Galina invited us to her дача (dacha) today. A dacha is a country home that most Russians have. They live in apartments in the big city and they always have a garden at their dacha where they grow most of what they eat all winter. We have been to other dachas and they are little shacks, although the gardens are usually very nice. But this dacha was very nice and the garden was beautiful.
We rode in a marshrutka for about 1/2 hour in the direction of Volzhsky, but instead of going to the right across the dam, we made a turn to the left. Galina, John and Tatiana walking down the road to the dacha.
The garden was a sight to behold with flowers and vegetables growing in the same beds sometimes. She says something is in bloom each season except winter. Maybe you can click on the collage to view it better.
We sat on the porch and ate a meal. The breeze was pleasant, the birds were singing and we even didn't do too bad conversing with each other. It reminded us of sitting on the deck at the cabin, but no sound of the stream and different smells. It was very peaceful...only a couple of blocks away from the busy city, but you felt a world away. We had tasty чай (tea) which was made from garden herbs.
Inside the dacha. There are 3 little rooms and no inside plumbing. There is also a bedroom upstairs that is reached by outside stairs.
The dacha was a surprise gift from her husband, 8 years ago.
We had a wonderful time together.
Walking to see the sea a couple of blocks from her dacha we passed this place where garbage is just tossed...all too frequent sight in Russia.
Skipping rocks in the Volgograd Sea (really just a really wide spot in the river right before the hydro-electric dam). One skipped 12 times!
What a special day we had. Galina was staying until Friday and we called her lucky and headed back to town.
1 comment:
What a nice place and beautiful flowers.
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