Mirage Hotel Kazan

... map of Russian Federation would be very bizarre if all the autonomous republics became independent. The train from Saint Petersburg to Kazan was okay... Next to me there were a few women of various ages and a man approaching his fifties. At first, none of them appeared to be too talkative, except the man, who quickly disappeared somewhere. After a few hours, about eight o'clock (the train left at four), the man came back, completely wasted. He started ...

... have had it harder than others but they live through it and survive.  A true testament to strong will and determination because if I had to have lived in a country such as this I don't know if I could have survived or could survive because it's not over.  The remnants of the Soviet Union are still around us.  The faces and names might have changed but it is still very prominent in modern lives. I wonder if it will ever fully go away...    

... and just sticking with them until they call the police to make me go away.              I don't think it is just me either.  Liz wrote a blog, which I have posted along with this one, and it is just as depressing as this one.  I think it is just getting to all of us.  The darkness, the boredom, the confusion and the situations that make no sense (which by the way is almost everything).  I just have to keep telling myself ...

... amazing man.  He is very genuine and I only found out about his career by looking up his name on the Internet.  (Apparently he has made some very controversial calls).             I can't believe that this city has so many sport connections and that I am able to write more than one blog about them.  It is crazy to me. How in the World does one come to Russia to meet two American Olympic champions AND an NFL referee?  I swear, I'm not making this up.  

... an hour tv spot?  I would die having to watch that drivel and I would have if McCain had done the same thing.  It's just the principle of the thing.  Like we are not bombarded enough, I'm in Russia for heaven's sake and still tired of it all.                          So she says that about the polls and kinda has a bit of a smirk on her face, usually when she brings up politics we just kind of smile and nod but both of us just lost it ...

... we did go back to the bar and introduced them to more Americans and the rest of the foreign students. I think they had a good time, although, I have seen the pics that they have posted.  If they could have picked the yuckiest part of Kazan to take pics of, they did.  There is a lot of construction here because Kazan has been picked to host the 2013 Universidad Games.  Apparently, that is the precursor to the Olympics.  So lots of the old buildings are being pulled ...

... market where they bought more things than they could carry and then pointed out different structures as we walked around the city.  We then had dinner and went to their hotel where they had yet to check in and then went to the bar.  They met many of the international students there as well.  It really was a great day and I think they had a good time. Now, however, they are expected to do the same for us when we go to Moscow.  Don't you hate payback?

... complex called The Riviera and in this place was an IMAX Theater, bumper cars, arcade and several restaurants not including the bowling alley. I don't know about you, but when I think of a bowling alley, I think of smelly mismatched shoes, lanes that are old as Methuselah and chipped bowling balls that you wonder what you are putting your fingers into when you grab the ball. This place, however, was the swankiest place I have ever seen.  The shoes were pretty new and you ...

... is typical.  I have yet to be on any train with Russians where they don't offer you their food.  First it was an apple then kielbasa and candy.  Two big men with tattoos all over their arms and hands but I have a feeling if anyone tried anything with us then they would wipe the floor with them.  Again, somehow I know that they have taken us as one of their own and no one is going to mess with us.              This is another reason why I love Russia so.  I ...

... noticed that girls really aren't the ones that are picked on. Sure, the guys will beat up on girlfriends or wives, but really strangers aren't in their eyesight. I can't explain it. Don't get me wrong, we still are super careful when we are going home but I don't feel apprehensive about it. I just have to remember where I am and that I have to always be aware of my surroundings. We do that at home so I wonder why we forget it so easily here? In ...