Baptism and Honey Festival

Zach and Julie were committed to going to a convert baptism yesterday, and a neighbor brought us there in the car his employer provides him--his employer being our church! Driving through the city is a completely different experience than going underground (mostly) on the Metro. Three African young adults, all from different areas, were baptized. They, like Zach and Julie, are now members of the Moscow International Ward. Zach has mentioned a few times that black people have a difficult time here because of prejudice. Except for the church event, I don't believe I have seen a black person my entire time in Moscow!

 After the church activity we changed into street clothes and walked to the Metro and zoomed to Ismailonov, a prime tourist shopping area, sort of like an outdoor bazaar. It poured on us off and on while we shopped. It was fun to hear the foreign languages, mostly Spanish and a little French, that I actually understood.

In Bremerton we had the Blackberry Festival last weekend, where all things Blackberry were set up on the waterfront and sold. This weekend we witnessed the Honey Festival on the way into Ismailonov. Booth after booth of honey peddlers/producers had their honey out for taste and for sale. I have never seen anything like it! I tasted some pretty interesting stuff, but even Zach couldn't identify the names of the types of honey. I suppose school and missionary work and just plain conversing don't include herb, flower, and tree names!

Pretty buildings always seem to be in the skyline

Closer and closer to the actual market area independent booths were spaced closer and closer together. It cost 10 rubles each to get into the official, gated selling area, the equivalent of $.40 or so. On the street level were booths with vendors selling mostly new things, from hats to nesting dolls of all types and sizes, knitted cashmere scarves, memorabilia from communist times, wood and glass work, etc. Upstairs, in a permanent covered area was kind of a jumble, where it looked like people emptied out attics and garages and put stuff out for sale. We didn't buy much, but I enjoyed seeing what people had out--it was the closest thing to a thrift store I have seen here. (There is no market for thrift stores.) 

Mastrushka for a special person. The littlest doll is smaller than a pea!

A calendar to remember all the places we've seen.

Nativity set requested by a friend.