Roughing it in Siberia

The “Tony Parrack Designs” clothes line is perfect for our shower!

Ah, our first day in Krasnoyarsk with nothing significant on the schedule. Today, we thought we’d introduce you to our world in the Kras Hotel. Where you dry laundry in the shower! You brush your teeth with bottled water. You make a double boiler out of a hot pot and a bowl thieved from the breakfast room…

It was a big day yesterday, when we discovered quite a treasure in the “mall” across from the grocery store (props to the Parracks for suggesting it). We went in search of a hot pot. There had been sightings of them in the hotel, but we were simply unable to get anyone to understand we wanted it. One couple has one in their room, but it has been…over-used.

We scoured the mall, and were unsuccessful. Dejected, we made our way to the exit only to find it had started to rain. “Ok, let’s just browse around again until it stops.” We walked into what looked like a lamp store, and Hallelujah! Two full shelves that spanned the length of the lamp store of Hot Pots! The angels sang. They truly did. Now we can make gourmet Hot Pot feasts in our room. We can have hot tea. The hot tap water stinks, so now we can boil the cold water for laundry purposes. It will change our lives.

The hotel cat has no qualms with Americans.

Sweet little kitten (keesa in Russian) enjoys our attention and reminds us of our kitten, Mujibur. Hope you’re doing ok, Muji!

Some of the other couples have been getting sick, and we think hydration is at least half the issue. So, we’ve been guzzling the Bonaqua (Russian version of Daisani). We found 5 liter bottles at the store for just over a dollar, so we buy one and transfer it to our smaller bottles using a tea kettle.

At times we feel like we’re on Survivor, just trying to keep from getting kicked off the island. There are days when the island doesn’t seem worthy of keeping us, but we will do what must be done to bring the CNM boys home safe and sound. Thank you all for your sweet words of encouragement in your comments. It keeps us going.