Two Easters

On Easter Sunday we took a trip to Melikhovo to visit Anton Chekhov’s estate. Being on his land and in his house felt like being in the world of a Chekhov play. It was so cool to be able to experience that first hand--especially because in our acting class a lot of us are working on Chekhov scenes. I’m playing Astrov (the doctor in Uncle Vanya) so I was particularly excited to see Chekov’s doctor’s office. Seeing where the writer lived gave me quite a bit of insight to his work. (David, I completely agree with your take on his estate) His tastes seem to have been simple yet refined and VERY organized—everything having a specific place and purpose (perhaps because it is now kept as a historical sight, but I suspect he would have kept it that way in his time as well). I see all of these qualities in his work and certainly as valuable qualities to don when approaching his work as an artist. He was a fascinating man. Though I learned so much about Chekhov visiting his estate, I came away with so many more questions than I had before going.

The next Sunday was Eastern Orthodox Easter, so Rebecca, Laura and I went “cathedral hopping.” It was really cool, the churches here are like no churches I've seen before; they all have that Russian old school tear-drop dome kind of thing going on, and the inside is

usually full of a lot of fascinating art work (they walls are all basically murals w/ art work hung on them), and they smell like really awesome incense, and there are candles everywhere-- it's kind of overwhelming. In one cathedral

we caught the end of an afternoon Easter service-- there was a priest wearing elaborate traditional garb and

chanting and a choir singing this beautifully haunting music in Russian; it was really powerful. Unfortunately, my camera battery died at the first cathedral we visited, so I don't have many pictures.

Afterward we went to see the opera Carmen, which was also awesome-- a breath taking set and some of the most phenomenal singing I have ever heard.

So I seem to have been a poor blogger. In two of my “Three Months in Russia” I have posted only two entries--not a very good average. I will try post more frequently. My thanks to those who have been keeping me honest; great to know "I have an audience."