With a chuckle, people would say "Is there Scottish Country Dancing in Russia?" I can't speak to the rest of Russia, but in Krasnodar, the Kuban Scottish Country Dancers are not only flourishing, but were keen to be our hosts for a delightful combination of dancing and touring.

It wasn't that long ago that Ilona Gumenyuk, visited Britain, learned to do Scottish country dancing, and was bitten by the bug. Her love of dancing was infectious, and she amassed a good-sized group of keen dancers. What was missing? There were no other Scottish country dancers in the vicinity. So Ilona, along with Fiona Grant from Bristol, organized a group of some 50 dancers to join them, and I was pleased to be one of these.

•Yes, classes were run in English with someone translating salient points into Russian. They had learned most formations by their international names, including "strathspey travelling step". The locals learned quickly: one lady who'd been only slightly hesitant with the more complex formations told me she'd danced for all of two months!

•I would be at a loss to choose the most memorable event of the 10 days. Would it be The Russian ceilidh, packed with local music and dance, where even the teenagers came and invited us to try some of their dances?

•Our first "dip" in the Black Sea, approached by way of a glass elevator scooting several stories down from our hotel?

•The Cossack meal that went on for hours, course after course, accompanied by musicians?

•The afternoon in an Armenian village involving an open air barbeque, dancing on the lawn, a hike through the bushes, and a beating with oak branches in an experience known as a Russian bath?

•A formal dinner at which we interspersed our ceilidh items with Russian entertainment in a presentation to local dignitaries?

•The nightly sampling of vodka? (Russki Standart wins!)

What I will say is that none of it would have been nearly as much fun had it not been enhanced by the spirit of dancers. The visiting dancers (from Britain, Eire, France, Canada, Germany, New Zealand and USA) all shared a happy, friendly manner and willingness to "try anything & accept everything" during our travels. The Russian dancers looked after us well, showing us sights, taking us shopping, and communicating their joy of the dance. It reinforces the idea that where you have Scottish country dancing, you have friends!