Dear CCI supporters and travelers,
Our June 20 to July 5 Mega-Trip to Russia is still on schedule!
We of course are watching the impact of the new Omicron variant.
We have made all of the necessary connections for the trip to go forward, and will begin a new marketing push for travelers in early January.
We are encouraged that Putin, et al, plan to do a four-month lockdown February 1 to the end of May. This most likely will slow down the rate of viral cases. We assume that the results will be tallied and reported as the months move forward.
I’m watching closely and will travel there in January ahead of the lockdown.
Of course I’ll report to you what is happening on ground.
I do know this: our Russian experts and Russian people throughout the country will be so happy to see American faces again! When traveling there in September, Russians spoke of being cut off and missing interacting with Americans. And they so miss being able to get U.S. visas to travel here.
I hope and suspect that unknown circumstances are in motion that will bring an end to this crazy sanctioning and demonizing of Russia and the Russian people. It is literally insane to operate in this manner … spending trillions of dollars to build more military weapons and not a cent on real diplomacy! More information from January 1 forward.
Meanwhile have a wonderful Holiday Season with your friends and families!
Sharon Tennison
Center for Citizen Initiatives