Our last morning at the Bol'shie Koty biostation was rainy -- the perfect weather for angsty last walks on the beach. The sun came out in time for us to say goodbye to beloved biostation staff and the captain and mate of the Kozhov before we boarded the hydrofoil for Listvyanka.
We were especially sad to leave Olga, our cleaning lady, who we at first just knew as "Super Nice Lady," until she became our mom in Bol'shie Koty. Olga always made sure we sat on cloths instead of the cold ground, scolded us for our messes, told us to hang garlic in our living room to keep away evil spirits, and gave us endless nicknames (little dogs, raspberries, baby goats…)
Our next stop was Tal'tsy, where we visited the Museum of Wooden Architecture. We toured various traditional Siberian houses, which had been relocated and preserved from areas flooded by the construction of the Bratsk Dam and other reservoirs. Our guide conducted the tour in a leopard print jumpsuit and six inch platform heels with hiking treads. It was awesome. Some of our group let loose and played on old Cossack-style swings, while others watched sedately from afar.
We're writing now from our old hotel in Irkutsk, where the wifi is spotty, and the mayonnaise is plentiful. We all deeply miss the delicious cooking at Baikal; also Internet access is way less fun than we thought it was a month ago.
Tomorrow is our last day in Russia before we depart, so this will be the last time you hear from your favorite bloggers at the end of the alphabet (t'fu t'fu t'fu).
Yours still and always in squad formation,
Evan and Zoe
remembrance the trip there, an want u -all learn, an most of all friendship - with each others- life's in the times of being young an learning the skills.
ReplyDeletemost of all the great morning country foods an the oceans, an wildlife & so on---