A baboushka is traditionally the doll within a doll within a doll that everybody that comes to Russia buys. I could have come away with the real thing tonight. A baboushka is also a matronly grandmother.
We have arrived in Suzdal which is only two hours from Moscow and is a small town with a deep history, a dozen beautiful churches and a monastery and a convent. I had my second moment of the holidays listening to four monks dressed in black suits (not black robes) singing a chant. So soaringly beautiful amongst the 600 year old frescoes that talked of hundreds of years of devotion it moved me to tears.
We had breakfast at a local house, traditional cheese bakes with wild strawberry or cherry jam and ham and cheese on bread. Enjoyed so much we chose to come back this evening and join Linya for dinner. Garlic cheese compote in tomato with a Russian-style coleslaw and green leaves; borsch soup and chicken/rice breasts with mashed potato. All very Russian, all cooked by Linya.
Each course preceded and followed by a vodka toast (they don't say nostrovia) to health and happiness or to people. Then we partied, with Russian music from a DVD playing in a TV. Linya took a shine to me; much to my horror and much to the hilarity of the rest of the group. She speaks not a word of English. We danced.. and I played along. We drank more vodka, and I had to help Andrew drink his too, he doesn't drink much. Sweating profusely with a thunderstorm and rain outside, we all danced and laughed. Such ribald fun. And Linya kept making a bee-line for me. We must have consumed six medium bottles of vodka between the 11 of us. And we laughed so much. Linya invited me to her sauna down the bottom of the garden (I said nyet) she pushed my nose down between her ample, sweating bosom (several times) and the whole group cracked up... and took lots of photos. I just went shy.
A RTW Strongie experience not to be forgotten.
And now back in the hotel, single room spinning. Hot fragrant tea, pint of water..
Bring on Moscow!!
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