Helsinki Temple

 We took a taxi from the airport to the Temple - I put the camera on timer and this is the result ... Elder Smith really doesn't like asking people to take our picture ... plus there wasn't anyone!  we looked at the picture and he told me I cut off Moroni!

 So I took this one also - and still missed getting Angel Moroni!

 So this one has the Angel in it!  The yellow building at the left of the Temple is the patron housing - just a short walk in the trees to the Temple.

 This was our room!  good beds - warm down comforters.

 This is a map of Helsinki - it is right on the ocean ... it was about 20 degrees warmer than Novosibirsk!  It snowed the afternoon we got there - and the next day also.

Pretty sunrise at 9:30 am - and sunset was at 3:30 pm - like Sam and Allie have in Anchorage - further north than Novosibirsk.

We go to Finland! Novosibirsk Airport

 On December 5th we went on our first Visa trip ... every three months you have to leave the country and then come back - something with Visa rules...the senior couples go to the temple, usually, and the young ones just go into a country - get their visa stamped and them come right back!  This is a white and brown chocolate goose - I should have had Elder Smith stand by it to show how big!

 Also at the airport is this stuffed bear - the company sells nature products.

 While we waited at our gate these big skiis came off the luggage - then a ski jumping team came by and claimed them - they are huge!

 There was a hallway with some cool pictures - this is an osprey with fish in both talons!!

This picture of a bat above the water and reflected in it was also good - see the fly just about to become lunch?

Here and there

 Elder Smith wanted some suspenders ... so we went shopping and got him some.

 Now he is officially an old geezer - and a handsome one at that!

 Doesn't he look the part of an Assistant Area Auditor?  I think so!

 Near our metro stop they transplanted these blue spruce trees ... when it began snowing they built these boards to help protect them from the heavy snow.

About a week later we noticed they had covered the boards - to really protect the trees!

 This is a picture of the removable ice cleats that we can put on our boots - - they really do help when walking on icy sidewalks.  The other senior couple in our building also advised us to hold arms and then when one slips the other can 'rescue' them ... yes we have down that many times!

 Walking back from Church today we saw these dogs laying on the heat manhole covers - notice the one in front - the steam coming out of the holes?  They heat the buildings with water pipes and so there are these vents all over - smart dogs!

 We wondered how the birds survived the snow and cold - and we've seen several places where people put out bread for them.  This group of pigeons were eating on top of another heat vent.

Seem the snow melted from around the manhole cover?  nice of somebody to feed the birds!

Finally the Siberian Tiger

 Back outside we saw this small bull moose - he was rubbing his antlers on the bars ... at least the habitat was larger - we saw at least two there.

 Next there were a pair of Arctic wolves - one laying down and this beautiful one standing up.

 We went around a corner and this leopard was pacing in his small cage - see the path in the snow? he was beautiful.

 Next to the leopard was this larger bengal tiger - he was also enjoying the cold day.

 Finally - near the end of the path was this large enclosure and a large, beautiful Siberian tiger - middle of the picture at the back...really much larger than the other big cats.

This is as close as he would come for his picture - so pretty.  We had a great time and were glad to get home to our warm apartment - drank some hot chocolate!

More Zoo

 It was good to go inside a building after about 45 minutes in the cold ... this black panther wasn't very cooperative - maybe didn't like his picture taken - he was pretty though.

 This scarlet ibis was so colorful - this exhibit had lots of birds, ducks, etc.

 This orangutan was so lazy ... just lay there and ate - made us laugh.

 This Mandrill has a pink and blue nose - just as I was taking the picture he growled - look at those fangs? 

 Tapirs - looked like giant rats to me!

These two ostriches were so fun - strutting around their enclosure.

Novosibirsk Zoo

 Saturday, December 2nd - we took a Taxi to the Novosibirsk Zoo - who goes to the zoo when it is 6 degrees outside?  People who live in Siberia - that's who!!  It warmed up to about 12 by the time we left - good thing we could go in some buildings to warm up! This is just inside the entrance and I'm sure the fountain is pretty in the summer - we will have to come back then! The three buildings are gift shops and snack places - only the gift shop was open. 

 They cleared the snow, and wrapped the bushes and trees - look straight down the path and see the small hill?  They had piled up all the snow and children were sledding on it! 

 The dinosaur part was not open - but it made a good picture to see the snow on them!

 This Polar bear was having a good time - he would run and then slide on the icy part of his cage.  The cages were rather small and some of the animals were just pacing back and forth - made you feel sorry for them.

 Closer of the Polar bear - they must heat the water in the pool to keep it from freezing.

 This brown bear was boxing and biting on two black plastic tires hung about him ... he kept getting in the way of a good picture - this is all I could get!

Then he laid down and started scratching the poles - see the tire things above his head?  Most of the outdoor cages were empty - but this zoo has a Siberian Tiger and we wanted to go just to see him!

Christmas Decorations

 We purchased this paper door wreath for our door .. thinking it said Merry Christmas - see the top part?  Well - it says Happy New Year!  so I cut out the Merry Christmas and added it to the middle of the wreath! Now it says Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  Russians have celebrated the New Year since Religion was discouraged - Father Frost (Santa Claus) and his grand-daughter the Snow Maiden bring gifts on New Years Eve.  Christmas is making a come back - celebrated on January 7th.

 This small artificial tree and decorations and stockings were all in the apartment on the back porch.  Polly sent the gifts!! 

 Fun stockings - we will leave them for the ones who follow us!!  At home we aren't Elder and Sister!!

 Here we are by the tree - we are enjoying the Light the World with the young volunteers - so love their joy at serving others...so we get to serve them.  We have a three some on sisters - one is sometimes too ill to go out and I get to go over and stay with her while her companions have appointments!  At the same time on Friday - we had the Elders teach a lesson to an investigator in our home!  They can only teach in members homes or the church - and a home is much more cozy!  We are so happy to have the opportunity to serve - and Light the World!

 Also left in the apartment is this beautiful Willow Tree Nativity Set - it was on the top of the Entertainment center when we got here - and we'll leave it there for the next senior couple.  love it!

This is for our grandson Baden - he loves giraffes!  this is one of the trees in our closest supermarkets - see all the orange giraffes!  We smile and think of Baden when we see it.