We went to the Prioka Sanatorium on Friday. After hitting the road at 6-7pm we in the best-case scenario arrived at the Sanatorium at 1 or 2 am. Not because of the distance, but because of the notorious Moscow traffic jams, which in future are going to become one of its sights. Since I'm absolutely positive that Moscow with its corrupted incapable and impotent officials will remain the only metropolis with such horrific traffic jams in the nearest future.
I remember staying in Switzerland. The country is beautiful but you're never alone there. Walking in the Swiss forest means running across people here and there no matter how far you are from a town. A bit disturbing for me. Walking along the bank here is being truly alone, relaxing completely, enjoying the scenery to the fullest.
And some cats we've fed at the sanatorium's canteen. They turned out to be starving.
On Sunday we usually get back forcing our way back home. These pictures were taken in May from the 1st to 3rd, so you can get the idea of what the weather is like in central Russia at the beginning of May.
The roads is something I have to mention, although the issue is not a flattering one. The roads in Russia are under continual construction. You never know when they finish fixing and even if they finish this particular part of a road, they will start fixing or reconstructing a part 2 kilometers further. With all that never-ending, ever-lasting, seemingly scrupulous process the roads in Russia remain bad enough to start it all over again.
The road to Prioka looked like this a year ago. I'm sure nothing has changed since then.
Well, it takes about 5-6 hours to get there but it's worth it. Silence. Nature all around. Splendour.
I've written about the rooms in the previous post.
I've written about the rooms in the previous post.
The service in the sanatorium is a no-frill type but not obtrusive at the same time.
The canteen is a modest spacious hall. The food is basic, healthy. It's usually a small serving of salad, a bowl of soup, meatballs with mashed potato or rice as a side dish followed by a compote (stewed fruit drink) or some wild-berry drink. They also served different raw vegetables finely cut so my husband made up a salad. This it typical Soviet-era "cuisine". They may serve some meat now and then but it won't be a substantial piece of meat.
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| the hedgehog has been found by the stray dog that accompanied us all the way |
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| up the river |
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| ever-lasting fixing and renovating, up the river |
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| walking along the Oka |
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| the rubbish has certainly been left over by the Russians some people don't value the beauty that's Russian mentality... |
There are usually very few people staying there in low season. No barbecuing, no noisy teenagers. You'll have all that beauty to yourselves.
And some cats we've fed at the sanatorium's canteen. They turned out to be starving.
