europe at last!

just as we overdosed on temples and shrines in japan and korea, over the last week it feels like all we have seen are castles and cathedrals. there was of course st basilś and the kremlinś cathedral square in moscow, followed by the church on the spilled blood and the winter palace in saint petersburg. in kyiv we ran into the saints sophia, michael and andrew, as well as the caves monastery (unfortunately we were too late to go exploring underground, indiana jones style). warsaw has also been a blur of churches and castles and little squares surround by houses painted different colours of the rainbow. as we have worked our way across, the number of icons and the use of gold gilding has diminished and pews and stained glass windows have started to appear. now, rather than experiencing the dazzling richness and beauty of god, i am contemplating the vast emptiness and silent simplicity of his house.

speaking of indiana jones, the ads for his latest adventure have been plastered across every available surface in the last four cities. either heś very popular here in europe, or george lucas is getting his moneyś worth from his marketing monkeys.

after the hermitage, i have not felt compelled to visit every museum within a ten kilometre radius - i know itś shocking! for the time being itś great just to wander around the little cobblestoned lanes and leafy courtyards and watch the endless stream of beautiful women walk past me, amidst all the glory of spring.