The Summer Soltice

Today was a beautiful day in Yaroslavl. Official sunrise was at 4:20 and the official sunset was at 22:24, the longest day of the year.. And dawn and dusk each seem to last for more than an hour meaning that a person keeping normal waking hours never sees darkness. I know I was up earlier this week at around midnight and it was just getting to be really dark. White nights in Russia—very cool….I am so glad Lucas is here with me enjoying this natural wonder.
Everything here is great. Lucas is now staying until July the 11th so he ended up doing the CCS program for 4 weeks. We had a great trip to St Petersburg and are going to Moscow for a few days next week.

Our trip to Saint Petersburg on June 8,9,10.

Alexander Nevsky Monastery in St Petersburg

The Tikhvin and Lazarus cemeteries at the Monastery

The Lazarus cemetery is the oldest in the city and was established by Peter the Great in 1716 (his sister is buried her). Across the sidewalk is the Tikhvin cemetery which contains many of Russia's famous authors,artists, actors, actresses and composers. Among those buried here are Dostoevsky ( The Idiot and Crime and Punishment among others ) and Tchaikovsky (Swan Lake and the Nutcracker among others).
On Dostoevsky's grave is John 12:24.
"I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds."

The grave of Lucas's favorite author, Fyodor Dostoyevsky. We also visited his apartment.

Our night boat ride in St Petersburg. The boat left at 12.30 AM and it was not dark yet. "White Nights" in St Petersburgh--very cool.