May 09, 2004
Lake Ladoga Party
Saturday we had a beach party about 90 minutes outside of the city. It was on the shore of Lake Ladoga. Tony, our resident Alaskan, was out looking for a place to stay over summer, and he happened across a great location for a gathering. He sold the idea all last week, and about 35 people showed up, mostly foreigners, but a few Russians thrown in.
To get there we used the "Electrichka," essentially a commuter train that connects a lot of the smaller towns on the outskirts to St. Petersburg. Not particularly comfortable, and very crowded, but it does the job. Here's the inside on the way back. The car was, at this point, almost entirely occupied by our group alone:
When we first got to the lake, we spent a couple of hours on the beach itself. A couple of crazy Nordic types (a Swede and a Norwegian) decided to take a swim in the freezing water. Spend the next hour or so shivering on land. Not having any Viking heritage, I decided to let slide that particular display of virility:
When it started getting too chilly, we moved up higher on the banks of the Lake to start a fire:
Here's us starting the fire:
By this point it about half past five, and we were getting hungry. We ran to the store (shack), and bought some hot-dogs to roast over the fire:
Incidentially, the store owner was very nice to me after he heard my accent. I came back three times for various foodstuffs, and the last time he invited me over to his house (just around the corner). I didn't catch everything he said, and I repeatedly heard the word "girl" [девушка]. Maybe he was trying to set me up with his daughter. I didn't take him up on the offer, but it was very nice of him to extend it, in any case.
We decided to catch the 7:30 electrichka so some of us could get back to the dorms in time to go out. Though I was too exhausted, and just crashed. Here's the stragglers getting on:
Ahahahah ! You call that "very crowded" ? Let me give you a tip. That train you have in the photo ? It's practically empty. "Crowded" is during rush hour, when there is literally no room to squeeze in one more person. Yes, literally. Every year, there is a large number of people (ok, mostly the elderly and the children) who die by getting physically crushed in the train, so that they are unable to breathe. That's crowded.
Posted by: Bugmaster at May 10, 2004 11:11 AMBug, I said it was on the way back, and that we were the only people in there. Crowded was on the way over, earlier in the day when everyone was going to their dachas for Victory Day.
Every year, there is a large number of people (ok, mostly the elderly and the children) who die by getting physically crushed in the train, so that they are unable to breathe.
Do I detect some Stasinian exaggeration? Or do you just get to come back and say that "a large number" is subjective, so it can fit whatever the actual numbers are.
I know it's shocking, but this isn't the same Russia you left. If anything, I would bet the trains are less crowded now than before, owing simply to the fact that a whole lot more people have cars than used to.
Posted by: owen at May 10, 2004 12:19 PMDo I detect some Stasinian exaggeration?If you're detecting it, you're wrong. Though the stats I read were from a Russian-language newspaper, so I suppose it could be some sort of propaganda or something.
Though you're right (at least, partially) about this being "not the same Russia since [Stas] left". If anything, I'd expect the trains to be more decrepit and crowded, but the fact that there are less people, period, and that more people have cars (as you said) may indeed alleviate the crowding somewhat.
Posted by: Bugmaster at May 11, 2004 07:14 AMI liked this entry. I hope future blogs will have photos. It would be nice to see a blog describing all the positive and beautiful things you see in Russia.
sincerely, Glenn (the guy who sent the email.)