One of the highlights of our trip was a day long journey from the Zeiskiy Dam, northeast up the Zeisky Reservoir for four hours to the little village of Snezhnagorsk ("Snow on the Hill") The generous people of Snezhnagorsk treated us to a royal feast in the school cafeteria (which was lovely, all wood and very cozy). The carrot "pie" was scrumptious. (See photo)

The Zeiskiy Reservoir is the tenth largest in the world. The Zeya dam was primarily built to generate power for the Zeya/Amur Region. Because of the Dam and also a large gold mine, Zeyans are better off financially than townspeople of other areas (relatively speaking).

On another beautiful fall day, we were invited to visit the Muraviovka Park Crane Preserve near Blagoveshensk. (Blagoveshensk is located near the confluence of the Zeya River and the Amur River on the border of Russia and Manchuria.The Chinese city of Heihe is directly across the river from Blagoveshensk.)

This is an exciting international project which builds children's as well as adults' awareness of the fragile wetlands and the necessity of protecting the cranes' habitats worldwide. Children from around the world, as well as their teachers, can come here for special summer programs. The views from the headquarters are breathtaking.

Our Russian hosts in Zeya drove us by car to a former collective farm, where we visited granaries and a dairy. The highlight of the trip for me was feasting on the freshest dairy products ever, including creamy sour cream atop fresh cowberries (lingonberries).

One crystal clear day we went to a country dacha belonging to the Administrator of the gold mine, and then he took us in an old gutted-out Soviet military tank for a long, thrilling ride across the taiga and over the tops of tiny birch trees (ouch, I hated that part) for miles, then down a steep river bank into a river; we forded and floated the river, climbed a steep hill and viewed 2,000 year old Chinese pictographs. This area borders China. In fact, the nearby Amur River is called The Black Dragon River by the Chinese.

One of our Russian hosts, Nadezhda, was amazingly talented. She designed, manufactured and sold women's clothing and hats. She also was the most talented hostess I have ever met. Her food was gourmet, from the ingredients to the presentations. She is now studying to be an attorney.

My Russian hosts were equally fascinating. A medical doctor and an English teacher at the high school. They have two sons. Together this innovative and caring couple developed a special English language TV program for the people throughout the Amur area.

I stayed in a hotel which was owned by the power company, and I was the only guest (it was Fall and there were no Russian tourists). What a wonderful experience! ------------- Another Sister City Connection: Grants Pass Oregon-Rubtsovsk (Siberia) Sister City information can be seen at: http://www.grantspass-sistercity.com