From Russia with love ...

Sadly i'm not actually in Russia, but today i was inspired by the arrival of Russia's President Dmitri Medvedev here in Lisbon this morning.  The invitation, which by accounts took him weeks to decide whether to accept or not will see the highest level talks between the 28-member alliance and Moscow since Russian troops moved deep into Georgia in August 2008 as part of a campaign to defend the breakaway republic of South Ossetia.

At least the blue sky made a return today, though there was certainly a chill in the air. Therefore the perfect outing for my new Topshop coat (which is actually supposed to be a Christmas present)

I couldn't wait that long!!!

There are some spectacular views in Lisbon

I love my set of Russian dolls!!  I'd always admired them from afar and secretly wished for one and then a few years ago my wish came true and a certain someone brought me one as a gift.

A Russian nesting doll/matryoshka doll is a set of dolls that decrease in size and are placed one inside of the other. The word matryoshka (матрёшка) is derived from мать (mother).  Literally it means 'dear (or little) mother'. 

The first Russian nesting doll set was carved in 1890 by Vasily Zvyozdochkin from a design by Sergey Malyutin, who was a folk crafts painter.  The doll set which was painted by Malyutin himself was inspired by a set of Japanese wooden dolls which represented the Seven Lucky Gods.  There were 8 dolls, the outermost a girl holding a rooster, 6 inner dolls were girls, the 5th a boy and the innermost one was a baby. 

 In 1900 the set were presented in Paris at the World Exhibition and the toy was awarded a bronze medal.  Shortly after, the dolls were being made in several places in Russia.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend xxxxxx