tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21051340Thu, 29 Jan 2026 19:33:54 +0000RussiaRostov-on-Donholidays and celebrationsUkraineHistory - Russiafood and drinkhumortravel adventuresUSAvisa adventuresOn the streetlanguage - RussianChristianityPoliticiansHistory - UStravelMe - myself and IWorld War IIhistory - SovietwinterAirport adventuresMoscowfamilyDoing business Russian-stylechurchKievUSSRfriendsHome Sweet HomeretailBiblecooking and bakingnostalgiaorphanageorphanspoliticsWhining and Gripingsouvenirsspace raceweather and seasonsCrimeaGermanyadaptationbooks + writers + writingsports + recreationtransportationCold WarEnglish as a Second LanguageweddingsSt PetersburgadoptionchildhoodHungaryIn the Newsanimalsgeographyhealth and wellnessmatroshkasmedicaltime and time zonesCommunismPolandWarsawa cappella musicclothingdrivingmissions and ministrypetsveteransRostov State UniversitySochi 2014Winter Olympicsflora and faunagrievinghistorymilitiaBudapestCaliforniaChristian conferenceFrom my kitchenRussian Orthodox ChurchadvertisingcelebritiesczarshandicraftslovemisadventuresmisfortunepolitiansAuschwitzBelarusChurches of ChristCommunicationKarl MarxKharkovMcDonald'sMinskOlympicsStalingradThe HermitageVolgogradYuri Gagarinadoptionsarchitectureemmigrationhumanitarian effortsinspirationmedical schoolmoviesoutreachprayerreligionstatuestransportaitonhttp://russiawithlove.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Eileen)Blogger450125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21051340.post-6544017645217674065Mon, 04 Mar 2019 06:14:00 +00002019-03-04T21:00:49.540+03:00BelarusMinskvisa adventures Last Tuesday morning, after Natasha and I had fed the chickens ~ actually, Natasha did the work and I trotted along behind, navigating piles of crusty snow and snapping photos ~ just 30 minutes before our planned departure for Minsk airport, Natasha announced that the front door wouldn’t open. The hen is also wondering: What's with the pile of feathers here on the ground? And two fewer http://russiawithlove.blogspot.com/2019/03/adventures-and-misadventures-visiting.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eileen)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21051340.post-2913091358518809273Sun, 12 Apr 2015 20:52:00 +00002015-04-13T02:46:51.861+03:00Rostov-on-Donspace raceWinter OlympicsYuri Gagarin On this day in 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space. Still in his 20's, Gagarin (pronounced YOUR-ee Guh-GAR-in) shot up from being a household name across Russia to being an international celebrity. His smile lit up the Cold War noted his boss, Sergey Korolev, chief engineer of the Soviet space program. Gagarin's premature death seven years later was a national tragedy. A seasoned http://russiawithlove.blogspot.com/2015/04/spotted-in-canada-yuri-gagarin.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eileen)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21051340.post-7412860664435351699Mon, 02 Feb 2015 08:29:00 +00002015-02-03T00:12:37.667+03:00food and drinkHistory - RussiaMcDonald'sRostov-on-Don McDonald's of Russia celebrated its 25th anniversary in recent days. Oh sure, we remember that red letter day in 1999 when the biggest-ever Mickey D's opened in Moscow. Folks waited in an hours-long queue for a taste of the west. These days, the wait's so much shorter. And since then, even bigger McDonald's restaurants have opened elsewhere. . . Best of all, McDonald's eventuallyhttp://russiawithlove.blogspot.com/2015/02/mcdonalds-celebrates-25-years-in-russia.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eileen)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21051340.post-5968886754047508646Tue, 27 Jan 2015 21:01:00 +00002015-01-28T20:38:04.662+03:00AuschwitzPolandtravel adventuresvisa adventuresWorld War II Soviet troops fought their way into Auschwitz on January 27, 1945. They first learned about the death camp weeks earlier when liberating Krakow, Poland an hour east. In the 70 years since, the Auschwitz site has been carefully preserved. The memorial and museum are a high-priority visit for travelers to central Europe. I'd been to Auschwitz, myself, in 2004, part of a large conference group andhttp://russiawithlove.blogspot.com/2015/01/auschwitz-look-at-russian-exposition.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eileen)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21051340.post-3725940749093686229Wed, 31 Dec 2014 18:18:00 +00002014-12-31T21:18:34.112+03:00MoscowRussiaRussian Orthodox Churchwinter On a recent trip to Moscow, a visit to Cathedral of Christ the Savior topped my list of new experiences. Having stumbled across the drama of its construction, destruction and eventual rebuilding, I wanted to learn more. I can't endorse all its teachings, but still, there's much to admire here, including the resilience of the Russian spirit.  At the cathedral on a recent December http://russiawithlove.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-resurrection-of-moscow-cathedral.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eileen)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21051340.post-5752938409955791521Mon, 22 Dec 2014 12:46:00 +00002014-12-22T15:54:26.100+03:00Cold WarCommunismHistory - USPolandWarsaw In Warsaw and looking for adventure, I headed out from my hostel near the Copernicus statue into the drizzle in search of Ronald Reagan. And sure enough, at the edge of a small park across from the U.S. Embassy is a monument honoring our 40th president. Cast in bronze, the statue of Ronald Reagan captures him in 1987 at the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin, when he challenged Soviet http://russiawithlove.blogspot.com/2014/12/spotting-ronald-reagan-in-warsaw.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eileen)1Warsaw, Poland52.2296756 21.01222870000003751.9184766 20.366781700000036 52.5408746 21.657675700000038tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21051340.post-4213160414251733048Sun, 30 Nov 2014 20:54:00 +00002014-12-02T08:29:43.385+03:00Christian conferenceGermanyholidays and celebrationsRussiatravel adventures Did I hear you say Happy Thanksgiving? Well, let me wish you the same. I had completely forgotten that today was Thanksgiving. I had just started into breakfast at a little hotel in Frankfurt, Germany. The statuesque blond I'd noticed earlier was talking to me. Minutes earlier, I had considered joining her but she was busy with paperwork. The easiest transfer ever: Exit the Frankfurt http://russiawithlove.blogspot.com/2014/11/a-thanksgiving-with-frankfurters.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eileen)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21051340.post-6981101481919006233Fri, 31 Oct 2014 11:27:00 +00002014-10-31T14:32:05.948+03:00cooking and bakingRussiatime and time zones Thank you, dear Russia for joining most of Europe last weekend and falling back an hour. We're now on standard time permanently, never again to change our clocks. At least for now. Then again, in 2011 when Russia went onto summer time, as daylight savings time is called here, lawmakers announced it was the last time we would be changing clocks. That decision has been reversed, http://russiawithlove.blogspot.com/2014/10/falling-back-in-russia-government.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eileen)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21051340.post-1014380667961880425Thu, 23 Oct 2014 15:54:00 +00002014-10-23T19:54:12.015+04:00BudapestCold Warhistory - SovietHungary October 23, 1989, Hungary became an independent republic after 33 years of Soviet rule. Ironically, Soviet troops saw themselves as liberators in 1945 when they marched in, freeing Hungary from Nazi domination. Therein lies one of the great ironies of history: A country being freed from one totalitarian regime by another such regime. When a regime falls, so do its monuments, notes Rick Steves, http://russiawithlove.blogspot.com/2014/10/communist-all-stars-reign-at-statue.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eileen)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21051340.post-6286574755237486782Mon, 03 Mar 2014 19:53:00 +00002014-03-03T23:53:37.380+04:00RussiaSochi 2014Winter Olympics Oh, before I name the winners, here's dear Janelle, an honest-to-goodness Olympic volunteer who's been here in Rostov over the weekend. Notice the official apparel!  All too soon, Janelle will be catching the train back to Sochi to help with the Paralympics. Besides volunteering at the games, Janelle volunteered to help me draw the winners of this contest. But you, dear friends, made that http://russiawithlove.blogspot.com/2014/03/and-zee-winners-are.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eileen)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21051340.post-7157609896580075358Sun, 02 Mar 2014 20:58:00 +00002014-03-03T10:22:50.699+04:00OlympicsRussiaSochi 2014 Dear friends, here's your chance to be part of Olympic history! You can win one of four limited-edition official souvenirs from the Sochi 2014 Olympic games. Just scroll down to the bottom and leave a comment! But here's the kicker: Gotta act now. Contest closes in less than twelve hours: Sunday midnight, Pacific Time ~ which is Monday noon, Moscow Time. Here are the prizes. Oh and are they http://russiawithlove.blogspot.com/2014/03/you-can-win-olympic-souvenir-4-gifts.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eileen)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21051340.post-791880288933103270Mon, 03 Feb 2014 20:32:00 +00002014-02-04T12:42:09.473+04:00RussiaSochi 2014weather and seasonsWinter Olympics Let's talk about the weather of southwest Russia. Because if you're into the Olympics ~ and oh, surely you are ~ the weather is significant. In a nutshell, although it's well below freezing here in Rostov-on-Don, it is not cold in Sochi (pronounced SO-chee), in fact today's high was 46 F.  But as you may know, there's a plan in place to maximize Sochi's unique geography ~ thus its http://russiawithlove.blogspot.com/2014/02/weathering-weather-of-southwest-russia.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eileen)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21051340.post-8792096995090698905Mon, 20 Jan 2014 18:25:00 +00002014-01-20T22:36:45.196+04:00ChristianityreligionRussiaRussian Orthodox Church What would it take for you to plunge yourself into icy waters? Over the weekend, more than 90,000 devout Russians visited frozen rivers and ponds across the land, peeled off clothing down to their swim suits and dipped themselves three times in icy waters, so as to imitate Jesus Christ and his baptism in the Jordan River. One fortunate difference: the Biblical account doesn't mention ice. No http://russiawithlove.blogspot.com/2014/01/its-not-polar-bear-club-its-orthodox.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eileen)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21051340.post-4052713222658380366Tue, 14 Jan 2014 19:53:00 +00002014-01-15T07:56:09.356+04:00food and drinkholidays and celebrationsRostov-on-DonRussia It's January 14th and today Russia finishes the holiday season by celebrating the Old New Year. This week, folks will be dismantling their holiday decorations and dumpsters will be full of Christmas trees. But before bidding a heart-felt dos vedanya (до свидания), that is, See you later to this season, please join me for a look around our beloved Rostov-on-Don to see a few decorations fromhttp://russiawithlove.blogspot.com/2014/01/wrapping-holiday-season-russia.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eileen)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21051340.post-203786918654298069Thu, 09 Jan 2014 19:27:00 +00002014-01-09T23:27:15.372+04:00Doing business Russian-styleholidays and celebrationsRussia Today, January 9th is the first black day of the new year on the Russian calendar. You see, January 7th is Russian Orthodox Christmas, thus an official day off or red day and the 8th is a buffer day of sorts. So for many, today was the first day back into usual work-a-day routine. Margarita is tickled with her new calendar. (Click to enlarge photo.) Speaking of calendars, they are my http://russiawithlove.blogspot.com/2014/01/russian-calendar-first-official-work.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eileen)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21051340.post-8195011039655945079Mon, 06 Jan 2014 19:34:00 +00002014-01-06T23:38:45.805+04:00cooking and bakingholidays and celebrationsRussia Greetings from Russia where it's Christmas Eve as per the Russian Orthodox Calendar. There's a reason for that, of course, and this afternoon at the area supermarket, folks were rather intense, gathering last-minute groceries for the holiday. Care to join me for a quick look? Entrance to local supermarket decorated in royal blue, the traditional Christmas color. Friends have been intrigued http://russiawithlove.blogspot.com/2014/01/heres-to-russian-orthodox-christmas.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eileen)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21051340.post-733945347785921610Mon, 10 Jun 2013 22:37:00 +00002013-06-11T02:37:06.589+04:00food and drink Mondays are a good day to update my blog and occasionally that actually happens. But then at 4:30 pm local time, through the refrigerator door, came the sound of these fresh strawberries begging to be made into strawberry shortcake. Decisions, decisions. Company was coming at 7:00. . . wouldn't they love a classic American dessert? Strawberry Shortcake So here's the result, a culinary http://russiawithlove.blogspot.com/2013/06/strawberry-shortcake.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eileen)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21051340.post-5376176900168663070Thu, 09 May 2013 19:29:00 +00002013-05-10T09:32:27.072+04:00 Today is May 9th, Victory Day, when Russia celebrates the end of the Great Patriotic War, the day when Nazi Germany surrendered unconditionally to Soviet forces. Most of us can't imagine having our homeland invaded, seeing our hometown in smoldering ruins, losing fathers, husbands and brothers. But Russia's oldest generation has been there. The losses suffered by Russia during the war were http://russiawithlove.blogspot.com/2013/05/russias-victory-day-2013.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eileen)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21051340.post-4009710833695913181Sat, 30 Mar 2013 12:23:00 +00002013-03-31T00:00:38.948+04:00ChristianityChurches of Christ We're surrounded by statues here in the former USSR, a salute to people who have survived much, who remember so much, who regularly pause to honor those to whom honor is due. The thing is, while statues do grab our attention, they are big, bulky and expensive. They have their limitations. Jesus Christ himself asked to be memorialized not in stone carvings but through a memorial feast that Hehttp://russiawithlove.blogspot.com/2013/03/unleavened-bread.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eileen)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21051340.post-3270114786002769585Sun, 17 Mar 2013 19:59:00 +00002013-03-18T00:31:30.167+04:00food and drinkholidays and celebrationsRostov-on-DonRussia It's the final hour of Maslenitsa Week here in Russia, the week when blini, or Russian-style crepes, are cranked out like. . . like hot cakes.No surprise there! ;) Blini are traditional fare for Maslenitsa for reasons both pagan and religious. As per old Slavic tradition, blinis' being round like the sun makes them perfect for welcoming springtime. Then, with pre-Easter fasting just around http://russiawithlove.blogspot.com/2013/03/wrapping-up-maslenitsa-week.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eileen)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21051340.post-871077567066042048Fri, 08 Mar 2013 19:58:00 +00002019-03-04T22:19:47.034+03:00holidays and celebrationsRostov-on-DonRussia Today is March 8th, a red day, an official holiday, on the Russian calendar. It's International Women's Day, known simply the Eighth of March, the holiday is one of my personal favorites because, unlike Valentine's Day or Mother's Day, a person is honored simply for having been born female. And that suits me just fine! Men are very busy on the 8th of March, buying flowers and chocolates http://russiawithlove.blogspot.com/2013/03/welcome-march-8th-black-friday-for.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eileen)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21051340.post-6257119349000927585Sat, 23 Feb 2013 19:56:00 +00002019-02-14T15:47:47.144+03:00food and drinkHistory - Russiaholidays and celebrationsRussia While it is still February 23rd allow me to say *Congratulations on Men's Day!* Actually, it's Defender's Day, more precisely Defender's of the Fatherland Day, more easily expressed in Russian than in English.  Originally, 23 February was a day to recognize those who have protected the Fatherland by serving in the military. Now it has evolved so that guys of all ages are honored, http://russiawithlove.blogspot.com/2013/02/while-it-is-february-23rd-allow-me-to.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eileen)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21051340.post-980786057110561141Fri, 22 Feb 2013 21:04:00 +00002013-02-23T01:48:57.294+04:00Cold WarHistory - Russiahistory - SovietHistory - US In February, 1994, Aldrich Ames was arrested and charged with selling secrets to the USSR. In his 30-year career with the CIA, Ames was promoted to chief of counterintelligence for the Soviet Division. He had easy access to the most delicate information of Soviet-American espionage. In the early 1980's, Ames and his first wife divorced and as part of the settlement, he agreed to pay $46,000 http://russiawithlove.blogspot.com/2013/02/aldrich-ames-one-spys-search-for.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eileen)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21051340.post-5074079038456939428Fri, 15 Feb 2013 20:38:00 +00002013-02-16T00:56:30.370+04:00geographyHistory - RussiaIn the News You're likely aware that this morning at 9:00 local time, a meteor exploded over Chelyabinsk (pronounced Chel-YA-beensk), a city in the southern Ural Mountains of Russia. According to RT news, 300 buildings were damaged and 514 persons need medical care, mostly for injuries from flying glass.  For some geographical perspective, here's a high-tech map for you: Because of course you deservehttp://russiawithlove.blogspot.com/2013/02/meteor-explosion-over-russias-ural.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eileen)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21051340.post-9163872761536255325Sat, 09 Feb 2013 09:30:00 +00002013-02-09T13:31:10.329+04:00Cold WarCommunismHistory - US On this date in 1950, U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy charged that the U.S. Department of State was riddled with Communists. Thus began the 4- year era of McCarthyism. Who would ever have predicted that within fifty years, Communism would decline in Russia and a democratic form of government would emerge? While there are folks here who pine for the good old days when Lenin and Stalin were http://russiawithlove.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-mccarthy-era-began-february-9-1950.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Eileen)0