Kickin' it old-school

Olya was antsy for some 'alone time,' so she kicked Oleg and I out on a little photo safari. I had in mind a quick jaunt just out of town, but Oleg and his friend insisted we go to Mariinsk, one of the oldest settlements in Siberia. It's two hours from Kemerovo, but was well worth the scary drive.

The homes are really beautiful and rustic. They're all solid wood, and have ornate windowframes and ornaments. Many of them are sinking into the ground sideways at horrifying degrees, which doesn't seem to bother anyone. The townies were a little suspicious of three men in a brand-new red car, driving up and down their streets photographing everything. But we just smiled a lot and kept snapping. Pity the day was so gray, and the houses wet from a storm.



So now we're out of here, on our way to London. Siberia was an amazing experience thanks to Oleg and his friends. And for me it was a great way to learn more about Olya's background.