A day on the town

We woke this morning and headed out for town. It was the birthday of the region so there was a big fair on the square downtown. It was actually called a festival but it was a rude version of our fair. We went and checked it out and watched a little Russian dance and singing. It was interesting. The girls got baloons. Jillian picked out a dolphin and Jordan picked out out a pink bunny. You would have thought I just gave Jordan and Jillian for that matter the moon. We went to a department store (what they call a department store) we would call it a flea market. Anyhow we had fun. We also purchased another balloon for each girl. My interpreter asked me why two balloons as though it was so extravagant, and I said why not. Nonny and I love to look around and they had some interesting things. We went to the Russian china store after that (my favorite) and ofcourse I purchased something to try to get home in my suitcase unbroken. I could not resist. Then we went back to the grocery store for our final visit for provisions for the next several days, and then back to the hotel.

Today is the day that the hotel is inundated by the rich Russians in the area. Our hotel is located in the rich section of Vladivostok where all of the high officials live. Saturdays and Sundays they come to the hotel for weddings, dinner, and just to walk round and round the grounds. It is a little obnoxious as they let their kids run wild. I really don't like wild kids. When we got back the kids had a quick lunch and were ready to go outside and play. Outside we went with soccer ball in hand ready to meet our friends. The playground was bustling but all with Russian kids. They were older and in about 2 minutes had climbed a pine tree, stood up on the see saw, and stood up in the swings. and were blocking mine from the slide. The mother bear in me came out and I dealt with the bad boy on the slide and then stood by to watch. There were about four Russian mothers standing in their spike heels and fur coats paying no attention at all accept to look at me and whisper every little bit. After my little sponges tried all of the bad tree climbing, slide skiing, stand up kamakazi swinging and I got that straightened out they settled in for a little fun. Jillian decided she was going to make some new friends and headed off for the Russian girls. Some were nice and some were not. She did not care she insisted that they play with her and eventually they did. It was fun to watch her work. Jordan was oblivious to it all and just glad to be outside.

Love,

Julie