Rach and Dingo here, after multiple unsuccessful attempts to create an interactive, exciting blog (we tried to broadcast our new talkshow, Tour Talk), we’ve resorted to good ‘ole typing. Today has been totally exciting, we are sitting in our room snacking on delicious goldfish, (what do you call a fish with no eyes . . . FSH!) talking to our Mom’s on skype (Your Mamma, wait we won’t go there) and watching the window washers (wouldn’t want that job).

No, really - today is an off day, we are refueling (luckily this gas isn’t four dollars a gallon) and refocusing for tomorrow’s match with Netherlands Antilles. Don’t worry, we’ve also exercised our minds - a few of us were lucky enough to go on a bus tour of Kazan ending at the Kremlin. We learned a lot about the city of Kazan.

The Kremlin is a historic site in the city of Kazan which was built on top of the ruins of Ivan the Terrible’s Castle (What does a Russian say when they win a game? IVAN!) Within the walls, there are several historic buildings. There is a mosque which we were able to enter, but you had to wear plastic slippers over your shoes and all the women have to cover their heads with scarfs. During the Soviet Period all the mosques and churches were closed in Kazan and used for other purposes, the one located in the Kremlin stored veggies in the basement and documents upstairs. (What type of rashes do vegetables get? Chives!)

Also, within the walls, there was a leaning tower called the Suembiki Tower, which was built in seven days in the 1500’s. Our guide told us that if you place one hand on the leaning tower and wish really hard, your wish can come true. Needless to say we had our hands all over the tower.

Thanks for all the support from home - GO USA!
Rach and Carrie