Travelog for: Morado

I found a small garden at the shrine.

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

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!

One more new friend arrived at Yumi's home today.

She was Pussy Galore who came from Australia.

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 told me that we're going somewhere today.

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

We visited Kanazawa 21st museum where was opened in 2004.

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

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???

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)

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.

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.

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!  I start my journey on RTVT in Krasnodar - "the hospitable south capital of Russia"...Well, let's see!

First impressions

The post office was very crowded, but I got a sneak peak on their displays and...oh wow!  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>>>>>

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

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....


This city appears to be big - there are a lot of high-rise dwelling houses and lot's of space.


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



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



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



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.



Finally we arrived at home and had dinner. As a hare, I was offered some grass, but no thank you!


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.

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!


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!