I visited the USSR in the late '80s with my grandmother who joined a peace group in her NC town which had a sister town in the Caucasus Mountains. This was their initial visit and they need 17 to make the trip and people kept signing up and dropping out - so she asked if she could invite me. Having grown up believing that the Russians hated us, at first I thought my grandmother must be insane, but I couldn't say no to my Nana - so I agreed to go and it really was the trip of a lifetime. The group was compromised of experienced world travelers dedicated to peace - all senior citizens except for one lady and me. And I really came to love them all.
And I sure learned a lot - especially from the Russian peace groups. Having experienced the horrors of WWII on their own land, they wanted to ensure it never happened again. Even people we met on the street were friendly and excited to meet Americans. That's why I do not understand this war - but then Russian State Media is apparently keeping the truth from the people - heartbreaking.
And alcohol, especially Russian vodka, was plentiful. Fortunately, I had jet lag and mainly stuck to Pepsi when I could find it. I still remember one sign I saw which depicted a bottle of vodka encircling a person's brain. I've now been in AA since 2008 and I wish I could find that poster, it was haunting. 
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