This weekend Hannah and I spent Saturday night and Sunday at the home of our friend Gulnara (pictured in the previous post... and later in this one). Her family has a BEAUTIFUL home in Zarenda - about 45 minutes from Kokshetau. It's 3 stories complete with a big screen TV (including cable in English and Russian), heated floors, and a nice kitchen with a beautiful view. They also have an amazing banya. It's got a sauna room, a small swimming pool, a shower, and a nice little sitting area in the entrance. I didn't manage to get any pictures of it, but I'll have to next time, because I want to build one just like it back in the states. :)
So, Saturday night, Gulnara and her husband and daughter picked Hannah, Myles (who lives in Zarenda and was hitching a ride back with us) and I up and headed out. When we got to their home we took a quick tour of the house, then Hannah and I settled in and watched Say Yes to the Dress on TLC, while Myles went down to grind the meat for dinner. We then traded places and Hannah and I helped finish making dinner while the boys relaxed. We had a lovely little "family dinner" that made me feel very nostalgic!
We finished eating at almost 11 pm, and then the girls headed out to the bannya to relax for a couple of hours. We took our time sweating it out in the sauna, then dipping in the cool pool, or, occasionally, running out into the snow. Naked. It was so much fun.
We slept in the next day and took our time getting moving in the morning. Finally, after a good brunch, Gulnara, Hannah, and I went out for a walk/run through the forest. It was beautiful. When you're used to seeing nothing but steppe and a little yellow grass covered mostly by dirt under some blackened snow... this was refreshing.
And there were plenty of opportunities for photo ops. Ridiculous photo ops, in some cases.
After lunch I joined Gulnara and her daughter for a little Cross-Country Skiing. It was my first time. I think I looked slightly ridiculous. And I fell... more than once. But it was fun! And great workout!
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| A little bit of silliness |
So, Saturday night, Gulnara and her husband and daughter picked Hannah, Myles (who lives in Zarenda and was hitching a ride back with us) and I up and headed out. When we got to their home we took a quick tour of the house, then Hannah and I settled in and watched Say Yes to the Dress on TLC, while Myles went down to grind the meat for dinner. We then traded places and Hannah and I helped finish making dinner while the boys relaxed. We had a lovely little "family dinner" that made me feel very nostalgic!
We finished eating at almost 11 pm, and then the girls headed out to the bannya to relax for a couple of hours. We took our time sweating it out in the sauna, then dipping in the cool pool, or, occasionally, running out into the snow. Naked. It was so much fun.
We slept in the next day and took our time getting moving in the morning. Finally, after a good brunch, Gulnara, Hannah, and I went out for a walk/run through the forest. It was beautiful. When you're used to seeing nothing but steppe and a little yellow grass covered mostly by dirt under some blackened snow... this was refreshing.
And there were plenty of opportunities for photo ops. Ridiculous photo ops, in some cases.
After lunch I joined Gulnara and her daughter for a little Cross-Country Skiing. It was my first time. I think I looked slightly ridiculous. And I fell... more than once. But it was fun! And great workout!
Then we caught a ride back home and headed straight to the banya to warm up. Since we were a little hungry after skiing, Gulnara grabbed a bag of apples and we sat in the sauna eating apples. It was awesome. Such a random thing, but it made me so happy and content.
Weekends here are short, so you've got to pack in as much as you can. Mission accomplished.
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