Hi Everyone! I've been gone for about 3 weeks, and wanna know

[Flaxbee]

what's been going on here.... Did I miss anything exciting?

I was in Russia for two weeks (St. Petersburg and Moscow), most of the time puking my guts up (apparently have an aversion to a spice or something - never had that problem the last 3-4 times I was there, though). And no, I'm not pregnant.

Then up to NYC for a few days, where I caught the first cold I've had in years! Yippee! Can you tell me why a rich family with two homes in Westchester County would keep their heat set at 65 (and these are big, dank, old stone houses) when it's 50 and raining outside? And why, when they're renovating every other aspect of their home, they don't have a guest bed, but a f*cking blow-up Aero bed? I'm 38, 5'7" and about 130 lbs, my husband is 53, 6'4" and about 210 lbs - I tell ya, an Aero bed is NOT a comfortable way to sleep with the two of us. We're too old for that shit, one night is more than enough, two nights is torture.

I'm gonna go lie down for a bit, but if you want to "ask me anything" about Russia, please feel free to do so.

:hi:

[madinmaryland]

1. Welcome Back. Sonia say hi, also!

At least they were being enviromental friendly, though maybe not people friendly.

I'd love to visit Russia, but it will never happen in my lifetime. Those old house are really interesting in the Northeast. Really built to last.

:hi:

[Flaxbee]

3. Hi Sonia!

I have a new joke from a Russian taxi driver - it is politically incorrect, but perhaps it can go viral and replace the Brazillion joke. I doubt it, but here goes:

Bush, bin Laden, and Putin are all fishing in a boat together, and catch a magical golden fish. The fish promises that it can make one wish, any wish, come true for each of the men. So Bush says "I wish that all the Arabs in the world were gone!" And the fish says that is perfectly do-able. Bin Laden says "I wish all the Jews and all the Americans in the world were gone!" And the fish says that, too, is perfectly do-able. So Putin asks the fish if it can really grant those two wishes, and the fish says certainly - no more Arabs, Jews, or Americans.

Putin then says once those two wishes are done, all he'd like is a cup of coffee.

:)

[lost-in-nj]

2. I will go there one day!!!

my nephew went with People to People in high school
and when they went to the local families house they were serving

raccoon or squirrel for dinner (don't remember)

my SIL said he came home so thin... because he was so afraid to eat


sorry you were sick.....


and the whole sleeping thing in NY sounds bizarre..


:hug:


lost

[Flaxbee]

5. When I first went in 1999, it was hard to find food. This time, though,

there are SO MANY really good restaurants, but I think the days of my cast-iron stomach are over. St. Petersburg and Moscow are definitely first-world cities now.

Honestly, it could have been the caviar I had, or the salmon, or any number of things I probably should not have eaten, that any wise traveler knows to avoid. My mother can't eat fish, period, and while I've never had trouble, perhaps as I'm aging my system is getting more finicky. But I've never had trouble before so this really was a surprise. I was able to fit into my favorite jeans by the end of the trip, though :D

A really fun trip is to go to Helsinki and then take the train into St. Petersburg. Moscow needs to be seen, but it is so crowded and hectic now a lot of the fun is gone.

[Parche]

4. Hey Flaxee

How did you get to Russia?? :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

:hi:

:hug:


how was White Plains, did you say hi to my Uncle there?

:hug:

[Flaxbee]

6. an exceptionally nice fellow helped us get to Russia --

it was actually great on the way back - the plane was only about 1/2 full from Frankfurt to Atlanta, so my husband and I were able to be pigs and spread out on two 5-seat rows and sleep. Woo hoo!

Didn't catch your uncle this time. :D The whole experience - tix, sleeping arrangements, everything, was rather stressful. Ugh.

How is your nephew? :hug:


edited to remove a name ---