Showing posts with label irkutsk. Show all posts
Showing posts with label irkutsk. Show all posts

Friday, August 7, 2009

"Windows on Baikal"



While indulging in a bit of reminiscing and reviewing fotos taken in Siberia, I found a series I shot of the windows of homes around Lake Baikal.

Please note, the houses themselves are without paint. Oddly, only the windows receive paint and a splash of creativity and fanciful flourish. I was so taken with this novel approach to home maintenance, I broke out the camera just to shoot the series, "Windows on Baikal". I share five of the many taken that day!

Being this principally is a food blog, I should add that we consumed mostly black bread, smoked fish, the caviar of Omul (a fish found only in the waters of Lake Baikal) and the Cup-O-Potato-Buds re-hydrated with boiling hot water from many a samovar. Russian Standard Vodka, was the tipple of choice - sometimes mixed with Schweppes' Bitter Lemon (more readily found in Siberia then in North America it seems). Ah, Siberia I love you well!


Friday, October 31, 2008

"À la recherche du temps perdu" or "To Siberia With Love"

Central Market Irkutsk
Caviar in Irkutsk

My Proustian "Episode of the Madeleine" was prompted by the perfume of vodka (Русский стандарт, Russian Standard Platinum, a gift from a friend). A flood of involuntary memory, an itch to return to Siberia. No clattering Trans-Siberian train next trip, just time to revel in Irkutsk and Lake Baikal with it's Central Market overflowing with produce and Mongol faces.

I dream of Dachas & Banyas and ample time to enjoy the Sashimi of Siberia called Stroganina. I long to relish the fragile delicacy of Omul Caviar accompanied by classic garnishes of chopped hard-cooked egg, minced red onion and creme fraiche, morsels of Pikantny Syr spicy cheese with sprigs of dill. Yes please, pass the salt and tangy black bread with another shot of Russian Standard Platinum! Nastrovia! мой друг!

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