So today was potentially the best day that words can
describe. It started off with me being in a rage with Robin. We’d meant to meet
at 11, but he had some “meeting” so we had to change it to a 10am start at the
university, leaving me in a crabby mood from lack of sleep.
I’m mostly kidding because I am normally pretty chirpy but
it was fun to give Robin all the grief I could muster. We were going to take
the bus a little way around the lake and then go for a walk. The weather was
pretty gloomy and we did get a little rain, but at least it wasn’t too chilly.
By the time we waited for people who weren’t aware of the late time change it
was about 10:40 by the time we hopped on the number 4. We got off at a beachy
bit and started our walk. My shoes are now full of sand.
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| Unfortunately these beaches get little to no use |
We saw many an amusing sight, from a grim looking circle of
tyres to wittled down slabs of wood, until we arrived to the OSTRICH FARM. That’s
right, a farm of ostriches. Remember when Sasha promised us that our excursion
would stop off here and it turned out he was a big fat liar?!?!?! Well we
finally made it. I’m not sure anything could ever compete with my happiness at
seeing a real live ostrich. Legitimately the best thing to happen to any human
being.
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| The ostrich gingerly peeks out whilst I make noises of enticement |
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| This is now my desktop background |
Maybe I should clarify that by “farm,” they really mean 2
ostriches who have a hut and an enclosed small piece of land on which to roam.
Either way it was joyous. You have to pay to get in if you enter from the road,
but if you go from the beach you can just walk up to the enclosion and play
with the ostriches.
And by play I definitely mean that you can take photos from
a distance because they sure like to peck at everything; from their food to the
fence itself. And no amount of telling them not to in English and also in
Russian (just in case) will stop them biting this metal. They may have gotten a
little riled up by my taunting but Connel (not so elusive anymore) pushed me
back when I got a bit too exciteable. (Which was for most of it). It was
amazing. They came out after I made strange noises at them and started eating
their food. And Oh My are they tall and gangly. Their necks are so long. Their
eyes are so beedy. They prance around all graceful and ostrichy. I’ve never
been so happy at watching anything in my life. The only thing that could have
topped it would’ve been a bear sighting. Although I don’t think I should be
around because I do like to taunt and I feel that the ostriches took it better
than any bear would. These ostriches also had a really nice wooden hut. It
looked IKEA-flat-pack-style so hopefully it’s really nice for them inside and
they have heating for when the weather gets cold. If not I may ride away on one
into the wilderness and live an ostrich-life. I’M SO HAPPY I can’t cope.
The only way I was leaving was when everyone else walked
away so when they eventually moved on we carried on our journey down the beach.
We made it to some forested area where we came across a babushka climbing out
of some foliage who pointed us in a good direction. She must’ve been picking
some mushrooms or berries. Either that or having a fumble with a dedushka.
Either way she looked nice and jolly. This pushed us in the direction of an
open piece of land in the wood with a tree-swing. Of course I had to have a go;
unfortunately you cannot always trust the boisterous people you’re with and
some violent pushing occured which ended up with a very dizzy Nadia.
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| Travelling at warp speeds leads to a very blurry photo |
We eventually made it to the other side of the lake and
popped into the local church which were having some mass baptism. It involved
water being thrown in people’s face, then them wiping mascara off their faces
and then a nice circle dance with chanting. So cheeky.
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| Circle dancing |
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| All places of prayer have gift shops here |
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| Snack table for after prayers |
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| Let's mock those that want to pray with electricity |
When we reached the more residential areas we were greeting
by a thousand different types of houses accompanied by a soundtrack of barking
(potentially rabid) dogs. Each house seemed to have one kept behind their own
version of a fence. Basically a few slaps of cheap-looking, rotten wood that these
rabid beasts could escape from if they found the look of us English lot tasty.
Luckily it didn’t seem that we look that tasty. I’m almost a little
disappointed. It’d be nice to be appreciated by a crazy wolf-dog once in a
while. Just to be courteous more than anything.
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| Dodgy bridge crossing |
Back to the houses, some were little hut type things made of
wood. The biggest fire hazard I ever did see. Some were ikea-type flat pack
houses and we saw a few that looked like they wouldn’t look out of place on Simon
Cowell’s estate.
On a side note, Connel also ate a berry he found in a bush
on the side of the road. To put this into context, the Russians love to pick
things. From mushrooms to berries to dill. They buy dachas outside of the city
which they can’t afford due to their less-than-blossoming economy simply to go
there and pick things in the forest when the mood strikes them. This bush was
full of berries. If they were even slighty edible they would’ve been picked by
now. There may be an exciting trip to the hospital available to us soon.
To conclude, the best day ever. I got to live out my secret
childhood dream of meeting an ostrich and not be chased by it in the process
and ride a rope swing attached to a tree. Met a secret babushka doing dodgy
things in the forest and didn’t get attacked by a dog. I know also have a
choice of about 50 photos of ostriches for my desktop background. How much
better does life get?
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| The panoramic setting isn't there for no reason |
Любовь из Петрозаводска
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| Me, Olivia, Maddy and Robin with some Russian teens overly excited to see us |
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