I can't believe I forgot to put this on here!! This is a picture, taken from our window (yes, I did open it, hang out of it, and snap a pic...i couldn't pass this opportunity by) of a Russian funeral. And, yes, this is a dead russian lady, laying out in an open coffin in the "parking lot" in front of our apartment building. I couldn't believe my eyes---I told our nanny that you wouldn't ever see this in the states :) Apparently here the 3 day old deceased person is laid out in front of their home for about 1 hour so friends and family can visit/pay their respects. Then, they are transported in the truck (seen below) which is open in the back. Two guys sit with the body in the back of the truck on the way to the cemetary and toss fir greenery out the back. I am told that this is so the deceased person can find their way back home after they are buried.

I HAD to share this pic as I thought it was too interesting not to. I was actually walking home from the market when I saw this in front of the building. I walked right beside the lady, and could hardly believe my eyes! I came directly up, and got the camera out!