In 1974, Sybil and Cliff made a trip through Eastern Europe and Russia. Although Sybil found a new favorite perfume in Bulgaria and witnessed a Soviet welcome to Moscow, she only chose to write specifically about the Tretyakov Gallery. As art was one of her main influences, she spends several pages describing how the gallery came to be and some of its more notable pieces. Sybil points out her favorite piece in the vast gallery as being a 15th century icon entitled “The Entombment”, a depiction of Mary, John, and Joseph of Arimathea bidding farewell to the body of Jesus Christ.
What is most interesting about this journal is what Sybil leaves out of her travels. As an American traveling to Moscow in 1974, one would think there would be a considerable amount to talk about however she limits her writings to the art. While there are times she does write of politics within her travels, in this particular journal she only mentions that there is an Arms Summit taking place while she is visiting and how more attention should have been given to the beautiful art of the Tretyakov Gallery. The fact that she specifically chose to only write about the art means the art was what she considered to be the most important part of her trip. This highlights art as a primary influence in her writings.
At the end of this journal, she includes an interaction with an older woman on the streets of Moscow. The couple forgot to plan for a ride back to their hotel and found themselves lost. An older woman on the street looked at the couple and asked, “Americans?” when they nodded she replied, “I love Americans!” and located the correct bus, paid the fare, and instructed the driver on where to drop them off. Her last words in this journal are specifically memorable as Sybil kindly thanks the Moscow native for the help, “As the bus pulled off we could see her smiling and waving. I flashed her the peace sign in the hope that she knew that peace and love are inextricably linked.”