Remembering Russia

Dear Diary,

Twenty five years ago this summer I made my first trip to Europe.  I toured England by myself and it was an amazing journey.  I love to travel and have been very fortunate to visit some fascinating places...like Russia.  Like Japan, I traveled with a group of educators, National Board teachers this time.  We divided our time between Moscow and St. Petersburg.

On my father's side, I have middle European heritage, Polish primarily.  I immediately took to the landscape and people. We visited all the typical sights, like Lenin's tomb, St. Basils, the Hermitage and Catherine's Palace but I loved the small markets and the countryside most.  I bought this set of matryoshka nesting dolls and it is my favorite remembrance piece from Russia.

Each little doll is painted with a different scene but I especially like the large one, with the troika sled.  Troika is Russian for "three of a kind".  It reminds me of the sleds in one of my favorite movies of all time, Doctor Zhivago.  About time to get that one out for my annual viewing...next big snowfall...