OTMA's Letters

Darling Shura!

How is your health. It is hot here 30 degrees in the sun. I just got back from Neskuchnyi [the oldest park in Moscow]. There was an outing in the morning and there was a worship service in Uspensky cathedral. It was so sad to leave Livadia. And I feel terribly sad that you are not here. Marie and I live in the blue room Olga and Tatiana in the red, Nikita Fyodor and Andrei have tea with us and play here. Do you have a stick? Nikita is terribly naughty. It was terribly hot on the train.

Olga, Mama, Papa and Tatiana were traveling in a noble [a slang, probably referring to a car on a train for nobility], like in Kiev. I feel better but sometimes bad again. Tomorrow there will be an inauguration of the monument [Tsar Alexander III monument inaugurated on May 30, 1912]. Do you think you will come soon or not. They say that we will raise the Standart (navy flag, the main Imperial yacht of the Tsar had the same name – The Standart) on June 29, so you need to hurry. Now after Moscow I want to go to Livadia. We made a stop in Harkov. There were Ladies with Mama and Papa had reception of the deputies. Tatiana received a good gift today for her celebration [Tatiana’s birthday]. We had a marvelous voyage from Yalta to Sevastopol, the weather was hot and marvelous in Sevastopol.

Will stay in touch. Big kiss to you. With love

truly yours Anastasia

The envelope is plain because people like to read, when it says Moscow or Standart.

[May 29, 1912]