This has to be one of those special Christmases that will always be remembered. As the group of 15 we are traveling with have formed a nice bond it was lovely to share Christmas celebrations with them. After a leisurely morning we boarded our bus and traveled out of town to a hunting lodge where we indulged our inner child as we tobogganed down steep slippery slides, rode in horse drawn sleighs through white snowy woods, made snow angels, and then indulged our inner adult as we tossed down warming shots of vodka and partook in a second breakfast of delicious pancakes with cranberries and sour cream.
The hunting lodge was set amongst snow laden trees beside a frozen river. Our luck continued to astound us as the sun shone in a clear blue sky again. Under the sun the snowy scene took on a different beauty from yesterday's misty black and white tones. After all the fun of frolicking in the snow, slicing through the crisp air on tyres down a huge slide and continuing to pummel out across the frozen river was voted the most favorite activity.
With rosy cheeks aglow from the snow and cold air and vodka, we boarded the bus and headed on towards Lake Baikal, an amazing piece of nature in the middle of Siberia. We stopped at a museum dedicated to it and learnt much about this body of water, the largest fresh water lake in the world. In time, due to its position above the earth's moving tectonic plates, it will become another ocean splitting the Asian continent. Meanwhile, scientists try to fathom its many secrets, such as how certain minute organisms absorb and clear pollution, including oil seepages, to make it the cleanest water body in the world. The water clarity allows you to see as far as 40 metres below the surface. Another surprise was to discover that it is home to the only fresh water seals in the world. In fact, 80% of the flora and fauna here is found nowhere else on the planet.
So, now we had exercised our bodies and our minds, it was time to exercise our taste buds. It was nearing 3:00 pm as we progressed to a small house in the picturesque village of Listvyanka by the lake to share Christmas dinner with a local family. Three tables laden with glorious food were set out for us in a cosy room with a fireplace. Some local university students who wished to practise their English joined us and the merriment began. We feasted on delights such as caviar and smoked salmon, platters of meats and interesting Russian salads. Also on the tables were bottles of champagne, red and white wines and of course, vodka! The vodka was drunk neat, then followed by a sip of cranberry juice which made it very yummy.
Many toasts were made over the meal and then we were treated to music and singing by some talented locals. Looking out the window into the back yard we noticed a roaring fire and our host placing a rack of whole fish onto it. After several minutes he tapped on the window and passed the cooked fish into us as our next course. It was delicious.
Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without Santa. One of the seniors in our group donned the dress of this merry gentleman and handed out our secret Santa gifts amidst much frivolity. Sue and I both got beautiful silk scarves which had been purchased at the silk factory we visited in Beijing.
The night proceeded with more food and drink and dancing, and somehow we made it back to the hotel around 9:30 pm. I woke up next morning feeling a tad seedy, but very content.