Day Ten and Eleven

Monday evening was a spontaneous "date night" and we braved the cold and dark unknown for an evening stroll to Dolce Vita, the reputed pizza parlor around the corner from Hotel Medeo. The pizza was quite good, the salad with a pesto sauce, delicious and the ravioli (one) was enormous but excellent! Bruce came back to watch an Australian movie dubbed in Russian and Carrie, frustrated with not "getting it", read a book. Tuesday began cold at -20 and it didn't warm up much though the sun was out and the sky was blue. Our morning visit with Julie was sweet. She seems to recognize us and beams with delight when her father holds and talks to her.

After our visit, we were introduced to a new translator and tour guide, Nellie, who is 22 years old and studied English at the University here in Kostanai. She was very sweet and shy but was delightful and a little nervous about her first day on the job. She took the seven Americans to a new German restaurant called Munchausen [nothing German about the food, though]. Bruce tried a fruity Russian drink that cost as much as our dinners combined. Thinks he'll stick to the beer from now on. After lunch, the three couples went their separate ways. We did a little shopping at the market, Carrie ventured out alone to find the reputed Icy River and we joined up again at the hotel for a quiet evening "at home" in our hotel room. What a life! Bruce is looking forward to watching CSI Miami this evening, dubbed in Russian. We bought M&M's for a TV snack and a reminder of our real home where the fires are still burning. Love you all so much and keep you in our daily thoughts and prayers.