Day 17

We splurged this morning and took a taxi to the orphanage – none of us wanted to feel like a sardine (it’s much less crowded on the bus on the way back to the apt. because the orphanage is very close to the beginning/end of the route). It was the best $5 we’ve spent in a long time. The fare was only $3 but I was so giddy about not having to ride the bus that I gave the driver a $2 tip!

Grant got off the bus on the way back from the orphanage today and did some sightseeing. Here are some of the sights that he saw, including a train factory that used to be the main industry here during the time of Lenin (because this was a main area of coal mining and steel production for the country). We can see the smokestack on the factory from our apartment. Now there is minimal production occurring here today.

A path that Grant took on his travels today.

A mechanics garage (with all of the potholes, I’m sure it is a popular place!)

This may be a part of one of the downtown hospital grounds. (?)

Feeding the birds (“rats with wings”).


For quite a bit of the morning we played in one corner of the playroom because some of the bigger kids were practicing for the show that they are putting on soon. We’ll have to call our facilitator and see if she can find out when it will be and if we can attend.
Who would have thought that 2 ½ hours playing with a 2-year-old could wear us out so fast! It is hard work – but we love it!! When we took “Robert” back to his groupa today, he was not a happy camper. As soon as Grant put him down, he cried big crocodile tears. :( Boy was it hard to walk out of that room. We’re looking forward to tomorrow morning already!

What all the well-dressed little boys are wearing here – so of course I had to get some for our little guy. Grant was not too impressed about buying tights for his little man.