Hey everyone, I posted some new photos from Katya’s birthday celebration and our trip to the sanatorium on Saturday:
http://picasaweb.google.com/RStakun/JulyPt2?feat=directlink
The sanatorium is near a church with a holy icon (or copy of one anyway) is as well as a monastery). The sulfur water there is considered holy/healthy as is the mud from the bottom of the spring. Which is why people (including yours truly) are slathered in it. 
I also took some pics of the apartment I live in. It’s small but really nice. The bathroom’s is under remont so don’t judge!
As you can tell from the pics, things are going pretty well here (with a few minor personal hiccups that I don’t want to get into on the interwebs). I think my Russian is finally starting to improve! It’s a shame that we’re leaving in a week and a half. We have a few excursions left this week (museum today, river cruise on Friday) but after that we’re heading to Aigir for camping and more Russian classes. I’m really excited. I won’t have phone or Internet there probably so my next post will probably be from back in the States.
