Forest, Near the Bay of Finland, Russian Federation, 2008
European Russian is a geographically divided country. In the south stretches the grassy steppe, the territory of ancient Rus and the birthplace of the Russian state. In the north stretches great forests, the place of refuge for the Slavs from the invasion into the steppe by the Golden Horde in the 13th century. In these forests later arose the princedoms of the Golden Ring, Muscovy, and finally modern Russia. (more…)
Categories: Culture · Travel
Tagged: Golden Ring, Moscow, Russia, St. Petersburg
Rostov, Russian Federation, 2008
During our tour of the Golden Ring of Russia, after we had toured Rostov the Great, Olga, Pavel, and I were guests at her uncle’s home in Rostov. In this parting photograph is Pavel, Olga’s uncle Nabi, her aunt Elya, Kamila, who is married to one of Olga’s cousins, and Olga. Olga, our first exchange daughter, is half-Azerbaijan from her father’s side of the family and her father is Muslim. Her mother is Russian and Russian-Orthodox. Olga was raised in the Russian-Orthodox church. (more…)
Categories: Culture · Exchange Students · Family · Friends · Travel
Tagged: Exchange Daughter, Golden Ring, Olga, Russia
Mouse Museum, Myshkin, Russian Federation, 2008
If you are looking to find some entrepreneurial spirit in Russia, you can can find it in the Golden Ring north of Moscow in the village of Myshkin. Armed with not much more than its name, the residents of Myshkin have developed their little town into an off-beat destination with international aspirations. Disneyland it is not, but Micky Mouse is still an honored citizen. (more…)
Categories: Travel
Tagged: Golden Ring, Russia
