Saturday
Happy
Happy
Birthday
Ronny!
Ahhhh….. 50 and sunny today! What a great day to take a little day trip. We taxied over to pick up “ you know who ”….. Back at the apartment, we made a big breakfast. Scrambled eggs, sautéed potatoes with red peppers and onions, toast and fresh fruit. Galya and Kostia picked us up at 11:30, our destination a palace just outside the town of Yalta. In the car, Angela told us, through Galya, that she had never had eggs or potatoes that way. She liked it a lot!!! (We could tell. She had two helpings of potatoes and ate everything else off of her plate as well)
The drive to Yalta was so beautiful. The black sea was shimmering so nicely with the mid-day sun upon it. The Crimean Mountains had just a touch of snow…… Vineyards and Cypress trees abound…… The views were breathtaking. It was so nice to get out into the fresh air…. The palace was built in 1839 and was home to Russian royalty……. The gardens were magnificent! Very Mediterranean! Afterwards, we stopped at an outdoor café and had a scrumptious snack and hot tea. Angela asked if she could take all of the untouched goodies back to the girls in her group. And the “leavings” to their two house-dogs, Rex and Bilka. She is very thoughtful that way!
Sunday, Day 26……….. Appetite for Food and Fun!
Another beautiful day…… Finally it’s starting to feel like vacation! Kidding of course….. I was actually feeling a little homesick today…. Not sure if it’s really homesickness or this stinking cold but fortunately, being around Angela will make anyone smile…. She really has a delightful spirit. I can’t figure out how she has survived this atmosphere with such lightheartedness, positive energy and a sense of humor. She smiles all of the time! And that is a rare treat here….. no one here seems to be very happy….. Anyway, she certainly has a way of making us laugh. And she has this little giggle that well, it’s simply endearing…. We catch ourselves making fun of her, which only makes her giggle even more…. :)
Len offered her a yogurt and banana this AM. She gobbled them both up like there was no tomorrow! I am so glad she likes yogurt! The only thing I can stomach in the early AM. She did a little crafty project we had brought from home while we made lunch. Egg salad sandwiches and vegetable soup. Clean plate club without coercion. (and that was after two sandwiches!)
Finally we got to watch the Mermaid cartoon we purchased last weekend. She was disappointed that our “new” DVD (thanks to Galya and Kostia) would only play it in English. But she took it in stride and watched intently. It was actually well done and we enjoyed it too. (we decided to surprise her once home with the “next in the series” – our DVD will play Russian)
We headed out to do a little shopping and our neighborhood market – a site to be seen. Everything from fresh fish to nail polish to slippers…… We were searching for something special for Babushka Florence and Babushka Norma for the “first meeting”….
Note: Friday night after Galya and Kostia delivered the new DVD player, we made popcorn and watched a double feature….. (thanks to Sheri and Mark’s DVD collection!) It was SO nice to finally get our minds off of everything. :-)
The drive to Yalta was so beautiful. The black sea was shimmering so nicely with the mid-day sun upon it. The Crimean Mountains had just a touch of snow…… Vineyards and Cypress trees abound…… The views were breathtaking. It was so nice to get out into the fresh air…. The palace was built in 1839 and was home to Russian royalty……. The gardens were magnificent! Very Mediterranean! Afterwards, we stopped at an outdoor café and had a scrumptious snack and hot tea. Angela asked if she could take all of the untouched goodies back to the girls in her group. And the “leavings” to their two house-dogs, Rex and Bilka. She is very thoughtful that way!
Sunday, Day 26……….. Appetite for Food and Fun!
Another beautiful day…… Finally it’s starting to feel like vacation! Kidding of course….. I was actually feeling a little homesick today…. Not sure if it’s really homesickness or this stinking cold but fortunately, being around Angela will make anyone smile…. She really has a delightful spirit. I can’t figure out how she has survived this atmosphere with such lightheartedness, positive energy and a sense of humor. She smiles all of the time! And that is a rare treat here….. no one here seems to be very happy….. Anyway, she certainly has a way of making us laugh. And she has this little giggle that well, it’s simply endearing…. We catch ourselves making fun of her, which only makes her giggle even more…. :)
Len offered her a yogurt and banana this AM. She gobbled them both up like there was no tomorrow! I am so glad she likes yogurt! The only thing I can stomach in the early AM. She did a little crafty project we had brought from home while we made lunch. Egg salad sandwiches and vegetable soup. Clean plate club without coercion. (and that was after two sandwiches!)
Finally we got to watch the Mermaid cartoon we purchased last weekend. She was disappointed that our “new” DVD (thanks to Galya and Kostia) would only play it in English. But she took it in stride and watched intently. It was actually well done and we enjoyed it too. (we decided to surprise her once home with the “next in the series” – our DVD will play Russian)
We headed out to do a little shopping and our neighborhood market – a site to be seen. Everything from fresh fish to nail polish to slippers…… We were searching for something special for Babushka Florence and Babushka Norma for the “first meeting”….
Note: Friday night after Galya and Kostia delivered the new DVD player, we made popcorn and watched a double feature….. (thanks to Sheri and Mark’s DVD collection!) It was SO nice to finally get our minds off of everything. :-)
3 comments:
Angela is absolutely beautiful!
Jackie
Is chocolate a reasonable breakfast treat? Especially if you managed your 1st night in underwear (no diaper!) and no accident? That was our family discussion filled with very heightened emotions this morning. We did not need a translater for this one.
You have made it 1/2 way! Can't wait till you are home.
Renee
Those pictures of the sea are so beautiful. I bet Len (the landscape architect) enjoyed them alot That garden is gorgeous! Angela is sure cute and happy. Keep the pictures and stories coming.
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