Outside of Moscow

We joined our neighbors, the Stevens and the Swinefords and went exploring outside the big city of Moscow to see some of the smaller towns around the 'golden ring'. We drove east for about 4 hours and had a hard time finding where our cozy cottage awaited. The map indicated a road that turned out to be impassable for the Stevens family van, but they were happily rescued by 4 young men (about 17) just returning from ice fishing on a nearby lake. They pushed the van back out onto the paved road after about an hour and we found a better way to our destination. We parked our cars, took our bags and climbed into a HUGE army transport truck that fit all 15 of us. They drove us for 30 minutes through some very snowy woods to our cabin. It was a fun adventure! The next day we picked up Otto at the train station, as he was coming in from his CME Conference in San Diego. We got to visit Vladimir and Suzdal. We stayed in a nice hotel and visited the monastery, a big open market, and a few cathedrals that were quite beautiful and interesting to learn about.

The gingerbread cottage we stayed at in Bogdarnya

The neighborhood church

Our transportation

Inside the army truck

The streets of Vladimir

A medieval church with detailed images and long skinny windows for safety

Built in the 1100s

A monastery museum

They must have all been shorter..

The entire walls and ceiling were covered with art

There colored houses are all over the city

Typical living quarters from the 1800s

These are stick lights. The ash falls into the tray as it burns down and gives more light than a candle.

The Church of the Nativity in the background

The old kremlin walls

Moriah's cute braids

Jenna's new hat

Morocco

The girls and I spent a few days in Morocco visiting the Lampkins Family. Moriah had been asking to go ever since we arrived in Moscow and realized how close it is to Europe and Northern Africa. Unfortunately Otto had to work and couldn't join us this trip. It was especially wonderful to get to spend time with Leyla, Jezira and Dea! Jezira didn't know we were coming, so when Moriah walked into her room, she screamed for what seemed like a full minute!

Notice the oranges! Free to any who want to stop and pick them =)

She did this in less than a minute! Pretty impressive art!

The fortress doors

Inside the fortress are houses, hotels and shops

My beautiful friend Leyla. She is the embodiment of charity!

We rode the train to Casa Blanca for a day trip

This market has EVERYTHING!