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MASLINITSA-- that's "fat week" in Russian. That's right, an entire week of eating fat (literally, I tried some) and other things prohibited during the very strict Russian Orthodox Lent where one must avoid eating meat, meat products, fish, eggs, dairy, wine and oil.
Here, a babushka sells blini (crepes) in the central square.
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| At the central square: games, food, and even a concert. | . |
Another random story: I was taking a walk after Church one Sunday and bumped into my friend Olga. She invited me for tea with some friends. They were organizing some festivities for Maslinitsa at the Pushkin Theatre. So I went with them to the theatre and they taught me how to play the balalaika and dance traditional Russian dances! (they are similar to Quebec dances, actually)
International Women's Day is a big deal here. I received presents (a rose!), a cake even, and a number of phone calls from people wishing me happiness, joy, love, success, and that all my dreams may come true... and other delightful things.
Might I add that it's a national holiday and we got the day off work?
First stop on the agenda: lunch with Elena at 5 O'clock Cafe, the British and very popular tea place on Arbat (a street with many fountains near the ocean).
In true Russian lady style, Elena and I followed lunch with a photoshoot in the city's ancient China town.
Later, I went out with friend's from Church to "Anticafe"--here you can pay for the amount of time you stay, and then get as much tea and cookies as you like. Most importantly, there are board games! How about "Taboo" in Russian? Gah.
Even later that day, another young teacher and I danced our heart's out at a club near the big Orthodox cathedral.
Um, can we adopt these festivities in Canada?
Of course, I kept up with Canadian traditions as well. Here you can see a St. Patrick's Day party I organized with my students.
Yes, with "Kilpatrick" as my last name, I did make some claims of being related... what do they know?
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| Driving around the outskirts of the city. |
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| Anton is a very "adventurous" driver, as Julia says! Ack! |
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| A mysterious view of Russian bridge that spans the distance from Vladivostok to Russki Island. |
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| This is the second bridge in Vladivostok connecting two parts of the peninsula. |
