Greetings again.....

from Ekaterinburg! It is a sunny day here, about 5 degrees Celsius...whatever that is in F. Luda and I are soon going out to a supermarket to get a few things, then time to fix lunch.
I think these Russians are rather proud of their cold winters. They are always looking at me and wondering if I am going to be warm enough. They find it hard to believe that it could be "cold" where I come from. As for me, I find it quite suffocating to be bundled in scarf, winter coat, something on my head, so I don't make them feel cold when they look at me! I'm sure I'll be glad for all that, though, when we go back to Siberia next week and again the last weekend in November.
Earlier this week, we went to the train station to purchase our tickets back to Moscow on December 11. We wanted to get them as early as possible in order to secure bottom seats/beds. Afterward, it was nice to have a sunny day and time to take a few pictures around the city to send.
Traffic is fairly orderly here, with traffic lights obeyed, and walking signals, too. There is a LOT of traffic and a lot of buses, trolleys, and trams. The fastest are the small mini-buses, which are quite comfortable and usually not so crowed. Mini-bus fare is 20 Rubles each. Trolley fare is about half that. The comparison is around to 25 Rubles for $1.00. As far as prices, it seems like they are about the same as we would pay.

City center. This building is quite impressive at night with flood lights illuminating all. This is the corner where we turn as we come and go on buses. It would be a very long walk from our apartment.

A beautiful area near the city center.
In the city...
Around the city....the small wood chapel is where the Czar Nicolas and his family were killed...and I assume buried. So sad. On both sides are the very large, ornate Orthodox cathedrals. Not such a good photo, but hard to take out the bus window and the sun the wrong way!

The view from my 7th floor window!
Our Train Station

And now I've been to Siberia

Anya and I...checking the maps..."now WHERE is it you live?"
Nadeshda and Luda. We stayed with N. and her husband, Sasha, in the city of Omsk.

...the early morning path "out-back" in Korsina, Siberia
Sunday morning in Korsina, Siberia. Luda, Olga and her daughter Anya.
Olga's house in Korsina, Siberia
Siberia....
I hardly know where to begin!
Our trip began in the early morning darkness as we hurried down the elevator to the taxi waiting to take us to the train station. I do enjoy the travel by train...a place to sit, or to lie down; a table, windows to look out at the passing countryside; hot water always available for
coffee or tea, time to read, to study, or just be quiet.
Some 13 hours later we arrived in the city of Omsk, quite a distance and another time zone further east. It is another BIG city...a million or so. We went to the apartment of Sasha and Nadezhda, who have assured our friends in the past, and assured us again, that "our home
is your home". A warm welcome and a meal far too big awaited us. It was nice to have a shower and bed. In the morning, we had a Gospel meeting with Nadezhda and then it was time to go through the city again to get on the bus to Korcina.
The sun was shining and a little wind blowing and it felt SO MUCH
like Nebraska! I loved that chilly wind in my face! But, I get all kinds of worried looks and admonitions here if I leave my coat unzipped or don't cover my head. Omsk is a rather pretty city. It has an air of progress about it that I haven't seen in most of these villages or cities. There are many new buildings and very attractive apartment buildings. The trees had not all lost their leaves there and I even saw a few flowers still blooming.
So, we boarded the small bus to Korcina. Tooooo hot..seemed the heat was on full blast and I was next too it. We travelled 6 or 7, or maybe 8 hours, mainly north. I lost track of time. The road, though paved, goes on record among the WORST I have been over. Mostly, the landscape was quite empty. Always there were forests of birch in sight, and in between vast pastures or sometimes plowed fields. I saw a few flocks of sheep, quite a few cattle, and in one pasture there must have been 100 or more horses with many little colts. Side roads all looked very muddy and impassible. It was all very flat. After 6 hours or so, we stopped in Kolosofki and Luda and I went in a little store to get a few things to take, while the bus went off to get more gasoline (Benzene they call it in Russian).
On again, now in the darkness, over more rough roads. In another hour we stopped in the tiny Siberian village of Korcina. We got off in the darkness, and there was dear Olga waiting to guide us thru the dark to her house. They were SO happy to see us! Olga teaches in the school
there, as does her older son who lives near. Anya, 15, and Sergei, 13, are home. Their house is very comfortable, pretty with nice wallpaper and lacy curtains, but the plumbing doesn't work and they carry in water and heat with wood. The bathroom is good for some uses, but the path
outside in the cold leads to the "outhouse". You wouldn't want to see it...very typical Russian...only a hole with no seat. Bus stop toilets and even ones in train stations are that way. SOoooo best get your leg muscles in shape!
Our Sunday together was so special, so much more than I can put into words. Monday morning came, and Olga walked through the cold early morning darkness with us...a little snow in places...puddles iced over...a faint moon shining...to the place where the bus comes. More people came, just dark shapes appearing, and finally the bus came and we
were off again, jouncing and swaying, the heat full blast. At long last, we came to Omskagain...across the city again to Nadezhda's and food, a Bible study, a little rest, and then to the train station and the night train "home".
Now, we look forward to going again!

Thursday Afternoon (10-16-08)

Greetings to all of you. I'm always so happy to find I've had a "visit" from you, even if you only left a "one-line" note!
Skies lately have been mostly cloudy, and our world outside looks like a black and white picture. The trees that were bright with golden leaves are bare now. Coat, scarf, gloves and boots feel good when we go out.
Yesterday seemed a little nicer and we left for our meeting about 5:45. Boots didn't seem necessary, and because I knew how HOT it was going to be inside the apartment where we were going, I didn't wear anything warm under my coat. Surely it wouldn't be necessary to take
our umbrellas...just one more thing to carry! Half an hour later we noted raindrops on the bus windows. When we came out in the darkness after the meeting, it was raining steadily and we had to "keep to the shore" around the puddles and leap the "rivers" by the curbs. The buses
were crowded and the rain turned to big, wet, snowflakes while we waited for our bus. We had to wait for the third one with our number before we could get on. The "shrink-pack-peopler" was working and soon people were crammed in tightly...glad to get in out of the weather. Windows soon steam over and I've learned that ours in the second stop after we turn the corner.
We were pretty glad to get home...my coat was wet through at the shoulders and my toes wet and cold. We treated ourselves to a cup of hot chocolate (two packets that were left in the box at home that I had tucked in my suitcase), before bed.
Earlier this week, we went off on another bus route to a BIG store..whose name I haven't learned to pronounce yet. It is really a kind of mall and outside the main part of the city. It is HUGE and a number of stores are in there. It took a long time to walk the isles of the supermarket and pick out what we thought we couldn't get - or could get cheaper than in the small local stores. I looked at coats..there were plenty. Probably I'll have to get one, but didn't that day.
This was my week to cook. Interesting. So, we have had a yummy "dutch baby" (apple pancake sort of thing) baked in the skillet; tuna chowder; spaggetti; stir-fry with rice; chicken and noodles with mashed potatoes; fruit salad (minus grapefruit, which doesn't seem to exist).
I'm so pleased that in spite of some substituting it all turned out. Luda has seemed quite happy with it...or maybe just polite? smile.
We have another meeting tonight, with more walking than last night. I'll NOT trust the clouds this time. EARLY tomorrow (while you in the states are still in afternoon or early evening) we will be out of bed and off for the train station for the trip to OMSK...city "somewhere" 13 hours away in Siberia. I won't take my computer, but will my camera. We'll come back on the overnite train on Monday night.
'Till then, "dah-svee-donya".
Mom/Gma Cilla/ Priscilla

Greetings from Ekaterinburg again.

Ksenia, Ludmilla and I this morning after our study meeting in our room. (10-13)

The last couple of days have been cloudy and we've had some rain. This morning (10-10) I looked down on white roofs..Snow!!
Thanks to all who have "visited" and for the notes you have left!
Luda and I need - and appreciate very much - your interest in the work here and your thoughts of us.

Greetings from Ekaterinburg- - -

- - - - - beyond the Ural Mountains!
Thanks so much to all of you who have visited and sent a few lines.
I'd rather write to each of you individually, but from here it is not
going to be possible.
Yes...this place feels VERY far away. The time here is 11 hours
ahead of central Nebraska right now.
I last wrote from Moscow. On Thursday afternoon, Wayne helped with
our luggage as we walked, went down incredibly long escalators into the
subway system, and eventually came to the train station, to our
platform, our train car, and then our assigned spaces. Around 5:00 p.m.
the train headed east out of the city. All evening, all night, all the
next day we travelled east. We ate supper, breakfast, lunch and supper
again out of the bag Luda had packed. It was very good. Sleep was
nothing to brag about...but I sure didn't miss the stops for border
control that we had when we travelled in and out of Latvia last year.
The trees with golden leaves were beautiful. Sometimes there were
green pastures. Sometimes a town or a city that didn't look much
different from those in Latvia. By Friday afternoon we came to the Ural
Mountain area. They are very old mountains and more like the Black
Hills. It was dark when we finally came to Ekaterinburg.
It is a very strange feeling to arrive in a strange city with all
the signs in a different language, and no idea what to expect. The
police stopped the taxi driver...who knows why...and we waited...but
finally we got to our apartment building. Then it is codes and locked
doors and keys. Thankfully there is an elevator. I couldn't have
managed the 7th floor without it.
We share this apartment with a young working lady, who I'm sure is
glad for the income. She has made space enough for us. My bedroom is
really the living room, and I am thrilled that it opens onto the balcony
and I can get plenty of AIR. The heat is on and it is too hot
otherwise. Besides, I like balconies.
This morning Ksenia came for a little fellowship meeting. She is
quite alone here in this city of over a million, and is rejoicing that
we have come. We'll spend as much time as we can with her. She is 74
and lives with a daughter and husband. This evening, Sveta, the lady in
this apt with us, had a meeting of her English club and invited us.
Only two others were able to come, but it was rather interesting.
Afterward, Paul who is a computer programmer, fixed my computer so I can
use the phone card.

I'm here!

Now I'm really somewhere else! Moscow IS definitely "somewhere else". The day has gone fast. Breakfast with Skalleberg's before 7:00.
Stuffing the last things into my bags.
Good-byes to Robert, Patty and Obe;
The car trip to Arlanda International Airport outside of Stockholm.
Checking in.
Security.
Finding the gate.
I can't describe the feeling of privilege, and thankfulness for it, that welled up as I boarded the Russian Aeroflot plane to Moscow! It was a nice flight.
Comfortable, clean, a meal, juice and coffee. Then, the long lines in the terminal to get thru passport control, and finally through the doors into the waiting area. My friends were waiting for me in the wrong area...but I found them, and SO GOOD to see them! After that, we traveled on the train into the city, then on more than one subway...and finally on foot to the apartment here.
Supper is over and bed is sounding awfully good!