Victory Day

9 May is Den Pobedi, victory day and the whole Russian Federation celebrates the defeat of the Nazi. Everyone gets super patriotic in the weeks leading up to the day and it is marked by a parade at the city's main Ploshad (main square, it is called a Ploshad in Russian) and a march to Mamaeb Kyrgan where is a huge statue of a woman (the statue you are seeing in the background) and symbolizes all the events that took place in the war.

The last two years I never went for the parade, just the fireworks in the evening at Heberezhnaya, that is always super fun, but this time, it being my last few months in the country I thought it would be nice to give the parade a shot and it was worth it. I am not exaggerating guys, the whole city was there! Even toddlers get all dressed up in what I am assuming where army uniforms during the war with  berets, and one particular child had what looked like a red cross sling bag (probably playing nurse, I am not sure). I normally get stares when I am walking but not today, everyone was concentrating on the parade and the display (believe me, I am not complaining, I wish everyday was victory day if it means I do not get stared at). Volgograd is not a very big city so the parade is a mini version of the one held in Moscow, and they displayed Soviet era artillery and a few modern ones, i will post pictures so you guys can check them out.

After the parade, people march to Mamaeb Kyrgan with pictures of their grand fathers and great-grand fathers who fought in the war. I am telling you, Russians take this day very seriously singing war songs as they walk and making loud wailing sounds (i am assuming it is a way of showing grief for the lives lost) and if you read the history of the city (it was called Stalingrad at the time) you would understand why. As for the security,I am not sure how many metal detectors I passed through, there where check points everywhere, especially close to where crowds where gathered like for the march and for the parade (these guys do not play, you should see the security at my school, and it is not a military academy).

 The day ends on a much brighter note of fireworks displays in the three main points of the city which I have always made a point to participate in over the years, this year I am not so sure (I have 4 hours left to decide LOL).

I am attaching photos and videos of the event for you guys to see (the quality is good enough LOL). Until next time, пока!

Russian 'hospital' cuisine anyone?

Having been in Russia for over two years, I am a little embarrassed to say I haven't really had many Russian dishes (well, i have had pelmeni and borsch, it would be absolutely disrespectful to come and go without having pelmeni at least once!). I tend to order western dishes when I eat out, probably because I am more familiar with them, they are popular back home. I love food (a lot of us do), but I am more of a fries and spicy wings kind of girl.

I have heard people say that hospital food is the worst (had been fortunate enough all along never to be in that kind of situation) but imagine having some Russian dishes for the first time in hospital, the horror!

So, what had happened was (😁 get it?), I got hospitalized for some time and got to have some errh...complicated Russian meals (let's go with complicated). So basically every meal came with bread, but I am not a fan so I never took it not to mention that I didn't really like the dull brownish color (reminded me of the homemade bread our grannies make back home in rural Zimbabwe, not that I hated it but I had enough to last me several life times). I am not a nutritionist or anything so I am not an expert on what types of food are meant for breakfast or dinner and the like but I am pretty sure some of it is basic. After my hospital stay however, I have to say I got a little confused. At one time we had grated carrots and what I think was meant to be egg casserole, except i didn't taste any bacon or cheese in it, for breakfast  (and the brownish bread of course) then had oatmeal porridge (don't forget the bread) for dinner...Long story short, each time a person on TV says something about hospital food being horrible, I can definitely relate now.

I am now a little less motivated to try some traditional Russian meals but it won't be fair for me to judge them based on that not so fun experience (and also my taste buds were probably compromised at the time). I will let you guys know once I do. 

Being admitted into hospital is not fun for anyone, and especially when you are in a foreign country, far from your family but these two ladies in the same ward with me made that time a bit bearable (one of them never caught my name and ended up just calling me 'my chocolate', obviously because of my beautiful chocolate colored skin 😎). The staff were all very nice and professional, I felt that I was in good hands and I am really grateful. Russians sometimes buy flowers for their doctors when they recover to show their appreciation and you know how when you are in Rome you do what Romans do...

I know I haven't posted anything in months, a lot has been going on and I will make an effort to share more stuff with you guys more often. I have attached a picture collage of the hospital food, the two times I remembered to take pictures, never been one to take pictures of food before I eat (I am usually totally looking forward to think about taking pictures). Feel free to leave your nice comments, I would love to hear from you all. Much love. Пока пока!