The first week in July was the first week it was really hot here in
Kazan and I couldn't help but notice that the streets seemed
quieter than usual and in the morning the traffic out of town was
similar to that of a typical late afternoon. I asked my Russian
friend to explain and they told me that, when the sun shines,
everyone who can takes off to the countryside to spend the weekend
at their Dacha. I was invited along that very weekend to see how
the Russians enjoy their leisure time.
We caught a train from Kazan at 10AM with lots of other people
heading out to the West to a district a few miles from the city
where many people have small single storey wooden holiday homes in
their own little gardens. Each one is a little escape and breathing
space for people who live in the city all week.
From the moment you get off the train you can almost taste the
atmosphere of fun and relaxation. The small Produkti shop by the
station does a roaring trade in beer, dried fish, snacks and other
little essentials which everyone stocks up on, before heading out
to their Dacha. Here in Kazan we are lucky to be on the banks of
the Volga so once the bags are unpacked we can head down to the
small sandy beaches to pass a relaxing day in the sun with friends
before returning at twilight to have a barbecue and chat until the
early hours. Many Dachas have little gardens with fruit trees so
you can wake up in the early dawn and go out into the open air and
breakfast on cherries or raspberries straight from the tree before
making tea and planning the next day's lazy activities.
David Turner August 28, 2008
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