Russian Hockey

Well, if you like hockey (and even if you don't) attending a Russian hockey game is a REAL event!
We were invited as guests tonight to see the Ufa team, the Salavat Yalaev which are 3 time Russian Hockey champions. What an experience, as they were awesome on the ice tonight!  They played the Tractors a rival team from Bashkortostan, that came in second to Ufa for the last national championship. Quite different from American hockey...they were all about the skill on the ice and not the brawn. NO throwing of elbows, NO cross-checks, just aggressive, forceful, and skillful skating.  
The arena, built 5 years ago via International standards was the cleanest sports facility I have ever visited.  They had policemen & dogs outside screening for alcohol, a huge paddy-wagon parked out front (probably for intimidation...which I figure works), and a metal detector/wand as you enter.  All food (and they had plenty!) was offered at tables all around the arena prior to and during the game.  No alcohol is served.  No food or drink is served inside the arena.  Therefore, it's all about the hockey once inside.  They had cheerleaders, a fabulous sound system, 30 videos, fan clubs, bands, etc. The best part was once the game was over and when the teams line up to shake hands...the Ufa bear mascots joined the team for the congratulatory handshake...so sweet :)

The crowd was the most respectful of any that I have ever experienced at a professional sport. It was almost as if we we had attended an opera or play.  Almost 8,000 fans were there tonight and we departed the arena in less than 5 minutes!
Ufa won 3-1. 

Daily life

We are getting somewhat of a routine to our life here in Ufa.  I work mornings then we typically meet up to make some type of trip out in the afternoon or evening to explore, shop for groceries, or whatever.  Grocery shopping can be cumbersome due to our specific likes & wants along with our requirement of public transportation.  While there are many little markets within blocks of our apartment, it frequently requires trips to at least 3 to pull together the required products for a meal. One little market has lovely fresh bread, another has nice meat, another a large selection of cheese. I remain cautious and continue to struggle with the packaging and appearance of many of the grocery items.  It is not as simple as pork, beef or even milk (remember, mares milk is a Bashkortostan favorite). While checking the translation for the filling in many of the dumplings you see frozen in the store, it said " meets". I am guessing that means "meats"...but couldn't be sure.

At dinner last night we went to a restaurant that John selected due to their lovely ambiance and English menu. I settled on the smoked salmon and potatoes which was an excellent choice.  The "sweet cooked corn cobs" threw me alittle but am thinking it was surely "corn on the cob"...right?
The weather is steadily getting cooler and we heard there was snow in Kazan today.  Our apartment is toasty as they have turned on the registers.  With no controls, when we get too hot we just walk onto the tiled and unheated terrace and open the windows for a bit.
I have downloaded some free movies and documentaries to my computer.  John purchased a cord and has hooked the computer to the TV for us to watch a movie tonight.
I wonder which of the groceries has popcorn???      

Weather update & Bashkortostan critters

Daylight savings time continues all year long in Russia.  At this time of year, it means that nights are light until almost 10:00pm and mornings are dark until close to 8:00am. Although we are well inland the daily weather patterns are very changeable.  Our mornings are often cloudy and foggy, by mid afternoon skies clear up and the sun shines, and by evening there is often a shower. No frosts yet but the leaves are starting to turn yellow and daily temperatures are running around 50.
After classes today, John and I decided to tour the Bashkortostan History Museum. The museum is housed in a lovely old building in the center of the city. There is much information about Bashkir history and Bashkortan's inhabitants but only in Russian.  Included were mounted bears, elk, moose, huge wolves, gigantic snow owls, etc. from the region. Definitely a hardy looking group of critters living here including a strange little squirrel with furry ears. He made me laugh as he looked like he was wearing a Russia shapka (man's fur hat). 

We had just read about and seen pictures in the Moscow Times (only English newspaper in Russia & not available in Ufa) today about a golden eagle that was filmed taking down a deer in Siberia. The photographers were there to photograph Siberian tigers and caught the scene on camera. The first time ever seen...yikes!?!  Makes me alittle nervous about that hiking trip we were planning...

Teaching, etc.

The real work has begun.  I have been assigned to teach 5th year medical students located at a hospital here in Ufa.  Per previous discussions, I was expecting to teach 20-30 students but not twice that which showed up Monday morning for class. I was unsure of what to expect upon arrival, but had prepared a lecture and ultimately delivered it in a two hour time slot.  The students were respectful, funny, interested, and eager for the information. My schedule for theory/lecture continues every day this week, with hospital based clinicals to follow.
It was dark and raining yesterday when I left for class, and the buses were over crowded. I finally caught a private mini-van (they compete with the public transit for 5 rubles more per route and go fast) and off we went.  The windows on the mini-van were fogged solid, people were sitting and standing, Tar Tar music was blaring, and me feeling alittle uncertain of my stop. I edged to the door and yelled "pazhalsta" (that means please, and not the proper word to stop the van, but it worked).  When I got off, I couldn't see the hospital.  I had gotten off too early so now must walk the last half mile in my high-heeled boots.
After class, I meet up with John and we headed out to purchase light bulbs, 2 more towels, groceries, etc.  We have heard of a center with a K-Mart/Walmart type store so we take the bus that drops us off "near" the center and take a dirt path down the center. Bingo! We find a store with almost everything in ONE stop!?! We spend almost an hour looking at everything.  Once we finish we walk into a mall area that even has an ice rink.  There, I notice a woman with a badge standing near a long line of shopping carts.  She is guarding them. How cool, once you finish your shopping and want to ice skate, eat, or whatever...you just turn your shopping cart over to the woman with the badge, pay her and life is good.

Back at the apartment, John is hooked on Russian TV.  We have about 6 channels, and he watches comedies, drama, military, history, and Russian CSI.  He says he understands the "general idea" of most things and is "working on his Russian".  In bed last night, I heard him laughing in the other room...The Hang Over, Part 1 was playing and it must have translated pretty well.
  

Bus etiquette

Coming from the Midwest and now living in Florida, I have had little exposure to public transport systems in large cities.  Therefore, maneuvering through Ufa on the buses, trams and trollies has been challenging, interesting and pleasant.  While we are able to walk to most any necessary shop or restaurant, we enjoy getting out and about to see and experience more of the city.
On days like today when the weather is cloudy and gray with a biting wind, the buses are a nice way to get to and fro. The buses/vans/trollies/trams are regular, organized and usually heated. You pay as you exit the bus, sometimes just pitching your change in a small wooded box in the front by the driver. People are so polite and thoughtful on public transportation.  I have yet to see a babushka board a bus and not see someone give up their seat. Not only give it up, they insist that the babushka sit and they stand.  Today a young mother and daughter moved out of their seats for John and I, seeing that we were carrying a bag of groceries. It's so civilized and humbling...

For those of you wondering, the "fried pizza" was excellent.  We are eating at home more now, as the whole challenge of restaurant ordering and communication gets so difficult that we prefer "our place".  We discovered a "Blues Bar" quite near our apartment recently though, and have enjoyed the music there a time or two.  This place, like many others here is underground.  It is under another building and is cozy, warm and quaint.  They serve food, drinks, have good music, and the people there are friendly.  It's also not like a bar.  You see lots of folks (even the band on breaks) having pots of tea and coffee.  On Friday night, the blues was played now and then but it was Billy Ray Cyrus's "Achy Breaky Heart" that really brought the Russians to the dance floor. What fun!  

Ballet, weddings and food

The ballet last night was brilliant! The production was "Spartacus" and the entire event was breathtaking.  John stayed awake and was enthusiastic about the performance so this pretty well validates my opinion.  Ufa is the birthplace of the famous Rudolf Nureyev so ballet has a very rich history here.  I cannot wait until the next production. 
After lecture preparation this morning, we headed out for a walk through the city.  The sun was partly shining so we hated to stay in the apartment and miss the 50 degree weather.  We made it up to one of the landmarks of the city, a beautiful statue where many wedding parties were gathered today. There was accordion music, laughing, champagne, and pictures.  We sat in the sun and enjoyed the activities.

Next, we decided on lunch.  Meals continue to be a challenge for us with our poor language skills and unfamiliar food selections.  We decided to return to the park where they BBQ on most days.
Today's selection was somewhat puzzling.  We could only identify the chicken wings. Previously, we had guessed and were happy with our selection of pork.  We asked the young man if he was grilling pork? (in Russian it sounds alittle like swine).  We couldn't understand him..."Is that pork?" He happily responds again and we don't understand.  I finally "oinked" (yes, I know it's shameful) and he smiles brightly and says "Da" and oinks back at me. Our lunch outside in the sun was lovely.
Now it's dinner time and we are tired of cheese sandwiches and pasta. I found and purchased a frozen pepperoni pizza this evening at the grocery. Sounds simple enough except that we don't have an oven.  Our apartment is equipped with a small 2 burner cooktop stove. I have just thawed it and added a fresh tomato, dried mystery spices and have it all ready to "fry"...bon appetit!       

Street crossings

The last few days have been filled with meetings at the university (schedule preparations) topic review, and more Ufa exploration. My course assignments begin Monday so the weekend will likely include a great deal of prep work. All of my lectures will require conversion to Russian and I have been told will be done by an assigned doctoral student. Specifics due at any time...
When not working, we continue to walk and take public transportation to see more of the city. Yesterday, I had a letter to mail (birthday card/October/son). We went to the main post office where there were many people working in cubicles.  We waited in line to be told it was the wrong line for stamps.  We waited in another line to be told to go downstairs. We creeped through the 3rd line where  I pointed to the USA and to the corner of the envelope.  "Da", a stamp was attached and off it went into the pouch. The experience wasn't too unlike the postal process at home, if only we could read the language alittle better.
Walking on the sidewalks here is fun.  Crossing the street is another issue altogether. There are clear crosswalks and signs indicating when to walk. The trouble begins however, when a car is turning. Cars rule here...and they are BIG cars.  They often pull up to the crosswalk and wait, if you hesitate...they move.  We try to join packs when crossing the street, thinking that the cars are less likely to take us all out when crossing.  There are many new SUVs driving fast through the wide streets. Nice, new and big cars are definitely a status symbol here. We have seen an accident a day since arriving.  
Ufa's Indian Summer is a thing of the past.  Like a flash it is gone. The past two days have been quite chilly and gray including a heavy fog this morning (I will now use my new tee shirts for sleeping).  While out and around, we have discovered several lovely churches and mosques in the area.
Ufa is the capital city (1.2 million people) of the Bashkortostan Republic, home of the Bashkirs, TarTars, and many other ethnic people here in the southern Ural Mountains.
Tonight we have tickets for the ballet.  My sponsor has given us the tickets as a gift and she and her mother will be joining us for the evening.  I am really looking forward to this (will tell you all about it Meghan!). 
Luckily we are going in a car and don't have to cross the street to get there...

  

Almost famous

It's been an action packed few days in Ufa.  Yesterday was the first ever "Breast Cancer Awareness Ride" for the city and it appears to have been a great success.  The 5 k bike ride included at least 350-400 people riding bikes through the city in support of this important cause. The event started at the Oncology Hospital and finished in the park at the center of the city.  The weather was beautiful, the mood was upbeat, the the crowd was enthusiastic!
John and I joined a team from the Bashkir State Medical University and though the gracious support of the dean, we were provided bicycles for the event. We made the ride without a hitch and enjoyed new sites of the city that we had not previously seen.  People on the sidewalks cheered in support as well as cars honking along the route. It was well orchestrated and supported by the local police.
Once we finished, there was a grandstand and various speakers thanked the community, sponsors, etc. for their support.  I was then asked to say a few words as a visiting scholar and participant.  Hesitant, I walked on stage and spoke of the importance of breast cancer awareness, the global impact, and the importance of self screening & routine mammograms for women. I also thanked the city for organizing the event and the warm welcome.  Next was a demonstration from a Russian cyclist that could do the most phenomenal tricks on a bicycle that I have ever seen. He had all of us on edge with his skill and preciseness.
Today, I attended a follow up meeting today with several administrators from the school of medicine to explore options for teaching and to prepare a schedule for course load, topics, and objectives. I should have my schedule for teaching on Friday and will begin on Monday.   
John's goal for the day was to locate and purchase a TV antenna. The TV in the apartment was reported to be broken but John has discovered it works. He borrowed an antenna and had success with a few channels on the TV, so he purchased a new antenna.
When I left for the university, he was watching a Russian soap opera, reciting the words in Russian...
Upon return,  still in front of the TV he was excited and showed me a picture from the TV.  OMG!?! It's me speaking about the event.

It is such a nice evening, we decide to take a walk through the city center and stop off at our favorite park for a coffee/drink.  While there...a woman walks by and points to me and starts speaking to us in Russian. She points to me and to the TV...almost famous.     

Weather

The temperatures in Ufa have remained considerably warm since arriving.  Most days have been around 70 degrees F and nights closer to 55-60 F.  Today we made a point to spend as much time outside as possible.  First off, we made a trip up the street to find a laundry.  We were told of a dry cleaning business several blocks away that might do laundry.  We first walked up the street, found it and attempted to ask if they did laundry, including the charge. No luck.  We then walked back to the apartment and took the clothes to the dry cleaners to discuss the proposition. After a great deal of writing and motioning, we determined that it would be almost $50.00 for the bag of laundry so we decided against it. We walked the clothes back to the apartment.
Russian women and men look stylish as they walk.  Many, many people are out walking at all hours of the day and night.  Families with babies in strollers, couples, groups of university students, etc. Blue jeans are common for all ages although many women dress up wearing skirts or dresses and men can be seen dressed smartly in black pants and shirts. The sloppy look is not "in" here in Ufa. The young women often wear stiletto heels and short skirts or tight jeans.  "Muffin top" would not be found in the vocabulary here.  You see very few fat people.
I, on the other hand, am feeling pretty frumpy.  Misjudging the warm weather, I brought along only long sleeved shirts and wool sweaters.  When walking the city, it gets very hot so I decided to "improvise" today.  I wore the only tee shirt I brought, which says "Happy Halloween" on the front and and turned it inside out.  I cut off the tags in the back, it is black and the remaining white tag didn't look that bad...right?  I mean, as one often says while traveling..."I don't know anyone", and it can't be that obvious.
As we are out in the beautiful weather,  we catch a trolly to another part of the city to see the vegetable markets, etc. Riding along in the sunshine, I feel a tap on my back and a woman points to my shirt and starts speaking to me.  She is motioning that my shirt is inside out.  Embarrassed, I thank her in Russian. As the trolly moves through the city, we stay on while several people get on and off.  Shortly, I feel someone nudging me from behind.  I turn to see an elderly woman saying something to me.  She is pointing to my shirt and pulling on my tag.  I thank the woman in Russian for her observation, as she tells the man next to her "vodka, vodka, vodka" laughing and shaking her head.  The next stop was ours and where I purchased two new tee shirts, one white, one black.  I'm feeling more stylish already.      

The Russian way

What a beautiful day in Ufa! I had not expected warm temperatures and sunshine so today was a bonus.  We spent the morning completing tasks around the apartment, emails, research preparation, etc. We still needed some basic supplies, so decided to test the local transit system. Ufa, unlike St. Petersburg or Moscow does not have a subway, instead it has trams, trollies, vans and buses.  We decided to take our map and walk to the main bus stop near the university and ask someone for help.  It worked.  After just a few minutes we found two young girls to assist.  Their English was very limited but they were willing and helpful. We caught a van to take us to another part of the city to the new IKEA store, and once on the van we crossed our fingers that we could get there and back.  As we left the city center on the full van, not a word was spoken...no chit-chat, little eye contact and I believe you could have heard a pin drop.

We were dropped off on the side of the road near the shopping complex and walked down a dirt path to the parking lot near the store.  What a store, and it is said to have had more interest than any other when it opened in Russia! We made all of our purchases in one stop and managed then to catch another van back into the city center with the overall price of 40 rubles (just over $1.00 each). Another interesting system-you pay as you exit the van, not as you enter.  Although Ufa is a city of over 1 million people, it often feels like a big town.
The Russian way is to ALWAYS take your shoes off as you enter a home (and even some other places-thanks Courtney :).  You are expected to wear "slippers" when at home or at the home of others.  I am quite comfortable in the Birkenstocks I brought along, but John insisted on purchasing himself Russian "fuzzy slippers" today at IKEA. Once home, he realized he had purchased the wrong size so now I get to wear the new slippers and I love them. Everyone should had a pair. The Russian way feels good.
*Tonight's Dinner story...we decided to repeat a restaurant as John didn't feel like "negotiating for dinner"in Russian. We decided on a restaurant where the staff now recognized us and were able to provide an  English menu. As we entered we give our best Russian greeting and were escorted to our table and handed two English menus.  After having  a reasonable time to review the menu, the waitress returned to our table with a troubled look and handed me a cell phone.  I panicked...WHO would be calling me at this restaurant...was it my mom, kids, state department, sponsor??? As I weakly said hello...a man on the other end said "may I take your order" in English?  LOL, now THAT is service!
  

Health

The presentation yesterday went smoothly and seemed to be well received by the school of nursing faculty and 40 + nurses attending.  There were many questions regarding the roles and responsibilities of professional nurses in the United States.  As I have often found in my travels...nurses tend have more similarities than differences in their practice.
The hospitals here in Ufa are typically numbered rather than named.  For example, Hospital # 10 or Hospital # 21.  The one where I presented yesterday was quite modern and large with over 800 patient beds.
While there, I observed their conservative system for T.P. administration.  Routinely, you never leave home without it.  You bring it along whenever out and about as you can never count on it being available.  At the hospital however, a large roll was on the wall as you enter the restroom instead of in the stalls.  Makes sense, I guess.
John has taken ill with a "man cold".  He is certain that someone in the Orlando airport coughed on him and he is near death. We walked for almost 4 hours this afternoon around the city looking for this and that and found some cough drops, etc. at a pharmacy so hopefully he will have a speedy recovery.
Tonight's meal story included more language difficulty. When walking earlier, we spotted yet another quaint little restaurant with a picture of a pizza outside. Located quite close to our apartment, we decided to slip over late tonight for a slice or two.  Once there, no English menu so we start the drill.  We each carry English/Russian dictionaries, we are packing iPhones with translators, we believe we have basic Russian speaking skills... but we cannot decipher the menu.  No pizza anywhere...
Each of us take a page... soup, starters, beverages, hot meals...I enter 3 Russian symbols for translation and it comes back "DOG".  Obviously my mistake, but I am loosing confidence... just then we hear  a young businessman at

the last table answer his cell phone..."hello", "I am fine, I am at dinner so I will call you later".  John and I look at each other and bolt backwards with our menus. This kind young man and his wife helped us order and explained that the pizza picture was an advertisement...no pizza served...???


*Pictures, finally! 
Our guide from museum tour (sorry alittle late)

Living in Russia

Living abroad is about adventure (and adjustment). Our apartment has been secured with great assistance from my sponsor from the International Office at Bashkir State Medical University and we walked in and easily moved out of our (large) bags. It is more than adequate, and has a lovely view of the city from the top floor of the building.  Many of the people living in the apartment are professors & their families) at the university. It reminds me of a New York dwelling with heavy security, bad elevators, small flower gardens, and graffiti. We have several markets surrounding the building where we can purchase milk, and other food.  It would appear no preservatives are utilized in the products as they spoil quickly, are puzzling in appearance, and don't translate easily.  We had "sparkling water" (or as they say "va-da with gas") in our coffee this morning...oops...looked like just plain water to me!?!
The laundry facilities...well... the corner sink in our toilet room (bath separate, of course) is sufficing as the washing machine at the moment. John (and we all know how ingenious he is), has converted our heated towel rack to our clothes dryer.  As I unintentionally made it here without a hair dryer we spent several hours Sunday searching for a "hair fan" (our best translation) and after 6 stops were successful!
Transportation has been via feet to this point.  We are in a very central and vibrant area of Ufa. Near the medical university, many cultural events, restaurants, etc.  We plan to break out tomorrow and try the bus, trolly and/or tram systems. There is no metro/subway in Ufa.
The weather has been lovely so far. I expect snow any day though (not in the forecast), just what I think of when I think of Russia. Typically foggy in the morning, which is good since we have no curtains and we don't worry about the bright sun waking us up. Cloudy midday and then lovely and sunny in the afternoon. Nights are chilly and polar fleece is recommended.  
Tonight's meal was a fiasco as I attempted to order for the first time with full Russian menu.  It was a lovely little Italian restaurant in a cellar. From what I could tell the pasta included shrimp.  I ordered the pasta "without" shrimp (this whole meat thing has me spooked) with my dictionary in hand.  The waitress was so kind she brought me a hand written note from the restaurant staff next door that said " I want pasta without shrimp",  "Da" (yes), I say.  She smiles and twenty minutes later my pasta arrives with shrimp on a separate plate. Gotta love it, my pasta was WITHOUT shrimp!  And it was delicious!  

UFA

Welcome to Ufa!  I was feeling somewhat tentative upon arrival but my apprehension has subsided. My first day of Fulbright work included the touring of of one premier Simulation Laboratories here in Russia.  Ufa is known to have one of the finest and upon viewing the facility, I have to agree.  They are very innovative and passionate about the technology and it's benefit to medical/healthcare clinical practice.  While many of our Simulation facilities in the US are expansive and financially extravagant, I believe outcomes from each would be worth evaluating. After the tour, John & I were introduced to the Republic of Bashkorastan through the Archeological Museum.  OMG! It was unbelievable.  First off, we were welcomed by one of the researchers whom had more passion about his job than anyone that I have met in a very long time.  He was just oozing with information and such enthusiasm about their excavations and work in the region over many, many years.   You felt like you wanted to hug him when you left and he was a scientist for goodness sake!  There was a giant (and real!) mammoth that you could actually touch in the first room, followed by various weapons, cookery, jewelry, etc. etc. that had discovered in the region.  We saw snow skis carved from wood that were backed with elk fur (the nap of the fur prevented you from sliding backward), beautiful Tartar & Bashkir traditional clothing, and an actual nomadic round furnished home made from wool that can still be found in the areas of Asia well below Ufa.
Next was a Ukrainian meal (mmmmm good) of more dumplings (identifiable stuffing including cherries) and cooked fat (think uncooked pork rind) and the traditional borsch.
Now home to prepare for a presentation to be given tomorrow on "Professional Nursing in the USA" for a school of nursing and hospital nursing staff. We call this a "slam dunk".
(MUST STOP NOW...JUST GOT CRYPTIC MESSAGE FROM INTERNET CARRIER AND I THINK IT SAYS...PAY NOW!...WE PAY AS WE GO AND WITH 2 MONTHS OF RUSSIAN LESSONS (SORRY TRAY!) STILL CAN'T QUITE WORK THINGS OUT, IF THEY DON'T CUT ME OFF TONIGHT, I WILL CONTINUE!)        

Arrival Russia

Throughout the thirty minute descent into Ufa all I can see is farmland for miles and miles.  Not a city or a town anywhere. We enter the small airport for a city of 1 million people, reminding me of the Paducah, Ky airport where my father traveled frequently to/from in the 1960s and 70s.  We were on time and met by representatives from the university.  Within minutes, our bags were packed into the back of a van and we were informed that we were heading several hours west to another city to participate with a lecture to be given by a physical therapy professor from a university in the USA. I had agreed to "hit the ground running" but we were feeling pretty fuzzy as it was 4:00am for us without sleeping on the plane. 
As the 6 of us took off in the loaded-down van with the wind blowing in our hair, dodging semi-trucks by the hundreds (maybe thousands!) my excitement was waning and panic was creeping in (yes, Al we DID have a dash cam & radar).  Heading west we passed primarily sun flowers in the fields. After several hours, a "tactical stop" was requested and we pulled off the road into a muddy field,  "Women to the right, men to the left" ...I held it.
Once we made it to the next city we stopped at a quaint restaurant, meeting a representative from the  area.  We were escorted into a back room and were treated to a traditional meal of the region.  The meal started with a salad, salmon (oh yeah, bring it on) followed by beef tongue, and cured horse meat. Next to come was soup, bread, and a meat (not sure which) filled dumpling. A lovely gesture and a large amount and variety of food. I did not over indulge.
Next was the conference being held at a local hospital for approximately 200-250 medical professionals.  Interest was high and then application of techniques was demonstrated in the ICU which was very interesting to observe.
It is now after 6:00pm and we are taken to a lovely lodge for dinner and spent the night.  The meal was one of the most opulent I have ever experienced.  Yes, Trigger was on the table again joined by various other local delicacies.  We spent the evening discussing opportunities for collaborative healthcare projects and comparisons of our healthcare systems. A wonderful time.  
The morning ride back to Ufa was uneventful but with heavier semi-truck traffic, animals and accidents on the road.   The site of Ufa was a pleasant one as we pulled into the city.  Now for a place to live for the next 2 and 3/4 months...

(+forgive me for not posting pictures, my computer is not cooperating and John's only speaks Russian...hopefully soon!)

Prague

Prague was a stopping point for us on the way to Russia.  We have spent a few days here visiting Martin (an exchange student that lived with John in St. Louis more than 20 years ago) and his family.
We've just had a marvelous time seeing the sights of this lovely old city, and eating the good food.  We made a few castle tours, a boat trip on the river and a traditional Czech dinner with Martin's parents.
The summer tourist season was winding down which made our time here so much more enjoyable.  We stayed at a lovely little hotel at the base of the Charles Bridge that was one of the oldest in the city,  Our 3rd floor room overlooking the sights seemed like such a nice surprise until we discovered  there was no lift and the stairs were small and circular.  The big bags were schlepped up and down with people shaking their heads at the amount of luggage we had (people we are gonna be gone for 3 months, it's only two (but big) bags!
It's now midnight and we are about to board the flight to Ufa.  The flight is 4 hours and we loose 4 hours with arrival at 8:00am.  The Prague airport is almost empty with people mainly flying to destinations in the Middle East at this hour.  There are many women in full burqas doing major damage in the duty free shops. I passed many cheese and sausage shops on the way to the gate wishing they could come along with me but decided not to take a chance in donating  them to Russian customs. Russia we're getting close!

Leaving today-Russia here we come

Almost ready to go. We are now checking and rechecking our lists. It has been difficult to decide what we will REALLY need for this trip.  John has his 2 bags closed and at the front door, mine are still bulging and open filling the guest room.
We're driving to Orlando to catch our first flight to Frankfort.  After several hours in Frankfort, we will make Prague by the next evening where we will stay for 2 days prior to flying on to Ufa.

Bon Voyage all, will likely not hear from me again until we make Mother Russia!