Labor Day Fun

Yesterday was Labor Day holiday, and we packed about as much fun as it's possible to have in one day.  Our new landlord, Valery, along with Malvina, her friend, Christina, and I began the day at the open air market shopping for supplies for a Shashlik picnic in the mountains.  I love the open air markets here.  Words can hardly do this one justice, so I took pictures of the pig's head and hatchets used to chop the various meats.

This cat lays patiently staring at the catch of the day--right on the counter next to it.

Shashlik is Mongolian-style chicken shish kabobs.  In Crimea, it's the standard food for picnics --- much like Kentucky Fried chicken in the US.  Also sliced bread topped with cucumber slices and radishes and something like a sour cream dip.  I believe Shashlik is my absolute, favorite food.  We bought chicken that was already seasoned and cooked, so all we had to do was let it smoke on our metal box cooker. Vera told me you marinate the chicken in mayonnaise and seasonings for a few hours, but she didn't say which seasonings---just which ever ones you like.  I hate it when good cooks say that.  I just hope we can duplicate it back home.

You can't go on a picnic without a phone.

We found a beautiful little lake in the mountains and hiked up to a secluded spot over looking it.  Valery brought folding tables, stools and table cloths as well as a hammock which the girls loved.  He got the wood burning in the little Mongolian cooker while the girls sliced the veggies and spread the table.  It was a delicious feast!

We tried to go to the Dolphinarium on the way home, but it was closed, so instead we ate ice cream bars while enjoying the view of the sea.

Then we stopped at a tiny airport on top of a hill to watch the hang gliders and para sailers that were dotting the sky.  There were all kinds of cool, ultralight, motorized planes that were taking off and landing, and when we asked the prices, it was so much cheaper than it would be in the US, I just couldn't resist how much money we would save by letting the girls go for a ride.  And there wasn't a single paper to sign.  (I would have expected a release form that had to be notarized, apostilled and expedited.)

After the girls landed safely, I had to try it too, and I think it was as fun as anything I've ever done.  We had a blast!  I'm so glad the Dolphinarium was closed!