the people.

One of my largest regrets of my time spent abroad in Russia and my travels to other post-Soviet countries, was that I did not take more photographs of the people. I don’t know… Read More →

via train.

I realized recently that I have not been diligent enough in continuing my posts now that I am home in the United States. I was hoping to have some new blog material, as… Read More →

feeling nostalgia: part two – produkti shopping (a.k.a. “grocery” shopping)

I want to preface my post by mentioning that I used to work as a cashier in a grocery store when I was in high school and we have a very specific system… Read More →

feeling nostalgia: part one – sunbathing in underwear

One year ago, I was probably walking through Tavrichesky Sad in Saint Petersburg, smiling at how Russians of all ages like to sunbathe in their underwear.  It’s logical, right?  Why waste money and… Read More →

Vagabonding in Kyiv, Ukraine……

I know this post is a bit overdue, but here it is nonetheless.  I am still mourning the loss of one photo I wish I had taken, but did not.  You see, every… Read More →

Moscow revisited.

My first visit to Moscow was in 1999 and it did not bring me fond memories.  I had spent most of my days that trip in a small village outside of Bryansk staying… Read More →

Murmansk, Russia: Part Three “the hike to Alyosha”

Being that I’ve already composed two posts about Murmansk, I need not say much in this final post – the pictures will speak more.  Due to the minimal amount of daylight that Murmansk… Read More →

Murmansk, Russia: Part Two “The Aura of Industrialization”

There is no possible way I can actually describe our visit to Murmansk during the city’s darkest days – as Sean and I said, it is something that just has to be experienced. … Read More →

Only in the Ukraine (только когда в Украине)…..

While I understand that I still need to compose another post regarding Murmansk, I currently feel the need to interrupt that story with some most recent events which occurred while traveling in the… Read More →

Murmansk, Russia: Part One “Via Train”

Going to Murmansk – one of the twelve Hero Cities from Soviet times – was a very last minute decision for myself and my husband.  We had already planned to make a long… Read More →