Tuesday June 27 St. Petrersberg,Russia
    Monday morning June 26 Aija , Janii and I were up at 4:15 AM, out of the apartment in Riga by 5:30 off to the airport to Russia. She coached me on what to do and say/or not to be safe , to make it an uneventful trip out of and into the country. The airport was easy, in and to our gate,then onto Air Baltic for a short 50 flight. I expected St.Petersburg airport to be very big and beautiful. It was small and very easy to travel through. Heading to customs I knew all of the answers to the questions that they could or usually ask travelers. I memorized the names,addresses,people and places. Walking up to the customs counter I was anxious , and very well prepared. I handed them my passport and papers, he looked at them, stamped them and sent me on my way...no questions...no words at all. I wanted to say, wait, I can pass the test. Thought better and walked on.
   Lera, Aijas friend and past student picked us up,headed right for a place to have coffee and pancakes, the good kind ,as in Hungary and France. The crepes that are thin, with jelly, cheese and many fillings. We picked up a couple other students/friends,to come to this large wholesale house with us. Olga gave me a very nice tour, we talked . She is a fresh flower buyer and salesperson. They are very proud of their facility as they sell fresh cut flowers, ,green and blooming plants, supplies and home decor. One of the only two in Russia that she knows of that have it all under one roof.
   The five of us went to several flower shops, and coffee shops. Aija left us to be a part of a press conference for the Land Art Competition which I will take part in. We visited more shops until she meet up with us.We visited her school and classrooms. Polina and Anistasya went one way, we came to Lera's apartment to unpack, have coffee, relax. When I say  coffee for me it is tea,coffee is the favorite drink, tea I think second? Each day I learn a couple more Russian words,and more Latvian.
   Around 7:00 PM after a very strong rain we decided to take a walk to meet another friend for "coffee".WE walked along the Neva River. There is an island in the city. Lera lives on the island, it is a beautiful and very historic place. We saw so many lovely buildings, statues,parks,monuments. Lera and her family have lived here all of their lives, she is the best guide ever, Aija is the best interpreter..ever. We meet our riend, walked more , then walked to their family flat. It is very beautiful. The same as Lera''s,quiet in the center of such a large city. We had wine, cavoir,crepes,cheese. Aija looked at the clock, it was 10:00PM. Yes I was still out of the house!!!
   One name for this time of the year way up North is White Nights. It never is dark for many weeks. 10:00PM felt as 4:00 PM. We walked home the long way, by the river, arriving around 11:00.
   Lera''s began to make pirogi with cabbage,egg and garlic. Finally around midnight I left the two still talking and laughing and cooking.
 
June 27
   Jani took the bus from Riga, arriving at 5:00AM. We all slept in , had a great breakfast, prepared to leave for the day. Aija went to begin preparations for Land Art Competition. I found out this morning that I am an judge. I will go out in a day or so. In the time Jani and Lera will show me the city.
   We drove to Pushkin ( Tsarskoe Selo ) a town of impereal palaces. The palace we visited is also known as Great Catherine Palace, built in 1744 to 1756. It is Russian Baroque.We arrived, bought a ticket to be on the grounds,headed to the line to enter the palace with so many people. We arrived around noon,waited until 2:00 when they closed the line for 2 hours for appointment tours,reopening at 4:00. The line was tight, it rained on and off. Lera stayed in line as we explored the amazing gardens and parks of the royal. Lera, Jani and I went to the car for a snack that she had packed, and coffee. We also stopped at the WC (  restrooms) where we paid equal to $1.50 to use the facilities!!!
   Around 4:30 we arrived inside to another ticket office.Waited in that line, then went to another line to wait to enter. All of this was about an hour to where we put on special slippers to enter.So so many people all wanting to see the same thing.The art, gold,flooring was stunning. It was hard to see and hear a lot ,so many crowds, I became a bit chlosterphobic. We stayed in there about 40 minutes,seeing what we could see.
   We came home, ate,relaxed. Tonight at 1:00 we will walk to Neva River to watch the bridges go up. At 1:00AM all of the bridges on the Neva open at the same time to allow the ships to exit and enter the port. They are all lit . There are fireworks with the show.
   The Russian people are more than kind and wonderful, They are kind, gracious, just the same as you.
  Pictures will come later...

June 25. 2012
 

June 24, 2012 was Jani ( Johns )Day in Latvia. Most people in Latvia and other European countries have a name day.This is a special day just for those with that special name. Jani is the most popular mans name so it is celebrated throughout with many phases. I am visiting with Jani, my friend, with his mother and girlfriend. His grandfather , and friend with the same name. Saturday was a day of preparation,making food, eating food, drinking beer and homemade Birch wine, eating some more, talking , more beer.

  We went into the meadows around the cottage to collect wildflowers to make head wreaths for the women . We collected malpe branches and leaves to make head wreaths for the Jani's at the party. We sang, ate and enjoyed the patio, lake and chilly weather.

  Everyone about 20 of us sat at the table full of traditional latvian food with special recipes for Jani Day. Rita, grandma read and talked to all of us at the table about the traditions, we, actually they sang songs, she shared the history and taditions of the day. The we started to eat/ Other guests showed up so we went outside and sang and welcomed them, that happened several times, oh yes and tosted the guests with beer.

 The guests arrived with decorations on their car of maple leaves, garlands, wreaths, so many types. They did teach me how they made and attatched them to the cars. Next Wedding Class we wil do it.

   The next step was for everyone to go into the field to collect 27 different flowers and herbs. This bouquet we are to dry and keep in our homes. If something bad happens we are to take some, make tea and all bad will go away. Love that tradition. Everyone came back to the decorated tent in the clearing with food, glowers, candles. The long table was lovely. There wad a bonfire all stacked up as LandArt, very attractive, rather a shame to burn. The fire was lit, more food cooked outside, laughing, singing, dancing. A friend brought her saxaphone to play like an angel. I showed them some zumba steps, we had fun with that.
  The men made a fire way up on a pole, and lit it. Tradition is that it is a long day, the sun does not set on Latvia this time of the year. The fire in the air shows how the night is light, resembling the sun.
   More dance, foor and beer. I went to bed about 12:30, they stayed up all night, coming back to the sauna about 3:00AM, shower, food, and to bed about 6:00AM. The beginning of Jani Day.
   The family and friends were up around 10:30 with the saxapone announcing breakfast. It was a slow rainy day, great relaxing, nap now and then. The guests started to leave after lunch. About 8:00 the boys went to the lake, made a fire in the water off of the shore.I taught a small class on weaving and making paper flowers, we talked design and trends. The ladies went into the hot tub outside with Birch wine, peony and apple blossoms, candles, some mint...sort of Florist soup instead of Stone Soup. We had strawberry facials, with the new moon overhead. Great sleeping.

   Monday we were up into Riga. We visited the main wholesale house and flower shops. We prpared for tomorrows flight to Russia.

Arriving to Latvia (Latvia&Russia, 2012)

June 21, 22, 23

The flight took off right on time out of Minneapolis. I settled in for a nice sleep. It never really became dark the entire flight, being the longest day of the year. Night never fell going to the East, as it came up. Delightful to actually see and feel the experience.

   I walked off of the plane in Amsterdam to see Astrida, my friend and former student, who spends her summer in her homeland of Latvia. My seat was 24 B, hers was 24 F, directly across the four middle seats from me. Both of us were in the isle seat and did not see each other. We talked, had tea, the three and a half hours went by so fast. It was nice setting with her on the flight as well. We parted at the airport.

   Jani, Daiga,Riona and Eleana were there to meet me with flowers, a flower purse,balloons and Rice Krispy Bars, chocolate with M&M''s---so so wonderful to see them waiting for me. Riona and I meet close to 20 years ago when we took a design class in Lyone,France. A couple of years later I invited her to come to teach in Minneapolis at The Institute of Floristry. She accepted and asked if her teacher can come with her. They came, it was the beginning of a close friend/family relationship. They have been with their families to US many times, this is my fourth time to Latvia.

   This little country on the Baltic Sea was free from Russia for 10 years on my first visit. She was beginning to find herself and her joy and pride again after 50 years of Russian rule. The woman president reinstated the arts, singing,dancing,painting,acting and floral design. She knew that will encourage the population to bring out their best and find joy. Aija's mother was the designer and her school to step up to be the first Floral Design School. Aija , her daughter has taken over the business and is doing an amazing job.

   Riona and Elena, her daughter went to their apartment, Janii, Daiga and I went to the apartment to unload the luggage. We went to eat, walked in Riga city center, walked around the market area.It was a beautiful peaceful evening. Then we took a 20 minute drive to the Baltic Sea shore. The sun was beginning to set, the white fine sand was a bit chilly, clean and crisp, so beautiful.

   Sleep came fast and good. I woke up to a knock on my door, we had breakfast, headed out to the Riga City Center. This is Janas Day Weekend, a celebration weekend in Latvia, four day celebration.The center was filled with vendors selling home made items, crafts, bread,cheese,,beer and flowers,flowers and more flowers. There were many singing and dancing performers on stages all around. The streets heading into the center were also filled with vendors and people.It was filled with music and energy. We went to the market to buy ingredients to cook for the Jani celebration in the country house. The flower market was amazing, all fresh, plants,green, blooming,garden,eating plants.Beautiful , great smells. To a few more stores for just the right items.

   We stopped at Aerodium( www.Aerodium.com). Jani and Daiga had a surprise for me. There is this little place outside Riga where you can go to fly...thatš right fly. We went into this area, saw the video and instruction, proceeded to put on our "flight suit", hair net,ear plugs,goggles,helmet. Then to the staging area where we did exercises to loosen our muscles and our minds.A short walk up two flights of stairs, there we were.I stepped in first, the insrtructor suggested putting my arms up as they do in the airport screening,and fall forward. The wind blowing up actually puts you flying. He stayed in there with me,keeping me in the center. At first it was a challange to take a breath from my mouth, from my nose it was good.  Amazing, really brilliant experience, once in a lifetime.We did not purchase any of the pictures.The wind blew my mouth open, my cheeks sunk in , I looked like I could be growling, and I believe drooling some as well . The video did not say to keep your mouth shut!

   Then to the country house to see Aija, the family ,to prepare for the celebration tomorrow. I had some home made beer.Those of me that know that part of me, I never USED to drink beer. It was very good, sort of sweet and smooth after a fine day of flying. We made cheese, garlic bread and so much more for the celebration.

   It will be an early evening for me.

2012 Art In Bloom

The Artisans from Koehler & Dramm Institute of Floristry have a delightful design that they created from conception to fabulous birth on the front step of The Minneapolis Institute of Art.
Congratulations to all of you .
The design will be moved from the miseum to Dodge Nature Center on Monday April 30,  Trees will be planted on the sides and entwined around the cylanders for a permanent work of art.
I am honored to be a part of the group.

Hungary 2012

From Holland the next stop was Budapest Hungary. The flight was short, about an hour and 40 minutes, enough time to take a short nap. The plane was full. Curious the people talked and laughed the entire trip. All of the other flights everyone was very quiet.

Vera was right at the gate. Vera lived with me here in Minneapolis for 8 months a few years ago while she worked at Koehler. We became family. March 2 she and Akos her husband had a darling healthy baby boy Szilard. I wanted to hold him and play with him. We went to their house in Gyor a city an hour and a half from Budapest. They have a darling house, dog, cat, fence, all of what it takes to make a family and now a baby.


Sunday morning we were up early to drive back into Budapest to attend The European Orchid Show/Exhibition. It was so well done; the whole thing was first class. There were lovely settings and exhibitions. The orchid growers competed and the ribbons for the winners displayed. They judged the creative settings as well as the plants. Around the whole large area were vendors with everything one will ever want to grow and create with orchids. On the main stage a designer was showing and talking how to design with orchid plants and orchid stems. It was all very interesting and educational.

 

More photos from the European Orchid Show

 



When going to school we always were told that Hungary is the bread basket of the world. Well, it is true, they have the best bread anywhere, every size, shape, color, style, texture and I love all of it. We stopped at a local restaurant for dinner, with their pancakes and went home to enjoy the remainder of the day as a family. Monday we stayed home, cooked together, went outside, walked and shared the lovely day.



Tuesday I packed ready for Timi and Tamas to pick me up to go to Budapest to visit flower shops and see the city. It was difficult leaving Vera and Szilard and Akos.

Once into the city we visited several flower shops that Vera’s friend Peter suggested. Peter is a winner of The European Cup. Many European countries send chosen delegates to compete. Hungary is often the cup winner. It was delightful walking and driving around the big energetic city, stopping and talking to shop owners and employees about their education system in Floristry.




Later we met relatives of Tamas that were visiting from Sweden, talk about multi-lingual, all spoke English which I find is a norm in European countries. Everyone I encountered in the airports or public service speaks English very well, with a colorful accent. After a great Hungarian dinner we drove to see the Citadel at night, all around the city seeing the new concert halls and glorious buildings lit up to welcome us.

Timi and Tamas have a flat in the city which they were painting to have ready for a new renter at the end of the month. We stayed there, it was so cosmopolitan!!! We were up early to go down to the coffee shop, for a jolt of coffee. Even their English coffee has a spark to it. Definitely woke me up. Timi and Vera had planned and organized that we will go to a meeting/show for The Hungarian Florist Association. I was invited to do stage program and talk about the Institute of Floristry.

The show area was in a huge wholesale facility, about 3 of Koehler&Dramm, set up very differently. Vendors come in three days a week, rent a space and sell from there, somewhat like a co-op. It was really nice to see and walk around. We went upstairs to prepare. Timi had some corsage wristlets, glue and a few other items for me to show. My main goal was to talk about the school, and find a great designer that we can invite to Koehler & Dramm to share with our customers and students. The morning was a business meeting, how to promote your business and web business how to approach and use. Timi translated for me. Then it was our turn.


Attila Boros is a co-director of the association. Timi spoke with him, suggested I come do a part in their show. He took a chance and invited us. He is a talented delightful designer, who last year won the European Cup.

(photo: with Peter Panczel and Attila Boros)


The three of us went on stage. I talked, Timi translated all about the school and Attila translated about the designs. It was energizing and so so much fun. The audience was fully engaged, asked lots of questions, stayed there the entire time. They do not make and wear many corsages. I showed several ways with what was there in flowers and time. I showed Phil’s bird and some weavings and leaf work. Timi talked about our u tube and school. It was wonderful.

We left there to take a side trip to Timi and Tamas home town. I meet both of their parents, saw Tamas hobby farm, ate more great bread and food, with some home made Palinka…that will snap you to attention…thank you to Timi’s dad. Then we went back to Budapest.



On a note Attila will be coming to US soon to do a stage program, teach some classes and have some fun here in US. We are already making plans so stay in touch.



Thursday April 19, 2012



We were up early to the coffee shop/bakery downstairs, love the city. The coffee is wonderful and the baked items are soooo good. Timi taught me some things on the computer to help me communicate with everyone and her better. She is very patient with me, and all of the passwords.

The three of us stopped at the gigantic local market, with everything from bulk food, meat, fish craft and gift items. Two floors of wondrous things and Langos, Hungarian bread treat. It is similar to Native American bread here. Native American fried bread has honey and sugar with cinnamon; this has lots of butter, garlic with more garlic. There are sever al toppings, the garlic is the traditional. In respect to the other passengers on the flight we did not choose the garlic.

It was a bitter/sweet ride to the airport; I am ready to come home, but very hard to leave these two remarkable people. They came in with me, stayed and helped me, then we parted. I confess I went into the restroom and cried, it was difficult to leave Hungary with Vera and Timi and their families.

The flight was the best, three seats open in the center section. I laid down closed my eyes and slept most of the way home.

Customs was easy, Andrea picked me up, brought me home. Judy and Andrea packed me a snack to eat before bed, how thoughtful and delicious, thank you.

end of another magnificent adventure.