Attaché Ball

Attaché Ball

December 16, 2017

 

This was our first experience with the annual event hosted by the Diplomatic Corps of the Russian Federation. Let me tell ya, the Russians really know how to throw a party!

It was entertainment from the moment we entered the room.

Our invitation

  

 

What a start to the evening...Ballerinas, ballroom dancers in wedding gowns, appetizers and drinks free flowing.

 

So adorable! Ouch on the toes! 😨

Good for these young girls to get in front of this crowd to dance (multiple times) for us! They were lovely to watch.

They covered nearly the entire marble floor with laminate flooring for the event. I guess for the dancers sake - less slippery perhaps?

In come the ballroom dancers

The beautiful Kumiko (Japan) in her beautiful Kimono

Enjoying ourselves... so glad we were able to experience this ball at this, our last opportunity to do so.

Young children performing a Georgian dance for us. Wonderful!

My attempt at following a young Russian soldier when he asked me to dance during the cocktail hour... it didn't go so well!

Never a good sign when you're looking at your feet! He tried very hard to lead me - and really the steps were not that difficult, but I just could not seem to get it right... I'll just say it was the long dress! Ya, we'll go with that! 🤣

Shikha (India) posing with the beautiful, young, tall, Russian ladies!

Many of the beautiful Indian ladies in their colourful sari's.

Lilijana (Sweden) & I on our way to the ballroom for dinner

Some of our appetizers... I didn't even need to eat the main meal after all these appeys! I DID eat my main meal too, but I didn't need it! Good thing we did lots of dancing to work it off!

Nice watch poser! You're a good sport Lilli!

I had cropped the above picture to not show Jan, but Craig liked the look on Jan's face, so here's the un-cropped version.

Our wonderful Swedish friends Jan & Lilijana

Our table for the evening... 2 Canadians, 2 Swedes, 2 Germans & 4 Russians

Russian table mate on the right was well on his way during the appetizers

Ded Moroz (Father Frost - their version of Santa Claus) preparing to hand out gifts. When everyone entered a Polaroid picture was taken of each couple and a # was written on it. Ded Moroz did a lottery and the prizes were Matryoshka nesting dolls. Unfortunately, we arrived too late (oops!) for the picture and therefore had no chance to win. 😢

General Manero (US) won...

... and Tommy (Japan) was very enthusiastic to win also! 😜

ADeepak (India) also! Congrats to the winners!

I settled for a hug from Father Frost

Two of my favorite ladies... Kersti (Norway) & Birute (Lithuania). I wish I had taken the shawl off! Darn.

... + Kumiko (Japan)

Craig got in on the action

Marcela (Slovak Republic) & Anja (Germany)

 

 

 More entertainment for us

 Love this shot Craig captured in the hall of the girls posing before their next performance

 The dance floor was busy the entire evening! These people were ready to part-a! Unlike a typical ball (lol) where you eat dinner and then the entertainment starts, there was entertainment throughout the evening. Wonderful dancers and live musicians who were awesome!

Reinhart (Germany) & Craig

 Great shot love!

 Lovely Sakshi (India)... Gorgeous sari!

 

Craig, Martin & Rastislav (oh, and me too)!

Nice shot of our Russian table mates (Maria &...?)

 Craig with his new Russian friend (we couldn't make out what he said his name was) and Shiro (Japan)

This was me trying to take a selfie of my hair in the front mirror - with my iPad - forgot to get Craig to do it for me once I was dressed! lol

This was me taking yet another selfie (this diplomatic life is rubbing off on me with all the selfies they take). It was after the ball when I had taken all the pins out of my hair and taken my dress off. I was trying to get a close up of the make up - in particular my fake eye lashes! A first for me! 😁

 

I think it's fair to say everyone had a very good time. The sights, sounds and tastes of the evening were all fantastic. It started about 5:30 pm and ended promptly at 11:00... GTHO! We're both so happy we had this opportunity to attend this wonderful party!