Russia Day weekend

Last weekend Russia celebrated its independence. Instead of trying to figure out from whom this great country became independent, I decided to grab my brother Michael and head for the countryside. I wanted him to get a taste of the "real" Russia outside of Moscow and St. Pete. Here are some pictures from our adventures in Kostroma and Vladimir:

at Ipatyeski Monastery, Kostroma

on the banks of the Volga River, Kostroma

making chili with friends one stormy night, Kostroma

swimming and shashlik with friends on the outskirts of Vladimir