Our last day in Tver

We went to the notary this afternoon and signed paperwork so that we could present our official petition to a judge in Tver Regional Court. The notary's office was the nicest we've been in since being here in Russia - wood cabinets, a nice desk and light fixture, a digital handset phone. We were there more than an hour, but we felt special because we sat in the notary office while our translator worked on our behalf and many, many Russians crammed into the outside room where the clerks sit. We had to squeeze in and squeeze back out.

Then we went to court and waited for about 10 minutes while our fellow traveler went into the judge's chambers to present her petition. We've been told that there are essentially 3 times we'll be in court - today, then one day when we return after finishing up paperwork or doing any new paperwork the judge asks for and get assigned a court/return date where we discuss documents and our dossier, then one more visit immediately subsequent to that where we talk more about our family and lifestyle, etc. We were in about 15 minutes or so and she asked about our home loan and our auto loans. I'm glad to have at least met her so court the next time around isn't as unknown - although she is stern and it is nervewracking to appear before her and have so much at her mercy.

So tonight is our last night in Tver; tomorrow we head to Moscow. We (meaning the driver!) drop our fellow traveler at the airport on our way into town and then we'll check into our hotel. We have a tour scheduled at 3 p.m. that we're looking forward to and we'll have one night in Moscow before returning home Sunday.

Until Moscow!