Babye Leto

The early part of the week in Sochi saw very warm temperatures, dry air and sunny skies.  Daytime highs were between about 28- 30 degrees (82- 86 Fahrenheit).  The weather changed on Wednesday and several days of rain and cooler weather followed.

Fall days with summer weather is referred to as baby leto in Russia.  This means grandmother's (or old woman's) summer.  The phenomenon is known as indian summer in the United States.  One day, as I walked along the street in central Sochi, I heard music coming from underneath the trees of a nearby apartment block.  I stepped inside the yard and saw a woman dancing to Soviet-era popular music.  When I asked her if I could take her photograph, she agreed and told me a little of her history.  She studied dance during the Soviet era and on warm fall days loves to perform for her friends and passersby.