A day with the Romanovs

We got to sleep into today and didn't get started till noon. Our guide the last couple of days has been a 25 year old journalist who does tour guides on the side. We started to the tour at church of the Blood/ This church was finished in 2003 over the spot that the Romanovs were killed. Let me tell you the story as a story first. The last Czar of Russia was Nicholas II his wife was from Germany and her name was Alexandra. He had never really been interested in running the country and his dad had spent much time with him training him. He was much more interested in being with his family. They had 4 daughters and finally the next heir Alexis. He was born with hemophila, this was something they tried to keep the people from knowing much about. After WWI Lenin had already started an uprising against the czar. Nicholas thought that he could take his family away from there and protect them. They ended up going to Siberia and then back to this city of Ekaterinburg in1918. There is a lot of mystery that surrounds them as to who ordered the family to be shot, but they were shot and then stabbed. They were then taken out of town and the bones were dumped in an old mine. Acid was poured over the bones. There is much debate about all these events and what really happened. But by this time Lenin came into power and communism and the USSR was created. Everything was so secret for so many years. Yelsin who was leader of this area in 1977 had the house torn down where they were killed. He later said that he should have never done that. I've learned so much about the Russian Orthodox church. They have over 500 saints. The Romanovs had this icon(picture of a saint) with them and they were praying to her when they were taken to be killed. She is Mary ( I believe) with three hands. So they found the exact Icon they had been praying to and built this massive church around it. Now the Romanvos have all become saints. So after we left there we went to the monastry where the mine had been where the bones were found. They built seven churches their to honor the saints Romanovs. Beautiful places and gives you lots to think about. There is one true God and people sure have come up with a lot of ways to worship him. We had to wear scarves and skirts. They say this is because the preist don't want to know your sex as you come to them. Very interesting story, so read more about it for yourselves. More about weddings. I've been very interested in Russian weddings. I don't know if I"ve mentioned that or not. Every Friday and Saturday are wedding days here. They first go to the Wedding Palace which is a government building and get married. Then their maid and best man along with several of their wedding party go different places and take pictures. While we were at Church of the Blood today we got to see all kinds of brides. Probably about 20 while we were there. They arrive in cars that have been nicely decorated. They bring drinks to toast the couple, today several had doves they let go. They also go down to a bridge in town and put a lock on the fence to symbolize their love. Today when we got back to the hotel we saw a car on the street, as it turns out I got us invited into the wedding reception to see what the next phase of the wedding it. They have an mc and he came over and I was telling him we were American teachers and were very interested in Russian weddings. We have pictures of all the food and decorations. They also take plenty of shots of vodka along the way. After that we went shopping at a mall. Very good one. Clothes were better priced. We ate dinner there at the food court. I ended up with chicken and was very happy. You never know when you order. Cindy and I have washed clothes and they are hanging on a line in our room. I hope I've been able to share all the differences in life here in Russia. I"ve loved it all. Traveling changes you and opens your mind. I have so much to share with my kids and other teachers at school. I hope I can do it without boring them. It has been so nice to have everything taken care of for us. I'vd had to make no plans just show up and go. Tomorrow we're going to the ural mountains hiking and to a national park. Love to all.