Wonderful treat that Tatiana, the Fulbright Host, scored tickets to the world famous Diaghilev Ballet.  It was a great and rare experience to see Russian ballet in performed in one of the most famous ballet cities anywhere.

Big ole new bank.  Consider that the banking industry has only been private in Russia for less than 25 years and they have made great progress, with the bumps and scrapes that are expected.

Part of the class of HSE Perm Teaching Scholars.

Talented folks.

We all read Dr. Zhivago or saw the movie.  This is a statue of the author Boris Pasternak.  The story is set in the city of Perm and the buildings he describes are still standing.

Ah, experimenting with the west...SUBWAY

Faculty members Anastasia, Svetlana and her husband took me for dinner to this great Jewish restaurant.  The food was great, the conversation better.

No Comment.  They do tell me, though, that Perm was one of the last big cities to get the Mac.

Medal of Order of Lenin awarded to Perm for efforts in rebuilding Russia after WW II.  I want Braddock to win one of these one day.

Diaghilev Ballet Theater