What a trip

I got home on Sunday night and it is now Wednesday. I am still waking up at 5 am and now have a nasty cold coming on - pretty standard after a long flight with the expirations of several hundred people.
This was an unforgettable trip for so many reasons. We learned much about places and people I really didn't know much about other than from books and movies (many of which have probably distorted my perceptions). The Baltics are very inspirational - especially the spirit of the people. Although they face many problems they seem optimistic and are certainly happy to be independent. They fought hard for it.
Russia seems a place of paradox. Both Saint Petersburg and Moscow are cities of breathtaking beauty. Both are huge and congested. The Russian countryside looks pretty poor. In the present, we saw many signs of great wealth (Moscow has the largest number of millionaires in the world) as well as signs that the "masses" aren't nearly as well off. Of course this was very true of the past there as well - the lavish palaces of the Hermitage and Katherine's palace are examples of how the Czars lived while most people didn't have enough to eat.
We had the best guides possible in Miina and Diana. They taught and entertained us and made this such an educational experience.
My fellow travelers were fun to with. It was a great group!