Yalta Trip '09

Realizing that we do less blogging and more facebooking and also knowing that my parents are going to check this soon, I've decided to put a slideshow up of our trip this past weekend. The intention of the trip was to instruct 12 volunteers from the Kerch area on how to mentor teenage girls who are at risk for prostitution and human trafficking. The seminar was taught by Kremena our Swedish-Bulgarian intern and it was great. A bit overwhelming once you realize the enormity of the problem here, but assuring that individuals can indeed make a difference.

We were even able to fit in some sightseeing of beautiful Yalta. There's a little bit of everything in this slideshow. For those of you missing Hope Center staff, you'll get to see them at their finest. For grandmas and grandpas, you'll get to see the little boy who isn't so little. For those who've never been to Yalta, you'll get to see all the tourist traps... i.e. Livadia Palace where the "Yalta Conference" between Stalin, Roosevelt, and Churchill was held, boat ride to Swallows Nest (tiny castle on cliff), cable cars to a war memorial, orthodox church, gondola to highest point in Crimean Peninsula, descent into a cave to touch snow, beautiful waterfall in the lush forest, and of course lots of silly dress up pictures and fun stuff for the kids.

Pictures by Kremena

Music by U2 (Beautiful Day)