Day Twenty-Six

Our adventures continue and on Tuesday evening we were still celebrating Carrie and Chris's birthdays! After our Baby Home visit with Julia in the morning, we fasted in preparation for a great feast at a place called Knights Castle, a local cabaret within walking distance of our hotel. Dr. Irina and her husband were invited to join Oleysa and "the Americans" but her husband was working late so she attended solo and was our prestigious guest of honor! We can't begin to describe the decor of the of this magnificent restaurant. It is seemingly transported from Medieval Times with enormous wooden columns and long, mahogany tables with lion's heads carved and extending outward and upward from each of the four corners. We literally sat in thrones. The place was replete with stone fireplaces, spooky oil paintings of Knights and Ladies and eerily lit chandeliers and torches, illuminating the stairwells, private dining chambers and the main hall where we ate and were entertained with a crooner and burlesque. No kidding! Carrie exhausted Oleysa by enveloping Dr. Irina in conversations about education, socialized medicine, politics, child rearing practices, blah, blah, blah. Bruce rescued both women by inviting them to the dance floor. As usual, our meals were sensational. Bruce finally had real steak, cooked to perfection and Carrie had rolled chicken, stuffed with ham and mushrooms and served in a light cream sauce. Dessert was a birthday cake from Oleysa's favorite bakery which she presented as a surprise! The REAL surprise was the 83 candles on top! Dr. Irina gave Carrie and Chris each a delicate handkerchief, embroidered by her 82 year-old mother, Ludmilla. Oleysa gave Carrie a beautifully detailed, hand-painted Kazak plate with a scene of a Yurt in the forest, a sheep farmer and woman cooking on a Weber grill! Who Knew? All of these kind gifts will be heirlooms for our daughter, symbols of her rich heritage and the generosity of the Kazakhstan people.

That evening lasted well into the next morning and Wednesdays visit to the Baby Home came quickly. Fortunately, Bruce had given Carrie a miniature alarm-clock for her birthday!

After today's visit with Julia, Bruce worked on the computer, struggling to figure out how to "upload" pictures to a CD which we can then take to the Kodak picture processing store. Carrie joined Oleysa and the others for lunch at the "Yellow Bus" restaurant where hamburgers and hot dogs are the specialty. Both dishes are curiously served with mayonnaise and ketchup (Russian dressing?). The food was yummy and the group later walked in the bright late afternoon sunshine to the outdoor market where Carrie bought two pair of beautifully knitted Kazak socks and Oleysa purchased brightly colored galoshes, a staple for spring in Kostanai!

Most importantly, we are continuing to enjoy our daughter, Julia, but grow increasingly anxious to bring her home. Each day it is more difficult to leave her. Our only solace is that she is in such good hands and the staff seems to enjoy her almost as much as we do.

Please continue to write and think about us as we think of you and begin planning for our return. Bruce hopes to fly from Kostani to Almaty, on to Frankfurt and then to Newark next Thursday, after our final court appearance. Carrie says "Keep writing 'cause I'll be here alone!" Love you all so much! C&B