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In reply to the discussion: US Launches Missles at Syria at Syrian Base after Chemical Weapons Attack [View all]Rhiannon12866
(205,839 posts)It really was the optimum time. My grandmother (Nana ) retired to NC and her small town had a sister town in the USSR and this was the initial visit. They needed 17 to make the trip and when people kept dropping out, my Nana suggested me to make up the numbers. At first I thought she must be out of her mind, since I grew up believing the Russians hated us. But it was my grandmother, so I went and it really did turn out to be the trip of a lifetime.
I was by far the youngest. Except for me and one lady, the group was all senior citizens, experienced travelers and quite knowledgeable, so I couldn't have been in better company! And the Russians we met were quite excited to meet Americans. We traveled all over, but our "sister town" was 2 1/2 hours straight up in the Caucasus Mountains so they weren't used to many foreign visitors at all! And it wasn't just the "peace groups" who were dedicated to peace, but there were monuments and remembrances all over. No one there had forgotten the last World War. And this was under Gorbachev, and Perestroika - so things were looking up - back then.