"We are happy to have completed Day 6 and we want you
to know that we are semi-celebrities at the Korston Hotel. In
between visits, we returned to the hotel and our friend, Dinara,
at the front desk, informed us that the deputy general manager
would like to meet us. We met her and she told us she was glad
that we were enjoying our stay (after all, that is a sign we have
been here a LONG time) and sent to our room a complimentary
plate of chocolates! Also, she said that we are the first people
staying at the Korston Hotel who were in the adoption process
and enjoys Americans as there are very few Americans and
English speaking individuals who visit Kazan. We have been really
fortunate to meet some nice people at the hotel and have our friends
at each of the five restaurants we frequent at the hotel. We get
especially good service at the buffet from one waitress who always
smiles (rare for Russia) but I believe that is because Americans
still tip!"