Points of (Inter)view

An update which you will be glad to read: thanks to the intervention
of several friendly, garden-owning residents of Bol'shie Koty, our
stomachs are full of smoked grayling, fresh raspberries and currents,
and zhuchki ("little beetles" -- actually small and tasty pastries),
while our living room is empty of evil spirits (we hung up a head of
fresh garlic, as instructed, above the window). Our heads, meanwhile,
are full of new information. We had the pleasure today of interviewing
local researchers, technicians, gardeners and cooks -- they told us
stories of how their families came to Baikal, of what the lake means
to them, and of cyclical seal population data; they even gave some of
us relationship advice. In the photo, that's Zoe and Evan interviewing
our beloved Liudmila Nikolaevna Riapenko.
In the afternoon, we were visited by Svetlana Dobrynina, the head of
the Ecological Enlightenment Bureau for Baikalo-Lenskii Reserve.
She presented some facts and figures (as well as some amusing
anecdotes) about the history of the Russian National Park system. A
group favorite factoid: Baikalo-Lenskii Reserve is home to
Russia's largest population of bears. Park rangers, in an effort to
not disturb the environment, do not engage the bears in any way.
Instead, they hide from the bears in their huts and allow them to
wreak what havoc they will.
We even had time today to engage in one of our favorite past times at
the Biostation: entertaining eight-year-old Diana. In the photos, you
can see us playing rambunctious card games with her.
Tomorrow we depart on our five-day expedition by cutter to several of
the most famous islands of Lake Baikal. Preparations are (s)well
underway, and we are aboat ready to go. Sea you later!
Rosamond and Abby

P.S.: Evan would like to wish a happy anniversary to her parents :).
Apologies for being one day late… I got distracted yesterday by
climbing a mountain. Typical. Also, happy birthday today to my lil
bro! Thanks for 20 years of big sister status. Can't wait to compare
boat stories when I get back. Sending much love from Siberia.