In the end only kindness matters...

Hello dear readers! I know many of you voted for me to travel to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, but unfortunately finances are tight and airfare there too expensive. So, in a week, I'll return to my beloved Maine and go on another road journey to New England. During the trip, I plan on meeting with Samantha Smith's mother in Boothbay Harbor. What questions do you want me to ask her?

I've had no time for the blog recently due to a hectic work and life schedule. :(  However, next week I'll show you "good Russia," with stories about Kazan and Ples from the winter journey. In the meantime, please let me know what questions you have for Samantha's mom. I'm happy I can finally leave the office for a week, meet with her, and relax in the beautiful surroundings of cozy New England. Does the younger generation in Russia know about Samantha's legacy? How do they learn about her? Or, is she mostly known to those who grew up during the Soviet period? I think her mother will be interested in knowing these facts. :) Have a nice weekend!

Kindness comes in all shapes and forms, and sometimes when least expected. I thought I would take a break from the blog this week but I want to share with you a nice story. On Sunday I wrote that I was stranded in Vermont, unable to get on flights because of cancellations or no space. But sometimes things happen for a reason, to teach us lessons or to change the course of our lives for the better.

Recently I've been surrounded by a lot of jerks - miserable people trying to infect me with their pessimism and straight out meanness. It's the reason I went to Vermont. To escape to a very peaceful place and enjoy some solitude. Sunday began very early, leaving my bed&breakfast at 3:30 a.m. to catch a 5:30 a.m. flight back to DC. And here's what transpired:( Read more... )

Today is my last day in Russia. Exhausted but a really fabulous and interesting trip. Soon I'll try to write about some of the cities we visited. In the meantime, I'll speak a bit about a trip to New Hampshire shortly after Christmas. I recently read that at one time there were over 10,000 covered bridges in the U.S. but today only around 750 exist. New Hampshire is home to many, some operational some not. This one is my favorite with the weathered American flag.
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If heaven exists I imagine it would have freezers full of Ben & Jerry's ice-cream, to be eaten at any time without guilt or consequence. This brand has always been my favorite, expensive but utterly divine with the mix of real cream, sugar and other high quality natural ingredients. The company's main factory is located in Vermont and I made a quick stop during a recent visit to the State. ( Read more... )