The Russian Bus Ride

John says that our 4 1/2 hour Russian bus ride wasn't too bad if you overlook the broken seats (that fully reclined every time the driver stepped on the gas), the disorderly drunks, the belching diesel fumes, the peole sitting in the aisle, the lumbar support compliments of the knee from the guy behind him, the beer bottles rolling down the middle, the unscheduled stops for the drunks to pee, and the smell of cigarettes hanging on everyone. Have I left anything out?

Hmmm...I guess I'm just one of those 'glass is half empty' kind of people.

Ok - let's review. To experience a Russian bus ride find a really old, really dilapitated bus. Make sure the seats are busted, the windows don't open easily and it's really really dirty inside. Next everyone try to push into the door at once. GO!

For those of you with luggage, you may store it in the greasy compartment under the bus. For your foreigners, this privalege (of carrying luggage) will cost you extra rubels (Oh, just because we like to do that sort of thing to non-Russians - gotta problem with that?) The money goes right into the driver's pocket.

Now, take your assigned seat, taking care not to lean back as the seat may never spring back up. Once the bus is full, allow time for the driver to admit his 4 friends who will sit in the asile drinking beer until they have to pee, at which time we will stop and watch them relieve themselves on the side of the road. Wait, we're not quite ready to get back underway just yet; the man in the back needs to toss his beer bottle out the door.

Once the diesel fumes start to take effect, you'll start to feel groggy, your brain will shut down and you will doze off. Hey...what did I tell you about leaning back on your seat?

I really wasn't too surprised with the bus ride. We've taken similar rides elsewhere in the world. I Just hoped the Russians would care a bit more than to toss trash out the window, and care more than to smoke and drink so much. At the one official potty stop, everyone got off to smoke, buy another pack and buy more beer. I've never seen so many people smoke (read: everyone).

We survived the trip, but I was glad to get off the bus. We were now in Suzdal and what a welcome relief it was. Suzdal is a small Russian town. There are 30 churches scattered around the rolling green hillsides and lining the winding Kamenka River. The air is clean, the landscape isn't marred by cement buildings and the houses are wooden gingerbread style with carved door and window frames. The easils of painters are set up everywhere to capture the views. We are staying at one of the monestaries. It is very dilapitated, but the room we are in is newly remodeled. It may have been part of the abby at one time. I can here the church bells ringing and the songs of the monks from the church next door. Ahhhh!