After 1 month in Baikonur and intense work, health and moral is good, in addition we have had a full week end.
The weather is still very cold, particularly on the morning (-25C yesterday), but Sunday afternoon was sunny without wind and many citizens, as well as the CryoSat-2 team, really enjoyed to be outside.
On Saturday evening Hassan, the Chef of the Sputnik, prepared an Asian diner that we "informally"shared with our Russian Colleagues from Roscosmos, Kosmotras and Yuzhnoe. As usual, many toasts were raised and the general atmosphere was extremely warm and friendly.
To counteract the side effects of the vodka, our Doctor, Andrei, "prescribed" on Sunday morning to all of us a glass of Shubat (fermented camel milk).
We were not guinea pigs as long as he tried the medicine on him first!
Andrei managed to get the home made and bottled shubat from Turyatam, a Kazakh village on the other side of the Baikonur gate, an area which is not permitted to us. This product is not available on the Baikonur market for and unknown reasons. This is a piety when we know all the potential virtues of such a natural product and the lactoferrin, its active principle, in particular.
To be honest, there are different opinions/reactions on shubat taste... but it is milk looking, no particular smell, slightly acidic and sparkling (due to the fermentation and its weak alcohol content).
As every Sunday, I am glad to send you also few other pictures from the city life.
Valentine's Day, offers a unique opportunity to show all kind of stands and and items that can be found on the Baikonur market on February 14th.
The weather is still very cold, particularly on the morning (-25C yesterday), but Sunday afternoon was sunny without wind and many citizens, as well as the CryoSat-2 team, really enjoyed to be outside.
On Saturday evening Hassan, the Chef of the Sputnik, prepared an Asian diner that we "informally"shared with our Russian Colleagues from Roscosmos, Kosmotras and Yuzhnoe. As usual, many toasts were raised and the general atmosphere was extremely warm and friendly.
To counteract the side effects of the vodka, our Doctor, Andrei, "prescribed" on Sunday morning to all of us a glass of Shubat (fermented camel milk).
We were not guinea pigs as long as he tried the medicine on him first!
Andrei managed to get the home made and bottled shubat from Turyatam, a Kazakh village on the other side of the Baikonur gate, an area which is not permitted to us. This product is not available on the Baikonur market for and unknown reasons. This is a piety when we know all the potential virtues of such a natural product and the lactoferrin, its active principle, in particular.
To be honest, there are different opinions/reactions on shubat taste... but it is milk looking, no particular smell, slightly acidic and sparkling (due to the fermentation and its weak alcohol content).
As every Sunday, I am glad to send you also few other pictures from the city life.
Valentine's Day, offers a unique opportunity to show all kind of stands and and items that can be found on the Baikonur market on February 14th.
Hope you can pick up the right one in this lot!
So, Happy Valentine! and,
From Russia with love.
Kirill B.
PS:
As a spin off of Valentine's day or not, many weddings took place during the week end.
We did witness quiet a few "wedding decorated" cars noisily and proudly patrolling the city large avenues.
This is one of the most elaborated ornament one could observe :-)
Dear Kiril,
RépondreSupprimerHere in NL it is also cold and snowy but certainly nothing compared with the temperatures you have to face. The milk is mostly cow´s ;>).
Now that the IFFR is over I hope I can chekc your blog more often. Take care,
Márcia