Highlights

Here are a few highlights from the last few days. Sunday we visited Irena Popovich and her daughter, Genia. Irena is the current director of the youth center where Tanya was formerly the director. Genia is an accomplished gymnast with many medals in her collection although she is only thirteen years old. All four of us visited their apartment on a hot day. Genia showed us videos of her performance last November in Belgium where she won a third place medal. She also showed her new computer and a Harry Potter game.
Sunday evening Tanya’s brother, Sasha dropped by for a visit. He volunteered to take us to the train station Thursday for our trip to Moscow.
Yesterday, while Tanya and her son went to the movie “World of the Worlds”, I went off by myself to see the Peter Paul Fortress on Hare Island, the island on which Peter the Great founded the city in 1703. Tour groups from a variety of countries were visiting the Fortress and the Peter Paul Cathedral where most of the Romanovs starting with Peter the Great are buried. On the shores of the island many locals were sunbathing. I walked across two bridges, saw more bridal parties, transversed Palace Square, went through the courtyards of the Kapella, ate a blin, strolled up Nevsky Prospekt, paused to inspect paintings displayed on the street, and finally took the metro home.
Here are a few more photos: