Ulyanovsk, Russia, morning

Another good night’s sleep in Barcelona Hotel.  Awake, meditate, exercise, shower.  Barrett has begun her exercises, is talking on iPhone.  I leave quietly.  It’s 7 am. The hotel is sleepy.  I walk the streets of Ulyanovsk, noting in passing no women wearing 4 inch heels this early.  I take a picture of a black and white bird, almost a racoon mask face.  I’ve not seen one before. I like a gymnast plaque I find on a wall. Takes me back to early days doing gymnastics at the YMCA, watching world competitions.
The news last night was of Ukraine monitors missing, the stoning honour killing of a pregnant married woman in Pakistan, gang rape of women in India, the missing girls kidnapped by the African moslems.  Google’s robot car is being tested on streets.  BBC World News in English.
There are more bronze statues here. I can’t read who they are too. A woman sitting.  I think the first man I come across was a local writer.  I’ve read about him.  Not Lenin but still. local boy did good.  Some of the statues are clearly  for tourists.  I take pictures of wooden houses.  For now a camera is a joy but one day I’d rather a sketchpad.  The television has a war movies on now.  I’ve returned and had breakfast down stairs.  Omelette, blinz pancakes, sausages, lox, yogurt, coffee and orange juice.  Barrett is now talking on phone to family here.  She is planning day of museums, a ensuring we get to the train station for this evening. 36 hours to Moscow.