Good Morning WCS’ers!  We have been following the horror in the Ukraine and our trip there in a few weeks has been dashed. We are really disappointed, who would have thought a war would be going on……… We are hoping to still get in Bulgaria and Romania, only time will tell……. Updated: Those countries have been cancelled as well!

This morning, we might as well take a big shot of vodka or something stiff……please join me with whatever your beverage of choice is.

All week I’ve thought about our previous trip to St Petersburg, Russia and our trips to Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania. The Baltic countries were so different from Russia. The Russians kept to themselves and the guides kept to their scripts. There was no joy there…….I always felt an underlying tension, like the folks were holding back or afraid you might ask too many questions, they did not want to answer. So, they kept to their scripts. Also, all the guides were very young. More than likely, they spoke better English, and didn’t know too much of their history, as we know it. Or knew about it and did not want to talk about it. I couldn’t tell you if the older people spoke English, because we did not come in contact with the general population. Only, the guides that were assigned to us. Anyway, those are my thoughts on St Petersburg……we did visit The Hermitage ( where tourists were escorted right in, past the long, long, long line of Russian families waiting to get in) Then past the guards, that were surveilling us a good fifteen minutes before we were allowed up the first flight of stairs.  There was no mixing of the cultures, maybe due to the fact we were paying customers and they wanted us in and out, no lingering. I don’t know. Now, on to the Fabergé Museum Café, where I am sharing my vodka today. The Fabergé Museum is much smaller and there is a much more relaxed atmosphere. I want to showcase the Café today, not the fabulous eggs……..Ok, first, one fabulous egg!

But, now I want you to see the eggs in the cafe!

and more eggs……and pears or apples to eat……..fresh and chocolate.

Even the viewing case is egg shaped……

And, the ceiling is too………the chandelier cups are in the shape of eggs too.

It was a fabulous little café, not too many takers though, for a nice chocolate egg and drink……but the entire experience in St Petersburg kept niggling at me.  When I got home, I decided to research further and decided on a book about a woman in history, that could enlighten me on the Soviet culture. It was Stalin’s Daughter by Rosemary Sullivan. I don’t think I have ever read a story about someone so tormented and pulled in every direction and without one spec of a rudder. I had no idea of her history or the fact that Stalin even had a daughter……..the book was an eye opener and also gave me a glimpse of the Russian people and how they may not want to get too excited about change or what that change may be. If you like history and want to try to make some sense of our world today and Russia, this may be as good a place to start as any. This weekend I will be praying for peace in the world.

Click on the highlighted text if you would like to learn more about our trip to Russia and the Fabergé Museum or the Hermitage Museum. And, if you would like to read about the Ballet.

To see what others are up to this weekend look for Natalie the Explorer!