Well today we will start our news with our authentic Kazak dinner which we shared (with the "Americans") on Wednesday night. The idea here was to eat with our hands but we but looked at each other, sitting around the table, and opted for dinnerware. The meal began with shredded vegetable salads dressed in oil and garlic followed by a chilled "Spring Soup" consisting of a sour milk and mineral water broth then loaded with diced eggs, potatoes, ham, dill, parsley, tomato, garlic, salt and pepper. The main course, served family style, was an enormous platter of flat noodles layered with onions and horse meat. For many locals, this is considered a delicacy. Bruce says "it was really not too bad and tasted like Mom's home-made pot roast." Carrie couldn't get past her fondness for horses! It was all washed down with Bajithka 7's, a dry Merlot and, for the men, shots of Russian vodka. Dessert came in the form of ice-cream with cognac or ice-cream with fried bananas, apples and oranges. This was the night of March 21st, the beginning of "Nauryz," the Islamic adaptation of the pre-Islamic vernal equinox or "Kazak New Year," which is celebrated for the next three days.
After this morning's delightful visit with Julia, we emailed her medical report to our stateside adoption pediatrician, Dr. Nalvern, and then joined the throngs of Nauryz celebrants parading through the streets of Kostanai. The entire city is "on holiday" and people young and old headed to the streets to eat, dance, visit with friends and family, drink and watch the stage performances. Music was everywhere and street vendors cooked kabobs and sold home made bread, pastries and deep fried dough balls. Traditional festive Kazak clothing was worn by many and the early Kazak homes, called yurts, were beautifully displayed up and down the sidewalks. Kostanai's Central Park offered amusement rides including a looming ferris wheel, a Tilt-a-whirl and a giant swing. They even sold popcorn and cotton candy! We felt like we were at Seaside Heights except that we were surrounded by snow and couldn't decipher any of the signs or instructions! After several hours of people watching, we retired to our hotel room or "home," to hand wash laundry and watch "The Jackal", a terrific Russian spy thriller staring Bruce Willis and Richard Greer, generously lent to us by Olyssa. We selected the "English" listening option and, for 90 minutes, felt like we were REALLY home.
Now, a Russian dubbed Harry Potter movie is on TV- ugh! but most importantly, we'd better close and post this blog so that some of you (whom we haven't yet bored to death!) can read about our yesterday and today, this morning! We continue to thrive on your comments and emails so please keep on writing! We love and miss you all, a lot! Carrie & Bruce
2 comments:
Dear Ones, Horse meat - isn't that what they serve here in NJ at the Outback "Steak" house?..I guess you only have to worry if you have the urge to put on a saddle and run around in circles. Oh yes - and how we recall the sweet smells of someone's Mom's Sour Milk Soup....MMM Yumm....Are you ready to come home yet? We are ready to have you here.....You are creating wonderful memories for us all. The excursion on the Kazak New Year
"Nauryz" put us in mind of fun at Palisades Park. Never thought we'd miss it. Your description and the mention of cotton candy and popcorn-that we can almost smell - did it....We are enjoying every word and the photos help us to understand the culture and architecture around you. Are the tallest buildings two and three stories in Kostanai? It appears that the Churches may be the tallest. So entirely "other wordly!" We look to your outlines and await your return - with love -two from the Home Team - T&D
Far Far Away! You have mastered staying in the moment! I bet those kebobs were horse meat! what else could be done with a dead horse?
This trip is yet another example of how TRAVEL is therapeutic~Right?
Love,
Dale
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