Lyla Dejesus
Bernie Sanders and his wife Jane travelled to the Soviet Union shortly after their wedding in 1988. The trip was a government trip to establish a sister-city relationship between Burlington, Vermont, and Yaroslavl, Russia. Although critics claimed that Sanders had honeymooned in the Soviet Union, implying that he had a soft spot for Russia, the trip was not a honeymoon in the traditional sense. Sanders himself has described the trip as a very strange honeymoon. The couple had a more traditional honeymoon a year later, in St. Lucia in the Caribbean.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of honeymoon | 1988 |
| Honeymoon destination | Soviet Union |
| Honeymoon purpose | Government trip to establish a sister-city relationship between Burlington, Vermont, and Yaroslavl |
| Honeymoon destination the following year | St. Lucia in the Caribbean |
| Number of delegation members | 12 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Bernie Sanders' honeymoon in the Soviet Union
In 1988, Bernie Sanders, then the mayor of Burlington, Vermont, took his wife, Jane, to the Soviet Union for their honeymoon. Sanders described it as a "very strange honeymoon". During the trip, Sanders interviewed the mayor of Burlington's sister city, Yaroslavl, about housing and healthcare issues in the two cities. He also walked through Red Square, saw Lenin's tomb, and visited Leningrad (now St. Petersburg).
Sanders and his wife were filmed dancing to live Russian music, and Sanders is heard exclaiming, "I brought my special dancing shoes!". At another point, a member of Sanders’ delegation hands a Russian woman a small American flag, joking, "If you’re wondering what’s wrong with capitalism, it’s made in Hong Kong".
Sanders also spoke about his dream of reducing conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union by building relationships between ordinary citizens. He suggested exchange programs for young people and media outlets between the two countries. Sanders' wife, Jane, also spoke to teachers in the Soviet Union over tea, asking them detailed questions about their work and proposing a teacher and student exchange program.
Upon his return to the U.S., Sanders held a news conference in which he praised Soviet housing and healthcare and openly criticized the United States. He said, "We were saying, 'Yeah, in our country, we also have a housing crisis. Our housing in general is better than yours, but people are paying 40 percent of their income for housing. The quality of your housing is not good, but we appreciate the fact that people are paying 5 percent. The quality of your health care is not good, but in the United States, believe me, we have enormous problems in terms of our health-care system.'".
The Royal Honeymoon: Where Did Harry and Meghan Go?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![Bernie [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41BLc-0nV7L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
The trip's purpose was diplomacy
The purpose of Bernie Sanders's trip to the Soviet Union was diplomacy. Sanders, along with his wife Jane, travelled to the Soviet Union shortly after their wedding as part of a government trip to establish a sister-city relationship between Burlington, Vermont, and Yaroslavl, Russia. The trip was not a "honeymoon" in the traditional sense, and the couple took a more conventional honeymoon in St Lucia in the Caribbean the following year.
The trip to the Soviet Union was primarily diplomatic in nature, with Sanders leading a 12-person delegation of city representatives and officials, including his new wife. The goal was to foster ties between Burlington and Yaroslavl, and it was successful in doing so. Sanders himself has described the trip as a \"very strange honeymoon\"", and it attracted attention during the 2020 election due to implications that Sanders may have ties to Russia.
During the trip, Sanders and his delegation were treated to nice meals, a tour of a decorated subway station, horse-and-buggy rides, and professional dancing. They also engaged in cultural exchanges, with Sanders speaking about his dream of reducing conflict between the two nations by building relationships between ordinary citizens. He suggested exchange programs for young people and media outlets, and his wife, Jane, proposed a teacher and student exchange program.
Upon his return to the US, Sanders held a news conference in which he praised Soviet housing and healthcare while also criticising certain aspects of Soviet life. He also acknowledged that he and his wife had set their wedding date to coincide with the trip, saying: "We set our wedding date to coincide with that trip because we didn't want to take more time off."
Honeymoons: Are They Still a Thing?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The couple's 'real' honeymoon was in St. Lucia
Bernie Sanders and his wife Jane did travel to the Soviet Union shortly after their wedding in 1988. However, this trip was not a "honeymoon" in the traditional sense. The purpose of the trip was to establish a sister-city relationship between Burlington, Vermont, and Yaroslavl, Russia. The couple's actual honeymoon took place in St. Lucia in the Caribbean a year later.
The trip to the Soviet Union has been described as a "very strange honeymoon" by Sanders himself, who has joked about the unusual timing of the trip. The couple set their wedding date to coincide with the delegation's travel plans, as they did not want to take additional time off. This trip included about 10 extra guests and was primarily focused on diplomacy rather than leisure.
During their time in the Soviet Union, Sanders and his wife met with local officials and participated in cultural exchanges. They also took part in activities such as touring a decorated subway station, taking horse-and-buggy rides, and watching professional dancers. The trip was an opportunity for Sanders to pursue his dream of reducing conflict between the two nations by building relationships between ordinary citizens.
In contrast, their honeymoon in St. Lucia the following year was likely a more traditional and romantic getaway. St. Lucia is known for its beautiful beaches, lush scenery, and luxurious resorts, offering the perfect setting for a relaxing and intimate honeymoon. The couple could have enjoyed activities such as swimming, sunbathing, and exploring the island's natural beauty.
By choosing St. Lucia as their honeymoon destination, the couple could have experienced the warm hospitality, vibrant culture, and stunning landscapes that the island is renowned for. It offered them a chance to unwind and celebrate their marriage in a tropical paradise, creating memories to cherish for a lifetime.
Canada: A Royal Honeymoon Destination
You may want to see also
The trip included 10 extra guests
Bernie Sanders and his wife Jane did indeed travel to the Soviet Union shortly after their wedding in 1988. The trip has been described as a "strange honeymoon" by Sanders himself, and included about 10 extra guests. The trip was not a traditional honeymoon, as it was primarily a government trip to establish a sister-city relationship between Burlington, Vermont, and Yaroslavl, Russia. The delegation included 12 people in total, with a focus on diplomacy rather than leisure.
The trip included various activities and cultural exchanges, such as touring a decorated subway station, taking horse-and-buggy rides, and watching professional dancers. Sanders and his wife also met with local officials and citizens, including teachers, with whom Jane discussed educational programs over tea. The couple spoke about their desire to reduce conflict between the two nations and build relationships between ordinary citizens.
Upon his return, Sanders held a news conference where he praised Soviet housing and healthcare while also criticising certain aspects of Soviet life. He also drew comparisons to issues in the United States, such as the housing crisis and problems in the healthcare system.
The unusual nature of the honeymoon, including the presence of the 10 extra guests, has been a topic of discussion and criticism for Sanders, especially during his political campaigns. Some have used it to imply that Sanders has ties to or a soft spot for Russia. However, the trip occurred shortly after his wedding, and the focus on diplomacy and sister-city relationships clarifies the context of the trip.
Honeymoon Destinations: Kids or No Kids?
You may want to see also
Sanders praised Soviet housing and healthcare
Bernie Sanders and his wife, Jane, travelled to the Soviet Union in 1988, shortly after their wedding. The trip was a government trip to establish a "sister-city" relationship between Burlington, Vermont, and Yaroslavl, Russia. Sanders himself has described the trip as a “very strange honeymoon".
During this trip, Sanders praised the Soviet Union for its public transportation system and its "absolutely beautiful" train stations with chandeliers, culture programs, and youth programs. He also took shots at US foreign policies under then-President Ronald Reagan. Sanders acknowledged that the quality of housing in the Soviet Union was not good, but he appreciated that people were only paying 5% of their income for housing, in contrast to the 40% paid by Americans. He also praised the Soviet Union for its high-quality healthcare and lack of homelessness.
Sanders' trip to the Soviet Union was not a traditional honeymoon. The focus of the trip was to establish a sister-city relationship, and he was accompanied by a 12-person delegation of city representatives and officials. However, the trip was not without its lighter moments. Sanders and his team were treated to nice meals, a tour of a decorated subway station, horse-and-buggy rides, and professional dancers. They also visited an American-style pizza place in Moscow and posed for photos with someone in a Ben & Jerry's t-shirt.
The trip to the Soviet Union was not Sanders' only honeymoon. The following year, he and his wife took a more traditional honeymoon to St. Lucia in the Caribbean.
Honeymoon in Cancun: The Perfect Romantic Escape
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Bernie Sanders and his wife Jane went to the Soviet Union shortly after their wedding in 1988. Sanders has described this trip as a "very strange honeymoon" because it was not a traditional honeymoon. The trip's primary purpose was diplomacy, not leisure.
Bernie Sanders, then the mayor of Burlington, Vermont, went to the Soviet Union to establish a sister-city relationship between Burlington and Yaroslavl.
In the Soviet Union, Sanders met with "ordinary people" and officials, toured a decorated subway station, took horse-and-buggy rides, and watched professional dancers. He also praised the Soviet Union's housing and healthcare and openly criticized America.
No, the trip did not occur during the height of the Cold War.
Bernie Sanders and Jane Sanders took their traditional honeymoon in St. Lucia in the Caribbean a year after their wedding.
