Storycard_Putin

With the explicit permission of

the Russian Prime Minister

we glided into the Arctic waters of Provideniya Bay, the first non-Russian vessel to do so

in 60 years. A converted army truck carried us inland, where we shared a plate of bread, hot from the oven. And though we hadn, t yet

sampled the vodka, we were intoxicated.

For while we had begun our journey aboard the

yacht as neighbors, we were now more than that.

We had created history together.

Three months later, Kate and I stand on our

apartment balcony, watching the shoreline get

closer, recalling the surprising warmth of the locals, even the soldiers.

And we renew our pledge to never forget that day.

But the breeze coming off the water forces our

heads back to a more literal warmth, the kind you can only feel south of the equator...