tzaritsina park and fountains - digital moment

We have been to Tzaritsina Park a few times during the day time but we all decided to go in the evening (after watching the 'dress rehersal' of the culture event for the Kyiv Temple) because we had heard about the lights and the fountains. We are so glad we did! The fountain and lights were magnificient! We took the opportunitu to have many digital moments.

the fountain with lights - the fountain was choreographed to music



Aliene, Me, Doty, Linda, Linda, Fran

John, Leon, Scott, Don, Jim, Marc, Steve

Us with Linda and Steve

Leon and Linda Budd, Linda and Steve Rees, Fran and Marc Anderson

Aliene and Don Overly

John and Doty Carpenter with Linda and Steve

Scott Conlin with Linda and Steve

Russian Buildings at Izmylova

We went to Izmylova to do some souvenier looking with Rob and Marsh. We went up passed the shops to the buildings. I started taking pictures and a guard told me to stop and pointed to a building. We figured we were to go in and by a ticket to allow me to take pictures. We bought the pass and then took these pictures. I thought it was worth it to get these beautiful Russian buildings in the summer time. I do have a picture of this building in the cold winter!

Kyiv Temple Dedication Events

A picture of the Kyiv Temple should be here BUT we have not been there YET...however, we were able to be a part of the Dedication and the Culture activity from Moscow. The members are so excited to have a temple in their area. Many of the youth practiced and learned dances to be performed the night before the dedication at the Culture Event. They were so excited to be able to perform in front of President Monson, President Uchtdorf, Elder Nelson and the Area Presidency. There was a group that learned songs because they would be singing at the dedication. We watched the last "practice" before the youth left on the night train for Kyiv. It was great because of all of the excitement for the event. The Culture Event was broadcast live from Kyiv to Moscow and other areas. It was exciting when our youth in Kyiv were dancing on the television and the members in Moscow cheered them on from our little building in Moscow! Unforgetable Memories!

The room where the Temple Dedication was being broadcast in English. Missionaries and the International Branch were in this room. Jim is in the center of the picture in his dark suit, gray hair, and big smile!

At the end of the Culture Event, all of the Missionaries in the Kyiv area, and maybe more, filed on to the stage.

Our youth the night of the last practice.

Tonya

All of our youth after they performed in our small building in Moscow.

Some of our young men doing a Russian dance.

Victor, Sergey, Maxim, RM Elder Kadirov

Our young women doing a Russian Dance.

Tonya, Marina, Sofia

The group of youth that sang at the dedication.
Acia (in the purple skirt)

Riga and the Baltic Sea

Lucky Us!

Serving in Russia has its perks! We were able to go to Riga again for our Visa activation. This time when the driver picked us up he took us to the Baltic Sea on our way to our hotel. BEAUTIFUL!! We liked it so much that we went back after we checked into our hotel. We found the train station and bought two round trip tickets to Jumalya which is the big resort on the beautiful beach. We walked down a cute little street in Jumalya and then turned and walked the other direction down the white sandy beach. It was wonderful! There is always a new place to explore and something new to see.

Fun street in Jumalya

8:30 am on the Baltic Sea

Valeri, a member of the church, and the person that helps with the visa process. He picked us up from the airport and took us to the beach. He lives walking distance to the beach.

beautiful beach

Walking down the beach, we needed to put our feet in the water and cool off. Remember, we are volunteer's and it is OK for us to do this!

Notice how shallow the water is. There is a child way out behind me on his knees.

Beautiful Bolshoi Beach

The train from Riga to Jumalya

While walking thru Old Town in Riga, we found these cute ladies singing some really fun songs.

We ate an early dinner in Old Town Riga at the Steak House and yes, we ordered a steak! It was pretty good.

We have seen these two men playing their accordians every time we have been in Riga. They play very fun music and are located on the street leading into Old Town.

This is the view out our hotel window...beautiful!

Lido

We rode on a red double decker bus to this restaurant. It was a cafeteria with good food. I ate a blini that was made out of potatoes (just like the blinis WE make at home...tasty!)

We stayed thru Sunday so we could go to church. This is where the Branch has their meetings.

Can you tell...the top sign belongs to the church.

smoke

Moscow is not known for its clean air BUT THIS WAS TERRIBLE. I am happy to say that we are still healthy after breathing all of this stuff!

The summer temperatures were HIGHER than normal and the percipitation was LOWER. We had been smelling fires from what we were told were peat fires for amost two weeks. Then on Wednedsay, August 4, we woke up to SMOKE! We couldn't see a thing. Yes, we walked to the office and smelled like smoke (my favorite smell from Muler Park). Thursday was not as bad but it was still stinky and smokey. Friday we could not see across the street so they let the office workers go home early. Saturday was terrible. Most of the people do not have air conditioning, they just open their windows. Going home to an apartment, for most people, was not the best solution because they were still breathing smoke. Most people left Moscow. We were told that Monday, August 9, was a record breaker for people leaving Moscow. However, how do you cancel a vacation that has been planned with tickets purchased? You don't. Rob and Marsha came on Sunday, August 8, and we all had a great time. As a matter of fact, most people were gone when the smoke began to clear out. Rob got some beautiful pictures every day as the smoke gradually went away.

looking out my apartment window with no smoke

looking out the same window with smoke

another picture without smoke

same window with smoke

looking out the office window

We finally got out masks....and we are safe for now!