sweet! I like the weather here, but the snow is melting quickly and there is lots of water everywhere....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/flower.jpg

This city appears to be big - there are a lot of high-rise dwelling houses and lot's of space.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/city.jpg

I got a bit scared at first, cause all then names on the streets here were written not in a latin alphabet. My host told me they have got special alphabet here in Russia - cyrrilic and I shouldn't bother as I already have found a house with the whole alphabet on the staircase - it's made for little children to learn reading quickly

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/alphabet.jpg

Ha! Look! I am making a progress! I managed to read "Zayats" in Russian! It's me! Look at the picture!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/zayac.jpg

On the way home we stopped in  a little pattisery where they make special Russian pastries - "pirogi" with meat, cabbage, potato or jam inside...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/pastries.jpg

I wouldn't mind living in such wooden colourful house. But it's for children to play! Real Russian izbushkas are made without any nails and may be one day I'll see them too.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/izbushka.jpg


Finally we arrived at home and had dinner. As a hare, I was offered some grass, but no thank you!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/travka.jpg

I chose tasting my first Russian food - "tvorog" - it's made of milk and cream and it's close to white cheeze and there could be lots of fruits inside. It has lots of calcium and other vitamins and is very good for my bones and heart.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/tvorog.jpg

Miss_Nadine


Posted Feb 25, 2008, 6:43 pm
Today I got a spontaneous invitation to a birthday party of 1 Russian girl. Of course I kindly accepted it, as I wasn't going to miss the chance to tell what the Russian birthday might look. Well, the birthday girl was gorgeous - in a beautiful red dress and everything! We celebrated in a cute restaurant, but all the tables were put in 1 long row (a very ancient Russian tradition) and the whole room was wonderfully decorated with balloons. There was enormously lots of food and drinks! I was really full, as most of Russian dishes are made with mayonese. It's like #1 souce here and hmm....what I found really weird, is that they love here hot mayonese! I even tried oysters under hot mayonese and was quite suprised...but there were lots of fruits and good cheeze. Strawberries were specially yummi!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/dinner.jpg

I met 2 cute teddies there - they weren't guests, like me. They were presents for a birthday girl. So they weren't very talkative and refused to dance....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/toys.jpg
Anyway! I got lots of fun, taking part in different games - like dancing all together in a red ribbon, singing, dancing again, listening to Tzygane (Russian name for gipsies) and special Kuban folk songs by Kozak (a man in a uniform on 1 photo). Here are some pics....The party started at 17.00 and we left only at 24.30 so...you see it was really MEGA fun....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/dance.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/kozak.jpg
Miss_Nadine


Posted Feb 27, 2008, 1:53 pm
Today I decided to have a little sight-seeing tour in the center of Krasnodar and visit the central and the most beautiful street of the city - street Krasnaya. "Krasnaya" means beautiful in old Russian language. This street is used for big holidays, demonstrations, parades or just w-end strolles. At that time it's closed for the traffic.
This is me near the city museum
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/museum.jpg
And this is a building of State bank
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/bank.jpg
And here I am feeding pigeons on the citie's square. I was told, that this square is specially beautiful in summer when the big fountain in its centre strikes in the sky...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/arka.jpg
And this is the building of Musical theatre. On its stage work such famous stars of ballet as Grigorovich ( world-known ballet director) and Anastasiya Volochkova (famous Russian ballerina)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/theatre.jpg
THere are lots of beautiful churches and cathedrals in Krasnodar. May be I'll visit more of them soon. This one is the church of Alexandr Nevsky
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/sobor.jpg
Ha! I did it! I rode a donkey! It was cute and black and wonderfully dressed....I enjoyed the ride so much and all the people were staring at me...I bet they were envy!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/donkey.jpg

At the end of our little stroll Miss_Nadine suddenly remembered that we might be late on 1 meeting and we rushed out to take the trolley bus! But still I got the chance of
taking picture with 1 funny monument, that brings happiness...I'll tell you about it later!

See you,

XXX
Morado


wourpet


Posted Mar 1, 2008, 3:08 am
It is suddenly of the utmost importance that the Conejo family rounds up all the strays and travelers for a family reunion at Easter.  It would seem that Ahumado (Coney) Conejo is due to return from Iraq.  His timing, even if we don't know the eexact date, is excellent since it was one year ago on March 24 of 2007 that the Conejo family were rescued in Springerville Arizona and set off on their worldly adventures.  However it seems the fate of the Conejo family is not a happy one and many may have possibly ended up in the stew pot.
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_0219.jpg
Coney joined the army and was soon in Baghdad traveling around in tanks and hummers.  Azul ran off with a new and unknown friend following a July 4th parade and is likely deep in the Navajo Nation with no internet communication and unable to report in.  Picado has clocked a remarkable amount of miles as he has crisscrossed the globe and is currently in California.  He will make one last visit to Florida before returning home for the reunion.  Morado has just started out on the Russian TVT so he will not be able to make it home, or so he says, but the pictures from Germany and Russia are indicative of a fondness for partying.  He is learning Russian though and checks in frequently.  Rosa spent most of the year at home waiting for Coney but was invited by a park ranger (after she had left her wallet and ID behind at Aztec Ruins National Park) to visit a friend in France where she would be able to reach a life mission and visit a winery.  First, though, she would spend some time with the Park Ranger, including a road trip around Montana. She traveled from the snow of Montana to the vinelands of France in December and will hopefully be heard from again this spring.  Maybe she can even come home for the reunion and then return to France.  Blanche went to Australia and it would appear she fell into the fate every little rabbit worries about  -- the stew pot – and she was never heard from again.  All attempts to contact her host or to have her moved on have gone unanswered.  The rest of the Conejo family is of little help.  With Azul missing in action on the Navajo Nation, or maybe also in the stew pot, Rosa snowed either under in the wilds of Montana or crushing grapes in France, or also in the stew pot,  Morado partying and dancing in Russia, and maybe a little stewed even if he’s not in a pot and Blanche in the billycan -- it is going to be a sad affair when Picado is the only Conejo present to welcome his brother Coney home from his long deployment in Baghdad. 

It would be so good if the missing Conejos could find their way back home.
Miss_Nadine


Posted Mar 1, 2008, 9:48 am
So! Miss_Nadine told me that the image of Russian cities is changing rapidly nowadays. And so does the fashion for monuments. If long time ago it was more typical to see the monuments of Lenin, Dzerzhinsky, Stalin, pioneers and others on the streets, nowadays the situation has changed completely.

And it's more likely to create new funny monuments, like this one - the statue of two dogs in their beautiful suits, strolling and chatting around. I was confused to see the coins in the mouth of 1 dog...and their noses seemed to me tooo yellow and shiny....But my host explained me, that it's just such tradition, the citizen created: to rub the nose of a dog and to put the coin in his mouth...And the happiness will stalk you!  :p Well! I did all those ritualso now just have to wait and see!  :D
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/284.jpg
P.S. There is a funny signature to this monument - a quote of Russian poet Mayakovsky, telling that Krasnodar - is doggy capital! I also noticed that! There are lots of dogs and cats, crossing the streets everywhere. And only few of them are homeless. Just Krasnodar cats and dogs have got a real spirit of freedom and don't like to stay in their houses....

I should definitely show you Krasnodar houses later on...


Poka-poka! (bye-bye)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/286.jpg

XXXXXX

Morado
Miss_Nadine


Posted Mar 1, 2008, 10:23 am
Today we visited different art and hand-made stuff galleries...Unfortunately it was prohibited to take pictures there :thinking: And after that we decided to continue our trip and take a look in a special corner of Krasnodar - "Arbat" -  it was named by its twin in Moscow. Here Krasnodar artists exhibit and sell their art works...I noticed that they prefer landscapes, but there were lots of other genres also...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/P1010237.jpg
I  also met here cute Russian Matrioshkas and sat next to the Pleten' - a special kuban fence...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/P1010239-1.jpg
Wow! These pots dont scare me! As I am sure I am not going to be stewed at all!  The technique, in which they are painted is called  Khokhloma - each piece of dish demonstrates natural patterns, like flowers, berries and herbs and what is more important - you should follow the basic color scheme and use only 3 colors - red, black and yellow...
By the way, it's healthier to eat with a wooden spoon. But, unfortunately, Russians are loosing that tradition and use metallic ones nowadays...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/P1010238-1.jpg

I really enjoyed my little trip and definitely I am feeling now more artistic than I used to be... :D ;) B)


Miss_Nadine


Posted Mar 1, 2008, 10:35 am
Today was also very exiting, as we headed to the Krasnodarskaya Philarmonia - a Palace of music! Here you can attend incredibly lots of concerts of Russian music and dancing and enjoy foreign musicians as well. I was invited to the concert of Kozack's dance and songs! That was hilarious and a bit hard for my ears, actually. Lots of emotions, energy and well! just wow!

Here is the building of Krasnodarskaya Philarmonia
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/P1010219-1.jpg

Here is me with a big stone man. I remembered his surname Ponomarenko - he was a well-known Russian composer. look! He is sitting and nearby - the musical instrument, which is very popular in Russia - Bayan (as it's really good for singing folk songs). Long time ago when there was no TV or radio people in small villages liked to gather together and sing out loud and the person, who could play Bayan was very important person in the village...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/P1010220.jpg

I just liked this thing for notes ....
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/P1010224-2.jpg

Me inside the Philarmonia
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/P1010226-1.jpg
We found it impolite to take pictures during the perfomance, but here is the announce of our concert so u could get the idea...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/P1010228.jpg
Miss_Nadine


Posted Mar 1, 2008, 10:58 am
Today is the official last day of winter! Yuppie! I am very happy to see sun  B) And Miss_Nadine proposed just not to stay inside and have a healthy ballade around the city to bless our hearts! I am a good pedestrian tourist, I think  :D

But, first of all, let's get some unhealthy, but so yummy calories!
Russian ice-cream was okay: vanilla with orange flavour...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/P1010216.jpg

And...Off we go!

Well, this time we decided to shoot (with the photo cam of course! lol) some houses around.
Krasnodar is a strange city, to my mind...Here the modern rubs shoulders with the old! There are lots of high-rise dwelling houses, but most of the city is full of little ones...really I find some of them mega old and definitely seeking remodeling...But Miss_Nadine says, that this city was damaged a lot during World War II and just was slightly rebuilt after this by communists...

For example, on this place centuries ago was a magnificent cathedral...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/P1010235-1.jpg
And what I also find significant, is that Krasnodar was reunited from lots of little villages around to become the city. So that's why there are still lots of little really old houses! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/P1010241.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/P1010257.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/P1010254-1.jpg

Look at this house - I find it quite strange:the mixture of stone and really ancient wooden roof...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/P1010234.jpg


I like very much the entrances of some houses - really artistic
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/P1010243-1.jpg

This tree in Russian is called Sosna. And it is really really old and high!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/P1010253.jpg

Ha! Look what I found!
Cutie-cute flowers and grass! Now I can really feel the smell of Spring!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/P1010221.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/P1010223.jpg








Miss_Nadine


Posted Mar 1, 2008, 12:27 pm
RUSSIAN TEA CEREMONY

Today I was invited to a Russian tea ceremony. Well, it was actually all spontaneous - just when I come to my host's home, I met lots of toys there and was specially attracted by Matreshkas, which look not really Russian, but like indian, african-american and other nations! Miss_Nadine said that was a present of her french friends, who work for Ikea. These international matreshkas were still produced in Russia though...Ah, by the way! It occurs, that matrehskas were first made in JAPAN! (the country, I visited before coming here). I am not sure if they had the same name at that time, these toys! Anyway, I was happy to drink a cup of tea in such warm company - other rabbits also came!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/samovar.jpg

On my behalf, I showed them what toyvoyagering is and we read my blog....

And here is the recipe of RUSSIAN TEA


1. take a really big kettle, better Samovar - an enourmous large kettle, which u can see on the picture....Not all families drink tea from such giant. In fact, it was more suitable, when Russian families had lots of members - up to 15 children! Now, it's rare, but actual Russian president Putin support birth politics and now there are much more little babies born, than in previous ages....So, Samovar is a russian kettle for big families, wonderfully decorated.

2. invite lots of guests for your tea ceremony

3. be hot and hospitable! prepare a nice cup for every one and don't forget the lemon to put in every cup!

The traditional russian tea is ready! If you are feeling too hot, then add some ice-cubes and sugar and there'll be Russian ice-tea!

Miss_Nadine


Posted Mar 1, 2008, 12:44 pm
Today I didn't take lots of pictures...Actually, we had a relaxing mood as today in Russia is the Holiday of Armed forces, but it's widely celebrated as Men's day! So on the streets we could see lots of handsome men (all men are handsome on their holiday, sure thing) and they got lots of presents and congratulated each other by cell phones etc.
And! we were busy running through the shops, looking for a birthday present as tomorrow we are invited to the birthday of 1 Russian girl!

Still, there is 1 picture I managed  to shoot - near the little cathedral. I like the sky on this picture! Although, it's kind of scary grey...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/P1010214.jpg
Miss_Nadine


Posted Mar 6, 2008, 5:06 pm
So! Today is the official start of Spring! The weather is nice here and I am all shiny happy rabbit too. In the mailbox I found an envelope....I opened it and read carefully....Ah! That's from the governer of Krasnodar! He is inviting us to the President's election tomorrow. I am definitely going...As an international observer  B) :) ;)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/P1010273.jpg
Miss_Nadine


Posted Mar 6, 2008, 6:13 pm
RUSSIAN PRESIDENT'S ELECTION

Today we woke up early as we've got lots to do!
First, we are heading off to vote as today here - the first holiday of Spring: Russian president's elections 2008! I do love the atmosphere - the sky is blue, the sun is yellow...the roses are red...ah! I love spectrum!  :cyclops: I was told, that we can vote at all possible places - even in the busses and terminals and at the airports...But usually people go to the school, near by their house. It's transformed into a special voting place....So we enter the hall, I show Miss_Nadine's passport...and we get the bulletin with 4 surnames of candidates....
Here I am in a special voting cabin...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/374.jpg
And here I put our vote...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/393.jpg
After voting we rushed out to see the Kozak's parade, which is held every Sunday at 12.10!

This is quite an amazing show!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/354.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/345.jpg
Lots of kuban men in a special parade uniform and funny hats - fury shapkas cross the main street of the city...There are lots of them: the guardians and army musicians, and those, who ride horses...Really exciting! People gather together to watch them. The kozacks march and sing kozack's songs, then they change the guardians on the main square...Take a look at my pictures. I tried to get really close
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/299.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/298.jpg
Miss_Nadine


Posted Mar 6, 2008, 7:36 pm
EKATERINODAR
Today we made a little tour to the main monument of Krasnodar - the statue of Ekaterine the Great - Russian tzaritsa. In fact, this city was her gift to kozaks for their noble service. And its name wasn't Krasnodar, but Ekaterinodar. After the revolution the communists changed it's name to  Krasnodar = "the gift of Red army". This city was destroyed a lot during World War II by fascists, but now it's under the reconstruction and is changing its face day by day.

This is me near the monument of Ekaterina the Great! It's very high I must say...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/ekaterina.jpg

I love Russian cathedrals - all white and golden...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/sobor-1.jpg
Miss_Nadine


Posted Mar 9, 2008, 2:48 pm
Today was calm and relaxing. I got acquainted with Lavando, the teddy bear- I guess we have so much in common! Here we are in the flowers. And these flowers grow in a very old iron...May be even 100 years old! Who knows...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/iron.jpg
Miss_Nadine


Posted Mar 9, 2008, 2:56 pm
Well, just wandering around the city and exploring the architecture...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/dom.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/musey.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/373.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/380.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/382.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/384.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/390.jpg
Miss_Nadine


Posted Mar 9, 2008, 3:01 pm
Today we were roller blading with Miss_Nadineand then made a quick tour to the city again. Look what I found! what a funny bicycle!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/388.jpg
After so much sport I decided to take some nap on this big old tree....What a wonderful time!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/387.jpg
Miss_Nadine


Posted Mar 10, 2008, 2:57 pm
Today we cooked "Bliny" - pancakes or creppes, if you wish.
Just cause Russian people are celebrating Maslenitsa this week - so they visit each other and taste bliny with different dressings inside. Ours were with rice and fish. But there could be chocolate, or meat, or ice-cream, or whatever...Actuallly, that's quite hard to cook nice bliny I must say...but I managed to do this! Look!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/bliny.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/400.jpg
Miss_Nadine


Posted Mar 10, 2008, 3:09 pm
Today we visited the big commercial center, which is called Krasnaya ploshad' - "Red square".
There are lots of boutiques there and cinemas and people of course.

Ah! I loved the fountains there
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/416.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/430.jpg
And look! I think this fish (it's really huge) liked me...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/som.jpg
THen I found more fish...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/431.jpg
and more!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/441.jpg
And after all I saw red fish, which have really short memory!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/447.jpg
So we strolled a bit inside...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/444-1.jpg
And came back home...
:D
Miss_Nadine


Posted Mar 10, 2008, 3:19 pm
And today it's International Women's day. I think it's not celebrated as much as it is in Russia. All men and boys congratulate their women and girls and the flowers got really espensive on that day. Miss_Nadinealso got lots of gifts and chocolates and as the day was really sunny...we decided to go on barbeque - "shashlyki" it's called in Russia.
And they again expluatated me, those Russians!  :mad: I had to cook meat...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/shaslyk.jpg

Here I am tasting...I am not sure that rabbits are allowed to do that...But just out of curiosity!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/427.jpg
And then drink French wine from strange cups...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/vino.jpg
And this is Hottie and Nottie - another toyvoyagers Just_married. We had lots of fun together!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/vino2.jpg
It's very good, that Miss_Nadine lives in the part of the city, near the river Kuban and you can go and relax on the sand any time! so did I!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/426.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/421.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/Miss_Nadine/429.jpg
Miss_Nadine


Posted Mar 15, 2008, 7:40 pm
Last days were very fast and full of different adventures for me...But today I had to leave  sunny Krasnodar and go to Siberia! To the next host on RTVT Oksana Just imagine!  I am sure it will be a nice city to visit too. Miss_Nadine told me, that Novosibirsk was called also as "the city of academicians" cause in the soviet times there lived lots of scientists and they improved the city a lot. There is even metro and...Well! Let's wait and see!


yours always,

Morado 
Oksana
oksanashevtsova77@gmail.com

Posted Mar 23, 2008, 1:38 pm
Hello! Today I've  arrived in Novosibirsk to my new host Oksana. Here I met  3 more toyvoyagers- Rangler, Mousy Mouse and Budd. I have such a good company here! :) By the way Budd has also just arrived.
At first Budd was a bit afraid and didn't want to leave his package, but I calmed his down.
http://i041.radikal.ru/0803/5c/c7766535b07a.jpg

http://i023.radikal.ru/0803/94/b2d952f8b0cb.jpg

Oksana had a meeting with her friends in the cafe, so she took Rangler, Mousy Mouse, Budd and me with her.

When we came into the cafe we saw many girls and women- Oksana's friends. It turned out that they all (including Oksana) make handmade teddybears. It was so-o interesting!
http://i013.radikal.ru/0803/c3/177f59387425.jpg
http://i018.radikal.ru/0803/e6/42beadfc13d7.jpg
http://i019.radikal.ru/0803/fe/ae7f727b6441.jpg
Look, what a funny bunny!
http://i014.radikal.ru/0803/f9/ebefedc57c4e.jpg
See you later! Tomorrow Oksana promised to take us for a walk and perhaps we will go to the movie! :)

By the way HAPPY EASTER! :) Oksana told me that in Russia  they would celebrate Easter later- on April, 27.
http://i043.radikal.ru/0803/f3/0333a7a7fbaa.gif
Oksana
oksanashevtsova77@gmail.com

Posted Mar 23, 2008, 1:48 pm
Today we all have gone to the movies. We watched a cartoon about an elepant "Horton" and a fantasy movie "The Spiderwick Chronicles". We liked both films very much! :)

And after that we went for a walk. The day temperature was about +6'C, so the snow was melting and there was lots of deep pools.
http://i024.radikal.ru/0803/8b/6113c8b33c35.jpg
http://i013.radikal.ru/0803/d1/2473c1df9cd6.jpg
http://i015.radikal.ru/0803/14/f7427de4ab55.jpg
http://i045.radikal.ru/0803/29/75009802f9a4.jpg
Oksana
oksanashevtsova77@gmail.com

Posted Mar 25, 2008, 5:08 pm
Yesterday I had my birthday and Oksana took me, Rangler, Budd and Mousy Mouse into the Irish pub. At first we had our lunch there and after that we were playing while Oksana and her friend were chatting.
http://i013.radikal.ru/0803/a3/f27b8a30a389.jpg
http://i016.radikal.ru/0803/64/57edc795aeca.jpg
http://i028.radikal.ru/0803/38/c43a42f7afff.jpg
http://i036.radikal.ru/0803/52/a8bc06c57699.jpg
http://i029.radikal.ru/0803/01/22d3bd3eb819.jpg

Then we went for a walk, saw a very beautiful church- Voznesensky Cathedral and bought a very tasty ice-cream.
When we returned into Oksana's office we ate our ice-cream and played. Everything was great! I liked my birthday very much! :)
http://i013.radikal.ru/0803/c6/b6ffde459fa0.jpg
http://i032.radikal.ru/0803/0f/aeb66bb048bd.jpg
http://i022.radikal.ru/0803/85/ac7324cb9321.jpg
http://i009.radikal.ru/0803/30/f40dade4d481.jpg
http://i018.radikal.ru/0803/ab/00c3946d31f2.jpg
http://i037.radikal.ru/0803/1f/a353e8e753ee.jpg
Oksana
oksanashevtsova77@gmail.com

Posted Mar 30, 2008, 6:49 am
We have such a nice weather now in Novosibirsk- it's sunny and about +5'C. Yesterday our host took us us for a long walk about the city. We enjoyed it very much!
Look, we could see these birds:
http://i042.radikal.ru/0803/5b/db3e586374d0.jpg
http://i045.radikal.ru/0803/4d/60893bf6a5b1.jpg

The streets are still full of puddles, but if such sunny weather stays longer, the roads will be dry soon.
http://i007.radikal.ru/0803/a0/cc6ff226f0d8.jpg
http://i027.radikal.ru/0803/a2/6cb6371eb51c.jpg
http://i003.radikal.ru/0803/78/c3fc19dc1c6c.jpg
http://i024.radikal.ru/0803/a2/a75f1918d6c0.jpg

Here I'm in front of some Novosibirsk institute (university). At first I thought it was some theatre, but Oksana said that I was wrong.
http://i027.radikal.ru/0803/e4/2c75873aca86.jpg
http://i046.radikal.ru/0803/c1/6553777bc63c.jpg

We could find a pine forrest. It's  situated not far from the main road- the Bogdan Khmelnitsky street. We envied those people who lived near that forrest- they could walk there everyday.
http://i014.radikal.ru/0803/88/2faa4a0d033b.jpg
We could see there many houses for birds!
http://i036.radikal.ru/0803/7d/107274e268ef.jpg

And here I'm near the monunents of some women.
There are 3 monuments in fact-
http://i023.radikal.ru/0803/b0/ab5f570ac88d.jpg
http://i002.radikal.ru/0803/02/9d78f82847d4.jpg
http://i011.radikal.ru/0803/e7/727516dff076.jpg

Here I'm near the Stadium "Sibiria":

http://i037.radikal.ru/0803/b8/5d624daec4d4.jpg

Some iron sculptures:
http://i019.radikal.ru/0803/41/1ca658c32c1b.jpg

We passed by the cinema-house "Cosmos":
http://i039.radikal.ru/0803/92/43b8fd5e638b.jpg

Look what a huge umbrella! It was standing near some shoe shop:
http://i015.radikal.ru/0803/bc/a7562a50f6ad.jpg

And here it is a sculpture of  a crow from the famouse fable of Ivan Krylov "The Crow and the Fox":

http://i011.radikal.ru/0803/53/d0dd468f3dc0.jpg
http://i012.radikal.ru/0803/5f/71b87826ef23.jpg

Then we saw a drag-store with a sculpture of Doctor Aibolit
(Doctor Doolittle) in front of it:
http://i004.radikal.ru/0803/d0/e1ca30b29a1c.jpg
http://i013.radikal.ru/0803/28/36fbd971805c.jpg
http://i050.radikal.ru/0803/d0/b3396d9b746b.jpg
http://i009.radikal.ru/0803/08/c979428ef64b.jpg

http://i046.radikal.ru/0803/1f/efa7312062bc.jpg
http://i006.radikal.ru/0803/b9/6fc1195a2538.jpg

The Palace of Culture:
http://i023.radikal.ru/0803/9e/d7333077b03b.jpg
http://i013.radikal.ru/0803/e4/d2ba95c6c165.jpg

I liked these old green buildings very much.
http://i042.radikal.ru/0803/c9/a94d4e1bfe0c.jpg

We could find the House with the yard where we could see some sculptures from Lewis Carrol's book "Alice. Looking through the looking glass"
http://i001.radikal.ru/0803/ab/f7a3db14f40c.jpg
http://i005.radikal.ru/0803/21/4d56e5cfda7d.jpg
http://i015.radikal.ru/0803/f2/f838a405e160.jpg

http://i014.radikal.ru/0803/8c/c0c4f4358d71.jpg
http://i022.radikal.ru/0803/75/47fe539e139f.jpg
http://i020.radikal.ru/0803/6a/1842b9d6a6fe.jpg
http://i046.radikal.ru/0803/84/51d319c79448.jpg
http://i004.radikal.ru/0803/e4/e2ea0aad88e4.jpg


The sculpture of a poet:
http://i041.radikal.ru/0803/fb/f1cb307de919.jpg
http://i008.radikal.ru/0803/16/65c85323c766.jpg

The sculpture of a clown:
http://i050.radikal.ru/0803/f9/6d22b6871739.jpg
Oksana
oksanashevtsova77@gmail.com

Posted Apr 7, 2008, 5:40 pm
Yesterday Oksana went to the post-office to send a traveling notebook to the next participant and we asked her to take us with her. We went to the post-office by the Metro. It was very interesting!
http://i012.radikal.ru/0804/f7/6e5606e4c689.jpg
http://i040.radikal.ru/0804/49/0684a447364b.jpg

Near the post-office:
http://i029.radikal.ru/0804/3e/fe0a3e3e5fc1.jpg

http://i046.radikal.ru/0804/3d/5f261ae6b3f5.jpg

When Oksana sent her notebook, she took us to the Pervomaysky garden for a walk. She likes that place very much.
By the way do you know what temperature was outsides in the morning on Sunday-April,6? It was -10'C! 
http://i021.radikal.ru/0804/d4/9a536bd3cc07.jpg
http://i007.radikal.ru/0804/93/22f67f17d5ae.jpg
http://i047.radikal.ru/0804/2f/1942dab627de.jpg
http://i020.radikal.ru/0804/17/92b10855f6b0.jpg
http://i023.radikal.ru/0804/82/cfd60a922867.jpg

We could find a very old tree in the park with a deep hollow. We thought we could use it as our hiding-place  ;)
http://i038.radikal.ru/0804/4a/d1568d3f090e.jpg

Here is the newly-weds' tree. It's a new tradition in that park for newly-weds. After the official wedding ceremony they go to Pervomaysky gargen to hang a ribbon and think of their wish.
http://i017.radikal.ru/0804/c8/65c38d32be17.jpg

It's a stone sculpture of a mother and a child.
We like it very much!
http://i008.radikal.ru/0804/8a/3852dc324093.jpg

Stone heart- one more symbol for people who are in love. At first it was clean, but then young girls and boys wrote their words of love on it :)
http://i042.radikal.ru/0804/cd/430c1a02b051.jpg
http://i003.radikal.ru/0804/fc/06dc85504bd3.jpg

Our small company on the bench :)
http://i042.radikal.ru/0804/be/87be0eb2685c.jpg

I'm with the wooden sculpture of an elk.
http://i015.radikal.ru/0804/e4/b790809022bd.jpg

The monument of the USSR heroes:
http://i034.radikal.ru/0804/e7/148f1575925c.jpg

We could see some birds in the garden:
http://i044.radikal.ru/0804/58/ce508f6cad56.jpg
http://i024.radikal.ru/0804/97/2fb54638623f.jpg
Oksana
oksanashevtsova77@gmail.com

Posted Apr 13, 2008, 5:34 am
Yesterday our host took us to her friend Guzel for a cup of tea with cheesecake.  We could see many interesting things in Guzel's house.
Guzel makes teddy bears and other toys, so we could make some photos with them:
http://i016.radikal.ru/0804/75/bd6a362b9001.jpg
http://i028.radikal.ru/0804/77/cadb95e0f131.jpg
http://i016.radikal.ru/0804/87/098821d0193e.jpg

And here we are with the woollen bag. Guzel bought it and decorated with woollen flowers. She made those flowers herself from water and wool.
http://i003.radikal.ru/0804/b8/4d14fb570428.jpg

Guzel brought us a wooden car and allowed us to play with it. It was so-o funny! :)))
http://i025.radikal.ru/0804/74/d646b5f53d48.jpg
http://i022.radikal.ru/0804/5a/61e8ae6a4ef3.jpg

Guzel loves indoor plants so she has a lot of plants at home.
Here I'm with one of her plants and the wooden globus- Guzel decorated it with decoupage (I'm not sure how to write this word :):
http://i010.radikal.ru/0804/1f/b2c96ea7255a.jpg

We also could play with a big bicycle. It stands in Guzel's bedroom.
http://i050.radikal.ru/0804/67/51cf82956d8f.jpg
http://i049.radikal.ru/0804/0d/1aba0b69eb3d.jpg

We found an old clock- it was also rather big.
http://i005.radikal.ru/0804/d4/253974e3dbf9.jpg

And here I'm with Guzel's cheesecake. It looks so-o tasty!
Guzel baked it herself.
http://i049.radikal.ru/0804/bb/20b4436e3212.jpg

By the way I liked the fridge in Guzel's kitchen very much, because there were many different toys and magnets on it's door :)
http://i040.radikal.ru/0804/6a/13f77555ab7e.jpg

And this big cactus Guzel and her husband brought from Spain.
http://i027.radikal.ru/0804/c1/0215bb2cfe1f.jpg

Some more plant. It has already reached the ceiling.
http://i028.radikal.ru/0804/d4/92b1a29fb36e.jpg

What a funny hedgehog! It's Guzel's first experience with oil paints:
http://i014.radikal.ru/0804/0d/d1c8a736cd02.jpg

We found some sports equipment and played there while Oksana and her friends where chatting.
http://i029.radikal.ru/0804/2e/e932deac5f3c.jpg
http://i034.radikal.ru/0804/2e/ae5902e0e708.jpg
http://i033.radikal.ru/0804/44/996e5f45e295.jpg
http://i042.radikal.ru/0804/b9/c34639f48f7f.jpg
Oksana
oksanashevtsova77@gmail.com

Posted Apr 20, 2008, 4:50 pm
Today is Rangler's last day in Novosibrsk with us. Tomorrow morning he will be on his way to England to Steve and Helly.
That's why we decide to have much fun today evening.
We played with Oksana's Guinea pigs and feed them with salad:
http://i009.radikal.ru/0804/36/b6214fab7486.jpg

Then we watched the old Russian movie about children- how they were looking for the treasure. It was very interesting!
http://i040.radikal.ru/0804/4c/627eb3512129.jpg

When the movie was over Budd offered to look for some treasure in Oksana's flat ;). We liked his idea very much!
And can you imagine that in the end we found the place where Oksana keeps her money! :))) We were very happy, but then Oksana saw us with her money and we had to run away from her 8))
http://i049.radikal.ru/0804/d8/590801f84c15.jpg

We found the scales in the bedroom and we sat down on it to see our weight, but perhaps that scales was broken, because it didn't show anything :(
http://i040.radikal.ru/0804/18/90e2d773f0b6.jpg

After that we decided to read some very interesting magazine about teddybears:
http://i009.radikal.ru/0804/4c/b48ffc9c8240.jpg

While my friends were reading, I continue to examine
Oksana's flat. I saw this picture. I like it very much!
Oksana said it was a present from her friend. Her friend made it herself.
http://i006.radikal.ru/0804/46/c0c0e038c869.jpg

And here's the fish clock. Oksana made it herself and
now this clock hangs in her bedroom:
http://i008.radikal.ru/0804/0f/02359e7d65ec.jpg

Look! Here I'm with the fairies. Oksana made them
of cotton wool:
http://i010.radikal.ru/0804/11/99bf509919c2.jpg

And here Budd and me are playing the Turkish drum :)
It was extremely noisy, but funny ;)
http://i020.radikal.ru/0804/c4/3335e6cbc8ed.jpg

It's late already and we are going to sleep. We had such a nice time here with Rangler and we will miss him!
I hope we can meet someday again!
Oksana
oksanashevtsova77@gmail.com

Posted Apr 20, 2008, 5:46 pm
Today morning Rangler went to England... We already miss him very much! :(
Oksana took us to the post-office and after she sent Rangler we went to walk in the centre of the city. At first we were very sad, but soon we felt better. The whole week was rather cold- about-5'C and it was snowing much, so today is the first
day since April, 14 when we have +11'C. We enjoyed such warm weather very much!
We could the the famouse Vladimir Lenin's monument and the Novosibirsk Theatre of Opera and Ballet:
http://i022.radikal.ru/0804/d0/d1f278f56e0f.jpg
http://i045.radikal.ru/0804/36/8a96ed9868e7.jpg
http://i022.radikal.ru/0804/80/697c4e531cd0.jpg
http://i043.radikal.ru/0804/ba/ce90903141c3.jpg
http://i042.radikal.ru/0804/54/248d0baed382.jpg

The local museum:
http://i018.radikal.ru/0804/32/c1db7324d53c.jpg

Here I'm climbing up the tree in the garden near the theatre:
http://i036.radikal.ru/0804/ca/293bd6daeda1.jpg
http://i004.radikal.ru/0804/55/65843a83207c.jpg
http://i026.radikal.ru/0804/e8/99046d071d3d.jpg

Me in snow:
http://i009.radikal.ru/0804/7c/255845410095.jpg

And who left these marks?..
http://i040.radikal.ru/0804/a2/461d81dbe6a6.jpg

Oh, it's a dove!
http://i023.radikal.ru/0804/66/91772c874f39.jpg
Oksana
oksanashevtsova77@gmail.com

Posted Apr 27, 2008, 5:09 pm
Yesterday a new TV came here. It's a small teddy bear- Hellen. She lives in England. She is so-o lovely! We all like her very much!
http://i019.radikal.ru/0804/29/84ce985aa1e9.jpg

Russians have their Easter today, so I wish you Happy Easter!
http://i026.radikal.ru/0804/cc/e1477565df51.jpg

Yesterday we helped Oksana to cook cheese soup and to dye eggs for Easter.
http://i019.radikal.ru/0804/a5/11500f0b27e8.jpg

There is a tradition in Russia to dye eggs with onion husks:
http://i010.radikal.ru/0804/4e/a52565698993.jpg

Our Easter meal:
http://i008.radikal.ru/0804/35/78cf6a0faa50.jpg

One more tradition in Russia is to cook Paskha-special Easter meal made from curd. Oksana explained us that Paskha
means "Easter" in Russian. We didn't cook it, but Oksana showed us it's picture, so now we know how it looks like.
http://i032.radikal.ru/0804/ba/6d1773859a18.jpg

http://i038.radikal.ru/0804/74/5d411a675a59.jpg
The traditional shape of paskha is a pyramid, symbolizing Christ's tomb. It is traditionally made in a wooden mould assembly called pasotchnitza that can be taken apart for cleaning, but more modern materials, such as plastics, are used nowadays. On the sides of the paskha are engraved (using the mould) traditional religious symbols, such as the "Chi Ro" motif (Labarum), letters "GW" (X and B in Russian letters, standing for Chistos Voskrese which is the Slavonic equavalent of the Paschal greeting "Christ is Risen!"), the Cross, eggs, and a lance, all symbolizing Christ's Passion and Resurrection.

Another traditional Easter food is kulich.
It is a kind of Easter bread, traditional in the Orthodox Christian faith — Russia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Serbia, Ukraine, etc.

Traditionally during the Easter service, the kulich, which has been put into a basket and decorated with colourful flowers, is blessed by the priest. Leftover kulich that isn't blessed is eaten with Paskha for dessert. Blessed kulich is eaten before breakfast each day.
It is baked in tall, cylindrical tins (like coffee or fruit juice tins), and when cooled is decorated with white icing (which is slightly drizzled down the sides), colourful flowers, and XB "Christ is Risen") is decorated on the side. Kulich is only eaten during the 40 days after Paskha (Easter) until Pentecost.
http://i042.radikal.ru/0804/62/be35c1fa1e61.jpg

Today is our last day in Novosibirsk with Oksana, Budd and Helen. Soon Oksana will take me and Mousy Mouse to the post-office and send to Moscow to Kristl. We had much fun here and feel a bit sad about our departure, but Oksana promises that we will have nice time with Kristl too and we will see many interesting things in Moscow. Hope to meet all together sometime again! See you!
kristl


Posted May 27, 2008, 6:18 am
Morado has safely arrived to Moscow!
Szeri


Posted Jul 26, 2008, 11:28 am
Hi, I'm here again!

I've just arrived at Szeri's home in Budapest. I have already spent some days in the city, to be more exact, in a post office in the city, because she was on vacation for a few days. I met a guy there, he arrived from Greece, and what a surprise, he is hosted by Szeri, too. We will have plenty of time to get to know each other as we will travel together to Lake Balaton next week.
Now I've got to go, we will help our host choose her dress for her 10-year-graduation meeting that will be held tonight. She's quite anxious about it... :)

Bye for now,

Morado
kristl


Posted Jul 29, 2008, 5:35 pm
Morado walking along Varvarka street

http://static.zooomr.com/images/5016049_cec5aa6dfe.jpg

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http://static.zooomr.com/images/5016067_4756a108d4.jpg?r=90

http://static.zooomr.com/images/5016055_f5c7f4b3d5.jpg
kristl


Posted Jul 29, 2008, 5:38 pm
Morado visiting Kremlin and the Red Square:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/5016197_75724f3a70.jpg

http://static.zooomr.com/images/5016187_ac9cc634a0.jpg

http://static.zooomr.com/images/5016183_b7e21b9070.jpg

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http://static.zooomr.com/images/5016174_a04184f8bf.jpg
kristl


Posted Jul 29, 2008, 5:40 pm
Morado watching 2 rainbows!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/5021218_66d5741b4c.jpg
kristl


Posted Jul 29, 2008, 5:41 pm
At the post office - saying Good Bye to the leaving friends..

http://static.zooomr.com/images/5016037_ce28ac6859.jpg
Szeri


Posted Aug 2, 2008, 4:29 pm
Hi,

We arrived back from Lake Balaton. I will write about that later.
Now I am in an internet café with my host, Szeri. On Monday I will see a Real Cable Man who repairs the phone and internet connection at Szeri's home. (She came home from the vacation yesterday and saw that nothing is working - she was quite angry about it, but now that she gets her internet dose, hopefully she will calm down...) After that, I will show photos about our trips, too.

We'we got to go now, but I'll be back... :)

Morado
Szeri


Posted Aug 6, 2008, 1:37 pm
Hi,

Today Szeri went to her high-school graduation meeting to Szolnok, and I could go with her! Here you can see me on the train to that city. However, on the meeting I wasn't as brave to show myself to all those people, but I heard everything from Szeri's comfortable bag...
Szeri


Posted Aug 7, 2008, 5:57 pm
Finally we arrived at Balatonfüred. Szeri's family has a small summer flat here. The town has about 10 000 inhabitants in winters, but it is a popular place to spend the summer holiday, about 60 000 people live here in summers. When it's hot, the beaches are a bit too crowded. However, I hope I will have the opportunity to swim in Lake Balaton.

What you can see now is the view from the flat's balcony (with me!) and a picture of the lake.

I've got to have a rest now.
Bye,
Morado
Szeri


Posted Aug 11, 2008, 10:17 am
Today we visited one of the local beaches. It was so hot, I was very happy to see (and swim in) the water. The entrance was fascinating: there is a fountain in front of it, and many shops nearby. In the display at the cash-desk one can see the temperature of the water and the air. If I remember well, today the air was 30 °C and the water was 24 °C, that's quite OK.

Morado
Szeri


Posted Aug 11, 2008, 10:21 am
And here is me, sunbathing. I borrowed SaruMaru's suncream that he bought yesterday, because he said that protection against harmful UV rays is very-very important. And I believe him.

Morado
Szeri


Posted Aug 20, 2008, 2:13 pm
Today we went to the most famous promenade of the Lake Balaton area. It is named after Rabindranath Tagore, who was a great poet from India. He spent some weeks in the local heart hospital, which has a good respect nowadays, too. So he went there, the doctors cured him and he was really grateful for that. Well, one can understand that, I guess...
The promenade is about 800 meters long, and all the holidaymakers come here to see its trees and the lake.

First I asked Szeri to make a photo of me, then sat down on a bench with my friend, SaruMaru to enjoy the view.
Szeri


Posted Aug 23, 2008, 10:37 am
Here I am again on a bench near the promenade. In this part of the city, the park is full of trees and stones in front of them. As I have already learnt some words in Hungarian, I could read the writings on the stones: these trees were planted by famous people who visited Balatonfüred, mainly in the 20th century. The trees that you can see here were planted by Nobel-prize winner physicists, wow... I don't think I'll ever be a physicist; however, I may be a prize winner some day. :)
Szeri


Posted Aug 29, 2008, 10:08 am
This is our last day here, in Balatonfüred. Today we went again to the beach, but I wasn't as happy as until today, because this was our last day here, as I've already said.
As a commemorative souvenir I bought this postcard. I will probably send it somewhere...

Morado
Szeri


Posted Sep 16, 2008, 8:29 pm
Hi there,

We arrived back to Budapest a few days ago.
Today we watched the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games. It started at 8 pm in Beijing, but we started to watch it at 2 pm. It is because of the different time zones, you know.

You can see some members of the Hungarian and the US olympic team entering the Bird's Nest.

Morado

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