Moment of August #1

Today, we're experiencing a bit of a gray and grim typhoon(?) in Vladivostok. So I suppose this is as good a time to post reminiscences of the summer as any, eh?

(08.28.07)

Most of the ETAs left for their respective host cities on the 28th, but five of us hopped on a bus to the city of Рязан (Ryazan), three hours southeast of Moscow, for the day instead.

Ryazan is a much smaller city than Moscow, with a population of about 500,000, but it is much older city (and thus, better?)—a fact that the good folks of the city seemed to enjoy emphasizing. In any event, the day provided a welcome break from the crowded and chaotic capital. After picnicking in a park nearby the university, we set off for a nearby dacha town on the river Ока where we spent the afternoon playing frisbee, doing some yoga (much to the amusement of some Russians relaxing nearby), and swimming. Evidently, we weren't the only ones enjoying the river that day—shortly after our dip, a passing cow ambled up to the water to chill and drink.

Yup, we were definitely not in Moscow anymore.