Journey ... Russia

Ah, the joys of traveling in uncommon ways ... St. Petersburg: Arrival by cargo ship (not airplane), unique passage through customs; stayed with a client; three tours by citizens (not tour guides)-better that way. Pushkin: 300th birthday celebration with parades, music, carnival; lodged with a delightful family who I met there, inside view of the community's artistic culture and friendship. Moscow: terrific, one-day, whirlwind tour where I saw much thanks to a young Muscovite I had fortuitously met in Spain six weeks earlier.