I am pleased I was tethered bc I could have been lost to the world when reading this blog... My goodness - those panoramas and accompanying sublime blues from Pete Cornelius were mindblowing, immediately transporting me to the time & place - thanks for that!
I wake up talking because when you have thousands of words to expel in a day there is no time to lose :-)
...a smile on my matryoshka doll's face oh boy did I laugh!!! I do feel though you should rename the blog to "The 10 buck book & the million dollar doll!"
Wonderful Russian fairy tale... Glad you enjoyed it Bob...such a whacky tale I had to tell it. The book of Russian Fairy Tales opened me to so many aspects of the Russian psyche thus was certainly ten bucks well spent. That how I got it comes with such a great story still makes me shake my head...could be a fairy tale itself, but 'twas true!
Nice fairy tale Thanks for commenting Ake. There are many stories we can tell of our own perceptions when visiting a country. Sometimes it is nice to dwell on their own stories that help define their psyche and sense of place.
Journey through the Hermitage Love it! You made a trip to the museum feel like gliding through a magical realm. And the phrase, "the now of the looking and the then of the painting" is such a great sentiment and one that will stick with me the next time I am in front a painting.
Journey through the Hermitage You got it Tommy...'cept 'twas more like surfing than gliding! But the memories endure and Russia's beauty including incredible artworks were everywhere to see. More serendipity to share...more to come.
On Faberge eggs Several of the original Faberge eggs are missing and it is not known what has happened to them. I think I read a story that one of those was rediscovered only a few years ago. It was sold more or sell as junk. I have tried to find that story now but failed. So I might be wrong after all. /Ake
Is this the face of Russia? One of my first portraits in Russia, Tommy. One of so many with a smile on his face. Russia was a revelation in so many ways as my blogs attest. Enjoy!
Morning cruising We were going in the opposite direction. Got an early morning (= pre-dawn departure) ship from Finland to Sweden. Thought it would be a quiet trip. What we didn't know was that shoppers head from Finland to Sweden on the boat to buy up cheap goods and resell them back home. We didn't get a cabin as it was a daylight trip getting to Stockholm about 6pm. In the breakfast room, there was an oompah band which started playing as soon as the boat left the quay - and the bar opened. The "shoppers" treated the occasion as though it were late evening and danced and sang along to the band and drank copious amounts of alcohol. It wasn't until about midday that they all crashed and went to their respective cabins to sleep off their roistering. Sylvia and I were ourselves exhausted by then as there was nowhere else on the boat to escape the partying. Don't mind a good party but not starting at 5:30 in the morning - at least not since I was a lot younger. Glad your morning experience was a lot more tranquil. We had two fires deliberately lit in the bush behind our house while we were away but, fortunately, the neighbours were keeping watch and the fires were extinguished with no significant damage. Take care for the rest of the fire season.
Morning cruising Great cruise story John. I'll have to remember the Finland to Sweden shop-a-thon...it seems in those parts a bit of excess of alcohol, a band and the passengers dancing along may be a customary way to spend a morning! I hope it was vodka for authenticity. On the fire front, we have been thinking of you from past experiences...hope they caught, drawn & quartered the arsonists. I once represented a minor that started the Marsfield fires some years back as a Duty solicitor. He didn't like me 'cos I wanted him strung up!!!
My wife Denise & I like to travel "on paths less travelled" that capture our imagination, inspire my photography & where we mix with locals & remain safe.
Visited Countries Map
... full info
Laila the Tuareg
Denise Hooper
I am pleased I was tethered bc I could have been lost to the world when reading this blog...
My goodness - those panoramas and accompanying sublime blues from Pete Cornelius were mindblowing, immediately transporting me to the time & place - thanks for that! I wake up talking because when you have thousands of words to expel in a day there is no time to lose :-)