I do admit the last posting was somewhat somber. It is false not to be so when I allow myself to imagine the terror of this times. Many years ago I had read the book about those times by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, The Gulag Archipelago, so had some knowledge of the Stalinist Terror. The woman in red top, in the last photo is Olesya. She teaches English to adults and speaks this language very well.
She is also dedicated to show me how ordinary Russians live, and (like a good teacher) had assembled many experiences to achieve this goal Such as going out into the country where were the small 'log-cabin like' homes where many once Russians lived. Some still do but in this villages such dwellings are mainly let to people on summer vacation. Here come those who want to garden! This is a treasured break for retired folk who live apartment blocks. One couple invited us inside (which they were most willing to do) so we could see how compact and neatly arranged the two rooms that comprise their house.
The village sits aside a once broad river over which is strung an ancient swing bridge, in which three young fellows were swimming, and across which a fine Russian Orthodox Church.
After which we attempted to throw a boomerang in a wheat-field, with little success, with Igor coming out the winner. That is Igor next to Olesya on the swing bridge.
My third day Oleysa devoted to work with the local TV station news crew. Yes...I became a TV personality (for a day) on the theme 'what does an American tourist think of Pervouralsk?' The clip will turn up in a later posting or on Facebook. Better brush up on your Russian!
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