This week we had a holiday on the 23d of February dedicated to the Defenders of our motherland. Previously it was called the Day of Soviet Army. We usually congratulate our male friends and relatives as well as all military men/women. Because of the holiday we had 4 days free, so my friends and me decided to go to Riga.
Actually the city is really nice, it's central part is very small, one can do the sightseeing of the place in 2 days. There're very few people. It was very strange for me after the crowds in streets in Moscow.
Despite constant stories on our TV, that in Baultic countries people are very offensive towards Russians, we didn't notice anything of the kind. Everyone was really friendly, spoke russian to us.
The most beautiful building there was the House of the Blackheads. It was one of the residences of the merchants. Here's the link to the webcam: http://webcam.riga.lv/webcam/ and some info: http://www.citariga.lv/EN/index.php?page=303&id=1&part=13
Later when I get some photos of our trip from my friends, I'll post them here.
Next week I'm going to a business trip to Saransk, it's a city in the central part of Russia.
Saturday, 27 February 2010
Sunday, 14 February 2010
Maslenitsa
This week we had Maslenitsa. It's a kind of a carnival before the great fast. The speciality of the weak are pancakes. So you cook them the whole weak with all kinds of stuffings. My favourits are pancakes with meat and pancakes with redcurrant. Sorry, I took the photo of the last pancake left (they are so tasty, that you just forget about everything, while eating), but we made a whole lot of them during the weak.
Another thing about Maslenitsa, is that each day of the weak has some special name and has a special activity connected with it. Usually the activity is inviting or going to visit your relatives (with pancakes, of course). On Sunday, the final day of Maslenitsa, one has to ask all of his relatives and friends for forgivness for all his faults. And as it is the end of the carnival, there're lots of festivals organized in different parts of the cities and towns, which finish with the Maslenitsa (the embodiment of winter) being burnt. Since the day it's considered that the winter shall end soon, though usually it takes not less than a month.
PS: when making a photo of the last pancake with meat, i noticed a bottle of Tarhun, so I thought it's worth being mentioned. It may look like some acid, beacuse its green. But actually it's a kind of a non-alcoholic sweet/sour sparkling drink, which was very popular still in soviet times. It's colour is explained by the fact, that it's made on the basis of the plant called tarhun. Though now most of the producers use some chemicals to reach such a color. I like it, it's really refreshing.
Another thing about Maslenitsa, is that each day of the weak has some special name and has a special activity connected with it. Usually the activity is inviting or going to visit your relatives (with pancakes, of course). On Sunday, the final day of Maslenitsa, one has to ask all of his relatives and friends for forgivness for all his faults. And as it is the end of the carnival, there're lots of festivals organized in different parts of the cities and towns, which finish with the Maslenitsa (the embodiment of winter) being burnt. Since the day it's considered that the winter shall end soon, though usually it takes not less than a month.
PS: when making a photo of the last pancake with meat, i noticed a bottle of Tarhun, so I thought it's worth being mentioned. It may look like some acid, beacuse its green. But actually it's a kind of a non-alcoholic sweet/sour sparkling drink, which was very popular still in soviet times. It's colour is explained by the fact, that it's made on the basis of the plant called tarhun. Though now most of the producers use some chemicals to reach such a color. I like it, it's really refreshing.
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| Альбом: lenin's blog |
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| Альбом: lenin's blog |
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| Альбом: lenin's blog |
Wednesday, 3 February 2010
Presents & a home party
Presents for my birthday (was in December) are still coming. The 2 things I got this weekend were completely unexpected and are so loved already.
The first one is a marvelous edition of Oscar Wilde's selected stories, novels and poems. I love the author for his brilliant sense of humor and unexpected view of the world. I got to know his works still at school and I'm never tired of re-reading them, each time finding something new.
The second is a table game of monopoly, or anti-monopoly, to be exact. The game is a modification of the original thing and is even funnier to play.
Actually last weekend I invited my friends to stay at my place. And we spent the whole weekend playing different kinds of table games. I never thought it can be so fun. I'll be sure to keep it in my memory.
The first one is a marvelous edition of Oscar Wilde's selected stories, novels and poems. I love the author for his brilliant sense of humor and unexpected view of the world. I got to know his works still at school and I'm never tired of re-reading them, each time finding something new.
The second is a table game of monopoly, or anti-monopoly, to be exact. The game is a modification of the original thing and is even funnier to play.
Actually last weekend I invited my friends to stay at my place. And we spent the whole weekend playing different kinds of table games. I never thought it can be so fun. I'll be sure to keep it in my memory.
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