Through the carbonite hills of Southern Illinois to the flat cornfields north. It is rainy and chilly and we stopped for a bite in Champaign. Despite the alluring signage, we did not have burritos.
It was early Tuesday evening when we arrived, exhausted but exhilarated as always. The flat is beautiful, the weather mild and we bought groceries and ate pizza and fell asleep. When dawn broke, I stretched and yawned and silently cursed the screeching birds and prepared to get up. I grabbed a device to check the time and it was 3:30. Yes, morning comes freaking early this far north and the bedroom window mini blinds do little to block the light. Here is what I know so far --- 1. Not everyone here is a blue-eyed blond, but the percentage is very high. Much to my liking, the hair I have always hated, my stick-straight, baby fine hair is the norm! I envy none. 2. Not everyone speaks English. We simply haven't come across anyone who doesn't. 3. Like the rest of Europe, excellent mass transit but with a twist - it's the honor system. What! Can you imagine that in NYC? The Danes are a rule following people. There can be no cars in sight and they will still wait for the walk...
So this is how it begins - with a notion and a great conceit . We are almost through raising kids and definitely through with the multi-decade job and close the figuring out what to do with rest of our days. No home by the golf course, no active senior lifestyle, no settling in and waiting for ...what? This trip is a preliminary venture, a fact finding mission, a test the waters (but see family on the way,) a respite from the lawn mowing and such and perhaps a chance to form a cogent plan. Laugh not at the word plan, my friend. the exercise is an end in itself.
Three days in St. Petersburg is hardly getting to know Russia, but here are some observations -- The Russians we talked to (and English is not commonly spoken, even in the heart of the tourist area) want Americans to know that we have nothing to fear from Putin. They say he's a good man, a sincere man. I'm not sure if they love Putin or they simply dont want to go back to a Cold War. There were lots of souvenir stands around, but the ones in The Hermitage plaza did not carry Putin T shirts. I feel sure they were not allowed, as their meaning could be misinterpreted as making fun instead of deeply respecting. Of course, some people love Putin and think the western leaders are idiots. We also saw a shirt with Obama as a turd which said "Don't forget to flush." I read often that Russians aren't friendly and seem dour (which I also read about Finns) and we saw no evidence of that. It may be that people in the hospitality industry are just very hospitable. ...
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