Thank goodness for our escorts, translators, guides and friends we were able to run to catch the train two minutes before it was set to leave and then taken to the hostel in Kaluga called "Hostel Like". Yip, we tried to figure out the logic behind that name too. Conundrum I tell you.
Having worked at a backpackers once, I've never actually experienced what it's like to share a dorm room with complete strangers...Jackie and I spent the most part of this time giggling initially as we were only allocated 10-15 minutes in the bathroom for everyone to share. However, the queue to this bathroom allowed us to meet two awesome guys who live and work in Moscow but had very interesting jobs that made for good conversation.
We woke to an absolutely beautiful day and headed out to make the most of the weather. Jackie and I couldn't help but compare Kaluga to the likes of our little town where we (well, kind of for Jackie) grew up...complete with a hexagon and a Cathcart road; it was just minus a Nonseni Mall and with a MacDonalds.
Maybe we subconsciously wanted to be the "bubble-making" man from my previous post but our first purchase were long tubes of bubbles which gave us and other people unexplained joy throughout the day. No matter how old you are, you cannot resist chasing a bubble to chance it because maybe just that one time, it won't actually pop. We watched children's little faces light up as we walked around this little place happily blowing copious amounts of bubbles.
We found that the people in Kaluga are much easier to smile and are much more relaxed, obviously. Families were out and about on this public holiday with the main road being flooded with little stalls selling fresh strawberries and home-made goods...we were drawn to these stalls with the smell of a braai too!
We went and bought ourselves some goods to make up a little picnic and to Jackie and my delight, found Rooiberg South African wine to celebrate the holiday. We sat overlooking the amazing lake and forest while simply relaxing. There's just something about the lifestyle of a small town that makes you forget the bustling of a city.
On the walk home from the picnic we came across an amusement park. For some strange reason that I cannot explain, I decided that maybe my fear of rides such as these had somehow changed since I had moved to Moscow and conquered so many other challenges. I feel like poor Jackie's view of me changed rather drastically as I sat next to her, petrified, begging her to somehow get me off. I feel like maybe moving to Moscow was enough of a challenge for one year. haha.
Sundowners and sushi took place outside near the "hexagon"/circle followed by a visit to the local bar. Interestingly enough, we met a man who had lived in South Africa for four years as well as many friendly and English speaking people. It's a very foreigner friendly place with all the international people living there due to the manufacturing of Volvo and Volkswagen that operate from there. Served by very lovely and good looking barmen and tasting their house beer, was a wonderful end to the day.
Friday was spent paying a visit to the space museum that is based in Kaluga due to one of the original astronuats coming from there. They kept things like their lipice and food that they had as well as showing how they would live and sleep in a remake of one of the shuttles. They also had awesome actual satellites which show how much these apparatus have to withstand with how weathered they are. It was exceptionally interesting to see these things that we've always learnt about in textbooks at school.
The train ride home allowed us to see the natural terrain of Russia which is so different to that of South Africa, but also so beautiful. Jackie and I discussed on the way back to Moscow how weird it is to talk about "going home" as in, going back to Moscow, the city, in Russia. It is still so surreal but I suppose that if it were usual, it wouldn't be an adventure, which is what we're always chasing. When things start to get stale, we find one somewhere else.
Braai!!! (well, as close as we're gonna get to it) |
At zero degrees in the center of Kaluga |
At the Space Museum |
Fountains and bubbles make life so much better |
The lake and forest view |
Outside the Space museum just chilling with the space people |
Beautiful weather for exploring |
Some more bubble making beautiful friends |
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