After leaving baby home number 5 (and part of our hearts), we drove back into Krasnoyarsk. The countryside was pretty amazing, dotted with small villages. The houses are all so different in many ways, and yet, the same as home.
After we left Galena's office, we went to the notary and officially accepted Sergey as our referral. We went in, one couple at a time, and they made sure we knew what we were signing. The most exciting news this day, I think, was that his name would be officially removed from the official data bank for adoption. We didn't think this would happen until our final court date and 10 day wait was complete. Soo exciting!! Our first official step in Russia to bring home our son.
We went to Moma Roma's for lunch- the business lunch buffet. It was a beautiful place- the staff was extremely efficient and kind. We were able to check our coats in on the lower level. The food were tastes of Karanoyarsk. Many things we were not familiar with. With help from Yelena and Marina, we were able to discover some of the local foods. The wood all around the quaint dining room looked like dark cherry or mahogany, with, what looked like marble tile on the floor and walls. The top step going downstairs to the restroom and coatcheck was a little shorter than the rest- but fortunately, none of us practiced flying on our own.
After we finished with lunch, our driver (another Sergey) took us to a little chapel that overlooked the city, The Chapel On the Hill. What a beautiful site from the top of the hill. With snow in the air, visibility was limited, but still very pretty.
There is also a very large cannon, just below the chapel. Marina told us they shoot the cannon each day at noon. I laughingly said I bet the people below in the town were glad it was a blank, to which she replied they really don't like it. The percussion of the cannon going off sets off all the car alarms in the area :)
Then on to a shop that sold souvenir things, mostly created by local talent. Marina helped with the communications and recommended several things of which she knew some history. We were able to get a matruska (sp?) doll painted by a local artist in Krasnoyarsk with the local buildings on the dolls and also a disk full of pictures from the sights around Krasnoyarsk.
Someone mentioned "chocolate", so we stopped at a chocolate shop located across the street from the courthouse where we will go for our adoption hearing for Sergey, during our second trip to Krasnoyarsk. We bought a box set of chocolate. Marina, being the thoughtful person she is, purchased some chocolate pieces and gave us each several to try so we could sample the chocolates made from fruit in Krasnoyarsk.
And then, almost suddenly, we were back at the hotel. And I realized it was goodbye! We would not see Marina again on this trip. So, we said good bye and Tim was able to get a quick shot of the 2 of us before we left.
Tim had purchased a pass earlier in the morning to use the internet . So, when we got back to the room, we sat down and I typed out our posts for the last few days while Tim worked on packing things up. He then went on line and posted them. I, on the other hand, after having taken medication to help me sleep zonked out completely.
It really isn't very late here, around 8:30 p.m. But, it seems like we have been awake for several days in a row. Our return flight to Moscow is at 7:10 a.m. and Yelena says they will pick us up at 4:30 a.m.:P
On to Moscow!
After we left Galena's office, we went to the notary and officially accepted Sergey as our referral. We went in, one couple at a time, and they made sure we knew what we were signing. The most exciting news this day, I think, was that his name would be officially removed from the official data bank for adoption. We didn't think this would happen until our final court date and 10 day wait was complete. Soo exciting!! Our first official step in Russia to bring home our son.
We went to Moma Roma's for lunch- the business lunch buffet. It was a beautiful place- the staff was extremely efficient and kind. We were able to check our coats in on the lower level. The food were tastes of Karanoyarsk. Many things we were not familiar with. With help from Yelena and Marina, we were able to discover some of the local foods. The wood all around the quaint dining room looked like dark cherry or mahogany, with, what looked like marble tile on the floor and walls. The top step going downstairs to the restroom and coatcheck was a little shorter than the rest- but fortunately, none of us practiced flying on our own.
After we finished with lunch, our driver (another Sergey) took us to a little chapel that overlooked the city, The Chapel On the Hill. What a beautiful site from the top of the hill. With snow in the air, visibility was limited, but still very pretty.
Marina was able to give us some history on the chapel, and we were able to go in and look around. She then showed us where she lived, down in Krasnoyarsk. We have really enjoyed talking to her the last 2 days. She is the kind of person you feel you've known your whole life. We are soo thankful she was our translator on this trip- and hope we have her on the next one.
There were padlocks on the fence surrounding the chapel with people's names and dates engraved on them. We found out these are the couples that got married at the chapel. Before they would tie ribbons in the trees surrounding the chapel for good luck, but now everyone seems to be using these locks so they can't be removed. There is such a lack of graffiti here, it is quite amazing. Everything is very clean!There is also a very large cannon, just below the chapel. Marina told us they shoot the cannon each day at noon. I laughingly said I bet the people below in the town were glad it was a blank, to which she replied they really don't like it. The percussion of the cannon going off sets off all the car alarms in the area :)
Then on to a shop that sold souvenir things, mostly created by local talent. Marina helped with the communications and recommended several things of which she knew some history. We were able to get a matruska (sp?) doll painted by a local artist in Krasnoyarsk with the local buildings on the dolls and also a disk full of pictures from the sights around Krasnoyarsk.
Someone mentioned "chocolate", so we stopped at a chocolate shop located across the street from the courthouse where we will go for our adoption hearing for Sergey, during our second trip to Krasnoyarsk. We bought a box set of chocolate. Marina, being the thoughtful person she is, purchased some chocolate pieces and gave us each several to try so we could sample the chocolates made from fruit in Krasnoyarsk.
And then, almost suddenly, we were back at the hotel. And I realized it was goodbye! We would not see Marina again on this trip. So, we said good bye and Tim was able to get a quick shot of the 2 of us before we left.Tim had purchased a pass earlier in the morning to use the internet . So, when we got back to the room, we sat down and I typed out our posts for the last few days while Tim worked on packing things up. He then went on line and posted them. I, on the other hand, after having taken medication to help me sleep zonked out completely.
It really isn't very late here, around 8:30 p.m. But, it seems like we have been awake for several days in a row. Our return flight to Moscow is at 7:10 a.m. and Yelena says they will pick us up at 4:30 a.m.:P
On to Moscow!
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