UK. Day 1. Cotswolds. Around the World in 80 Days reunion

UK. Day 1. Cotswolds. Around the World in 80 Days reunion

On the first morning in Cotswolds we slept in. What woke us up was a light but ceaseless chatter coming from outside of our window. It reminded me of the May Day parades that walked under my bedroom window in Moscow. Sans festive music. Last 

Sicily to UK. Departure Day — Arrival Day.

Sicily to UK. Departure Day — Arrival Day.

We woke up in Trapani, in beautiful comfortable La Casa di Andrea, bright and early and went outside. Mediterrania — to the left of us… Monti di Trapani — to the right… Here we are — driving to Palermo airport… Good bye, Sicilia! Hello, foggy 

Sicily. Day 4. Trapani. Erice. Museo del Sale. Cinisi. Terrasini.

Sicily. Day 4. Trapani. Erice. Museo del Sale. Cinisi. Terrasini.

And we lived to tell the tale. No one came after us in the middle of the night, no kidnapping took place. We woke up to the delicious pizza leftovers from Salemi. I love having dinner leftovers in the hotel room in the morning — 

Sicily. Day 1. Palermo: Ballaro Market. Palermo Cathedral. Marina.

Sicily. Day 1. Palermo: Ballaro Market. Palermo Cathedral. Marina.

The first morning in Sicily started slow. We slept in without tracking time. It was nice not to have any plans and enjoy the time, the open balcony, sounds coming from the street, slow shower. Our affittacamere had four units. Three of them were vacant. 

Sicily. Departure Day — Arrival Day. From Ridgewood to Frankfurt, to Milan, to Palermo.

Sicily. Departure Day — Arrival Day. From Ridgewood to Frankfurt, to Milan, to Palermo.

— Small or large? Barista at the Newark Airport’s Terminal C was a broken record. So were the travelers ordering beer at her counter: — Large. An airport bar, a starting point of a journey, it hands a legitimate excuse to do nothing and choose 

Russia. The Last Day in Moscow and Departure

Russia. The Last Day in Moscow and Departure

Our last day. We visited my mom and my brother. This has been their place for the last ten years. Maybe because mom and I have lived apart for so long I do not completely accept her relocation. It feels like she is still around 

Russia. Day 10. Saint Petersburg. Peterhof. Hermitage

Russia. Day 10. Saint Petersburg. Peterhof. Hermitage

The previous day, we probably walked the most on this trip. Naturally, we slept, as they say in Russia, without our hind legs. Worked out horses sleep with their hind legs so relaxed that, once awake, they can only get on their front ones and 

Russia. Day 8. Along the Golden Ring through Pereslavl-Zalesski to the train from Moscow to Saint Petersburg

Russia. Day 8. Along the Golden Ring through Pereslavl-Zalesski to the train from Moscow to Saint Petersburg

Our last morning of the Golden Ring trip was in Pereslavl-Zalessky, an old Russian city about 140 km, 87 miles, northeast of Moscow. It was founded by the same prince, Yuri Dolgoruky, and at the same time, as Moscow. In 1374, an important congress of 

Russia. Day 7. Back to the Golden Ring — Yaroslavl, Rostov the Great

Russia. Day 7. Back to the Golden Ring — Yaroslavl, Rostov the Great

Leaving the Myshkin house, with its overgrown garden was not easy. In the morning, we walked around quite a bit taking pictures. It was sad knowing that most likely we will never come back here again. The world is big and time is scarce. Final 

Russia. Day 6. Myshkin — Volga, Banya, Vodka

Russia. Day 6. Myshkin — Volga, Banya, Vodka

— Go look around the house. It’s different in the morning, — Tanya said when I waddled into the kitchen still in my pajamas. It was. At night, the circle of chairs in the living room on the second floor set the mood for a conversation