I would like to share some pictures taken by our friend Lada, from her recent trip to Russia. These pictures make me extremely sad, we were really looking forward to visiting Moscow and St.Petersburg. We signed up for the trip excitedly.. but, were forced to cancel. We did not have enough money. It's a terrible shame to be so close to Russia without the ability to experience it; as we find it to be so fascinating. I keep telling myself that we will return for a long trip to Russia, that my opportunity is not lost.

For now, these pictures will enable me to experience the amazing Byzantine architecture and the outrageous decadence. Subway stations with vaulted ceilings, mosaics and gold, buildings larger than 10 blocks of New York and a museum too huge to experience in an entire day. All of this in contrast to a vastly huge country with an extremely high poverty rate, in which some towns still do not have access to electricity. Russia, as a country and as a political power, is inconceivable to me.