A new year spent at a Russian dacha (summer house) can provide plenty of anecdotes for a cocktail party --- you'll get to hear most of them when we get time for this blog.
Some views
of Sasha's dacha (Daria's
brother's summer
house) and surrounding
areas. During
the Soviet era,
it was quite
common for
people to get
a plot of land
outside the city
for building
a summer residence
and vegetable
garden. The summer
residence provided
a place to vacation,
and Russians
were encouraged
to farm the plot
to obtain additional
fruits and vegetables
(which were not
always available
in enough quantity).
While the dacha may provide a wonderful ambiance during the summer, it isn't immune to the harsh realities of Russian winter. Be grateful if your dacha has some sort of heating apparatus, or you're in for a very rough time.
From meat-stuffed
pies which look
like pigs, to
shaggy dogs which
easily outweigh
you, the New
Year celebration
in Russia offered
many eye-opening
experiences.
One thing is
certain -- the
care and lavish
treatment that
Daria and I received,
left us feeling
like royalty
for a day or
two.