The past week was full of activity, due to a visit from a certain Cairo-based journalist. In an ironic twist, the weather turned impossibly beautiful yesterday, the day after Max left Krasnoyarsk to return to sunny Egypt. Nonetheless, during his visit we managed to explore all sorts of corners of Krasnoyarsk that I hadn't yet quite made it to. Somehow the two of us attracted more attention than I ever have speaking English on the street before. Once, while sitting in a stolovaya, a group of rowdy kids at a table next to us handed Max a cellphone. A thickly accented voice on speakerphone asked him "What are you doing in my city?!" and then eventually "Please give phone back to my friend."

We went to a million places, climbed a surprising number of mountains (2), walked around enough in the rainy cold (but warm enough to rain!) that it started to feel kind of warm. It was a special time. Now that it's bearable to be outside, I'm noticing again how this city is full of lovely little courtyards and places to sit in the sun. The next month or two around here is going to be lovely.

Speaking of the next few months, I now officially have a return date back to the USA. Around 10pm on July 26, I'll be once again standing on the solid, fertile ground of Iowa.

What a trip!