Recent notes and observations

1) Last weekend I went with the group to Novgorod, the first Russian city, settled in 859AD. Great place - lots of nice, wide streets, green areas and parks, something you don't always see in Russia. Highlights included our professor buying everyone shots of "heavy artillery" (some herbal liquor), going on a rusting Soviet-era fair ride (one of those ones that spins and then tilts almost vertical), and going to a skete (it's a real word!) where a monk told us to take our hands out of our pockets because "a church is not a monument."

2) A package finally arrived for me today which is postmarked from my parents March 5. It had stuff for my camera in it - so expect pictures!