The above photo is proof - Handan is safe and traveling in Russia!
Handan is in front of The Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Do you remember our book discussion in 2007 --- "The Madonnas of Lenningrad" by Debra Dean? The main setting is World War II and the Hermitage Museum.
From the Publishers Weekly Review for "The Madonnas of Lenningrad":
"Russian emigre Marina Buriakov, 82, is preparing for her granddaughter's wedding near Seattle while fighting a losing battle against Alzheimer's. Stuggling to remember whom Katie is marrying (and indeed that there is to be a marriage at all), Marina does remember her youth as a Hermitage Museum docent as the siege of Leningrad began; it is into these memories that she disappears. After frantic packing, the Hermitage's collection is transported to a safe hiding place until the end of the war. The museum staff and their families remain, wintering (all 2,000 of them) in the Hermitage basement to avoid bombs and marauding soldiers. Marina, using the technique of a fellow docent, memorizes favorite Hermitage works..." Marina gives tours of empty frames, describing what is missing to the soldiers who come through......
The Hermitage Museum was created in 1764 as the private collection of Empress Catherine the Great. The art went on display to the public in 1852. The collection is so vast, tours are usually longer than 3 hours!
Safe travels Handan, we look forward to hearing about your trip.
The following images are of the Hermitage Museum, compliments of Google Images.