Its all over ...

Thats it, done and dusted. Both back home now and our Russian 'adventure' over.

You would be forgiven thinking this is a picture of us and our luggage on our way to the airport - Its not as we were in a Toyota Avensis. This is the venerable volga estate, but the amount of luggage is similar!!.

We also passed this truck - an old russian army Zil according to our driver.

Both the above pics taken on one of the Moscow orbital rings - wacky races best describes the driving style.

Got taken to Sokolniki Park by Arthurs Russian pal Artem. The park is very neat, formal flower borders, kids amusement rides and smooth paths for roller blading & cycling. The attraction for us was the bbq place and bar. Shashlik, chicken, selection of fresh/pickled veg. a beer or two and some Ukranian chilli vodka!! As if drinking vodka russian style wasn't enough of a challenge, we don't have just any old tarty flavouring like orange or cranberry, but a full blooded red chilli. After downing a shot it just got hotter & hotter - and that then left 2/3 of the bottle to go. Good grief it was evil.

Last visit to HQ - Naberezhnaya Tower in the business district

 First stage of the remaining journey home is the train from Pavletsky Station, and look at the happy faces

Flights await at Domodedovo, all on time and a hassle free remaining 12 hours or so to home.



Its a hard life

Lunchtime is siesta time

The last weekend

This is it, the last time we'll be twiddling our thumbs at a weekend in Yaiva. Sun is out and its like a summers day in UK, went for a wander and plenty of folk out and about the village making the most of some very pleasant sunshine. Bumped into Elena our interpreter who was coming back from the local swimming baths - yes, Yaiva has a swimming pool, first we've heard of it, but so there should be to be honest for a place that has around 10,000 people in it.
Went to check out how Mishka the bear was getting on, and took her an ice cream. Still can't work out why they have the bear in a cage behind the Banya - doesn't seem quite right.

As usual, weekend consists of having a lie in, catching up on reports, watching some dvds and getting some fresh air. However, if it rains, Al G is the first to know as the hotel has a tin roof and you can hear every drop falling when it starts to rain. Combine that with the cockerel from the hotel hen house giving his best every ten minutes under Al Gs window from 05:30 every morning, followed by the neighboured chorus of dogs barking, then a lie in is how long you can stand it before you give in and get up. Al B has more books to read on his kindle so 08:00 is the latest he has endured. Al G is a shift worker to the core and has managed as late as 08:45 before succumbing to the inevitable and raising himself from his pit.
Spotted the wandering cows close to the hotel on Sunday evening. You'll be pleased to hear they were quite content and appeared to be behaving themselves. Oddly enough someone appeared walking up the road with a large goat following closely behind, so it seems the people of Yaiva have a choice when it comes to the benefits of dairy products. You takes your money, you makes your choice.

Travelling in style

Inside of the 'big bus' on the way back from work at the 'GRES' (ГРЭС - russian abbreviation for 'state regional electric station' Государственная районная электростанция)

And inside of the 'passion wagon' on the way into work. The passion wagon is a transit van type vehicle with a crew cab which has some fetching blue curtains on the windows to keep things private.

They're both a long way from the days of getting chauffered in the Land Cruiser and Camry and we now consider it a treat when the Volga turns up now and then!!!

Morning constitutional....

....and a walk around the town to get a bit of fresh air and stretch the legs.
 
Up through the area that has what we would call allotments - parcels of land with a wooden house/shed, most growing a bit of veg etc. Most also have a dog guarding the place and once one starts they all do.

Along the street by the railway - watch your step!!

There's a few cows that wander about the place, today we found them providing a public service keeping the grass down in a kids playpark.

Past the fire station - sign says 'Fire station no.105'

Past the side of the Cultural Centre and along the street with the supermarket - top up with a few essentials, and then back to our digs. Just in time as a rain shower is on its way.

'Road' to our digs

Home from home

Just another Saturday night

Some people like dressing up and doing a bit of play acting at the weekend. In this case Al G pretending to cook in a little blue frilled ensemble.

Polka dots & frills - nice.

Steak.chips & mushy peas liberally covered in our HP lifesaver!

Didn't fancy anything in the fridge today.

Movie night tonight, and we are working our way through all the Die Hards for as long as the beer & vodka lasts, or we crash out whichever comes first

Working on a Saturday?

Yes indeed, at work on a Saturday - all to do with making up for having a bridging day off at the beginning of the week as part of the Victory Day holiday. As far as I know most of Russia does this and its declared earlier in the year by the government as to which days are bridging days and which days you work it back.
Nice and sunny today for a change, up at 16degC but showers forecast for tomorrow (its our day off after all!!). Never mind, Formula 1 will be on TV so theres that to look forward too - simple pleasures we have!.

Proof the Al B is working hard at a weekend

A day out in the country

Internet back on after a few days, so this is what we've been up to outside work.
A day off today as it's one of the Victory Day public holidays. We went up to the north to Krasnovishersk and a walk along the bank of the Vishera river and a climb up the Vetlan rock. Not the best of days, it rained mostly but a good view from the top.

There is a wooden stairway up the cliff from the river bank, all 645 steps and didn't we know it. Certainly gave the legs and lungs a work out and we were glad to see the top at last.

Cup of tea out of a flask and a few pictures then head down the steps again - I guess one slip and you don't stop until the bottom.

A mile or so walk back along the river and then lunch is shashlik - in this case marinated pork done on a BBQ - courtesy of Victor our host who produces charcoal, grill, BBQ and the ingredients out of the car boot. He also gets a bottle of absinthe out - 70% alcohol so handle with care, and also some beer. Now here's the strangest thing, Victor is teetotal which in our experience is a rarity indeed, but he knew a good beer. He was drinking a Russian concoction called kvas - made from fermented rye bread, looks like cola and is considered non alcoholic. After having a taste we quickly went back to the beer to wash down the shashlik. I think kvas is an acquired taste to say the least.

Back to work Thusday, Friday & Saturday with another day off Sunday!

It's all a bit different

Snows completely gone and it's either muddy when it rains or clouds of dust when it's dry. First couple of days it's been raining and even snowing again yesterday, but we are assured it will be fine and warm from next week onward.

The view that now greets us as we open the curtains in the morning

We were back in UK for 28 days last month and it rained for 24 of those so a bit of sun at last will be welcome. Also, it's light at the moment until about 22:30 because of the latitude location and it can only get lighter later - White nights as the Russians call it.
As far as latitude is concerned we reckon we are on par with being as far north as Fair Isle, which is between the Shetlands and Orkney Islands, around 59.3 north.

Head pot washer

Back to self catering and wondering what else is cooking in the kitchen - we are still not keen on the local fish.


I'm sure that fish just winked at me