I took my things from the train and met the dad of my family, Alexander. He is the Assistant Deputy Minister of Education and Director of the Teacher Training Institute in Petrozavodsk. He came in his friend's car because his car was in the shop for repairs. We went to his fourth floor apartment. Elena, his wife and a professor at the Karelian Pedagogical University, had breakfast all ready for me -- oatmeal, cheese, meat, toast. Their son was still asleep in the back bedroom. I had a small bite to eat, took a shower, and we were off again.

This time I went with Alexander and Marge, who is our college librarian, to a location about one hour from town. It was an area founded by Peter the Great in the early 1700's for people who had lingering illnesses. TB was widespread in those days and it was thought that if people rested and had healing waters, they might recover. People with a variety of medical problems still visit the area today. They can drink water from three different springs for the following problems: heart, kidney or blood. I felt fine so I didn't drink any of the water. Little did I know that I would get sick the next day and have to go to a Russian clinic. That's a later story!