My cat, Moon, was eager to great me when I finally returned home to Kimovsk, Russia. I began to wonder if she would ever stop kissing my face.
I came through immigration without a hitch. The customs officials waved me on through without a look.
I exchanged a small amount of my Turkey Lira for Rubles for a taxi.
The taxi driver seemed to know where he was going and we agreed on a price of 10,000 rubles.
I awoke in the back of the taxi to find the driver searching the back alleys of Tula city for Kimovsk street.
I had to tell him that Kimovsk is not a street in Tula city, but a city in Tula Oblast.
We were a good seventy miles from our destination.
When I finally arrived home the sky was starting to brighten up. I paid him an extra 500 rubles to cover his extra miles. After all it wasn’t his fault that I’m not fluent in Russian.
A big shout out to the people who follow me. Unfortunately I’ve had to leave Russia. It became impossible to receive any funds from the US. I am currently living in Batumi, Georgia.
This is my family in the living room of my apartment in Kimovsk, Russia. I am a disabled Vietnam veteran. Seventy six years of age. My son Aleksandr (left), and my granddaughter Dasha (center) look in on me. Here, I had hoped to live out my retirement years.
Christmas Day Walk
I went for a walk today. Almost all businesses are closed for Christmas Day. The store that sells Turkish carpets was open so I went in and immediately spotted a beautiful Oriental carpet, bright red, black and gold.
I ask if it was a magic carpet and if it would fly.
The lady answered, “All my carpets are magical. As to whether it will fly, that all depends on what you put in your hookah.”
This is my apartment in Batumi. It’s on the eighth floor and the elevator works most of the time.
I pay 800 lari per month for this two bedroom apartment. That is approximately $294.
I have a fifteen to twenty minute walk to the beach. This is a great town for retirement. There are plenty of beaches to rest when you get tired.
The pink bedroom I call my guest room and it’s where my granddaughter will sleep when she visits me.
