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Tour "From The Baltic To The Black Sea" Report - Minsk, Belarus 09 July 2005 (2005)
John D. Clark 111

Amazingly clean. Good roads. Cheap food in shops with basic
commidities--cheese, meat, bread with an ample supply of alchohol. Horse
powered and hand powered farmlands. Extremely expensive restaurants--even for
Germans and Swedes. Facinating markets with friendly faces and quick smiles.
Many police. We have all had positive experiences and feel Belarus to be a
well functioning
society.

Riding conditions have been good with the weather cooperating magnificently.
No rain with 25 Degree days. The Belarus organizors have prepared our route
well, along asphalt roads with many lakes and forests. Small huts are built
along the roadway for resting. Water comes from the farmers wells, after a
polite request. Coffee shops are scarce requiring that food be packed for
lunch and coffee or tea must be made on the roadside if wanted. Restaurants
are only available in the larger cities with the final bill calculated using
some kind of creative math. We all feel like millionaires after exchanging
money. One dollar is good for 2100
ruble.

Sigitas, our organizor has broken his foot, which is now in a cast. How this
will effect the tour we do not know. We will just have to
adjust.

Minsk is a beautiful Soviet city. Clean, Clean, Clean. We all feel safe and
welcomed.

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