This is the first post about the regions of Russia that people commonly visit to adopt. It's my hope that this blog can become a database of sorts for regional information. Please feel free to add to this blog entry by posting in the comments section or by e-mailing me at adoptrussiablog@adoptionmail.com. I'm also looking for information about the other regions in Russia, so please feel free to e-mail me information or experiences about the region you visited as well.

We adopted Little J from the region of Voronezh. Specifically, his orphanage was the baby orphanage about 10 miles from the city of Voronezh. There is at least one other orphanage in (the city of) Voronezh that people commonly adopt from; this is the older children's orphanage in the center of town. Voronezh is part of the "black earth" region and consequently the land around the city is very lush and verdant. We were there in the fall, so most crops had been harvested, but the air was clear and the yellow-leaved birch trees were gorgeous.

Voronezh is a medium-sized city about 250 miles south of Moscow. Typically, people who adopt from the are travel there via overnight train although I have heard of people flying there as well. We stayed at the Hotel Don while in the region, which is very convenient to court (across the street) and the Internet cafe in the library (also across the street and about a block or so away). Many restaurants and shops are within walking distance. There is a nice little cafe inside the Hotel Don and, unless it's closed, a small grocery about a block away on the left where you can buy snacks and shampoo.

Voronezh city is a university town. There are lots of young people around all the time and to us it seemed very safe. In August and September (when we were there) the public spaces were beautifully planted with flowers. The streets were fairly clean.

Voronezh is a historical place. The people (our translator and driver told us) are very proud that they fought off the Germans in WWII as well as Napoleon way back in 1812. The Voronezh River flows through the center of Voronezh and it's this river that was a tactical advantage in the fights.

Here's a Russian Chamber of Commerce information sheet on Voronezh.

Here is a link to the three orphanages in or near the city of Voronezh.