Ibb Minsk

... train tickets to Kiev. Night in the train is quite interesting. Staying in a cabin with a Belarussian family. Have to drink some vodka again, some pickle and meat bread along with it. Border crossing between 3 and 4 am. A bit more intimidating than the entry border. Visas go through ok even though they expired already at midnight.

... air about it, however. There is not actually much to do in Minsk, but we think it could be a nice place to hang around if the weather is nice - there are lots of parks and wide open spaces where people undoutoubly sit around, drink beer and have a laugh as is common in Russia. Our next stop was Brest, a town which most people visit to see the Brest Fortress. This is a massive monument built in the early 70s to the defenders of the fortress against the ...

... with the local doctors and staff. It was great to see everyone one last time and thank them for being such wonderful hosts. Of course there was plenty of vodka to go around (nevermind the fact that is is INSIDE the HOSPITAL and many people were still WORKING)!! Then we went out for a group dinner and had a true feast with lots of food, music, and dancing. It was a very ...

... the government decides! Usually if you are very strong student in math and science, the government will appoint you as a medical student and will also determine what kind of a doctor you will become and where you work! If you do not go along with the government's choice, you go to jail! CRAZY! Also, instead of going into a regular university for the first four years, you go straight into medical school out of college (3-4years) and then get ONE, I ...

... on the other side of the world some how associate Texas with a sex show! There are even coasters all over the lobby of the hotel that feature TEXAS! Anyways, on with my night... we went out for dinner at a restaurant that had really good food and amazing entertainment! There was a gypsy performance with dancers all around our table for the first half of the dinner, and ...

... possible. I also take advantage of the mall to engage in a favorite Belarusian past time: boot shopping! Everyone here wears boots with 1 to 5+ inch heels, coming up to the ankle, mid-calf, or above the knee. I happen to love boots (they make me taller) and the selection in Belarus is far superior to that in North America. I fall in love with a leathery-looking faux-fur lined, mid-calf pair, and it's a good thing the store doesn't take visa (apparently it's ...

... Hallelujah! Two and a half hours after I arrived in Minsk, I have made it. Alexsandr offers me tea or coffee, I like neither, but go for tea, you have to be polite, and explains that I will be staying in a different flat where he will take me; the lady just needs half an hour to get it ready. We watch TV: Scrubs, Animal Planet, and National Geographic in Russian. I had read Lukashenko controlled the media and western influences, but perhaps a documentary on ...

... glory of the rebuilt center and its lengthy main artery. Today then I set off in search of what traces remain of the old city. There aren't many. A few churches have defiantly survived and stand somewhat isolated between ugly concrete buildings or on a hill overlooking bleak thoroughfares. Some intact streets hide behind monumental blocks of apartments facing the main boulevards. And there's even a wee section of pseudo-17th and 18th-century architecture ...

... and Troy were one till over when suddenly Tom's nose started to bleed. Luckily I was standing next to a Kleenex display and tossed a pack over to Tom. He was pretty embarrassed, and figured it was some sort of sign that he should stay in and relax that night! Back at the hotel I changed and met Jenn, Stacey, Kristy, David and Rhian downstairs as we were all heading downtown to see the city. Of the whole tour I think us six and maybe a handful of others were the only ...

The weather has turned (really) cold and the snow has arrived. Alvan told us that the attitude in Minsk is "if it's positive then its 'warm'" and I now know what he means. We posted post-cards in the monolythic post office whose innards are structured in a manner of smaller kioks, a favourite arrangement of ...