Banya!

Well,

These blogs are getting really back logged, so I am going to try and speed things up… maybe

So, we had dinner, there was fish, there was soup, there was bread, there was tea. After dinner we were going to get our drink on. Had a few rounds of vodka, and then we realized we needed more. So, Brendan went to the store, and I went with him, buddy system, you see.

We got back, and the girls had been talking to the neighboring tables. We then poured some vodka for the Russian couple that was staying at Nikita’s too. The guy was an Irkutsk native, and his woman was a Moscow lady.

After about 8 rounds of vodka, the Russian couple invited us to their banya time. We had our own banya time scheduled, but it was in the free banya, which did not have a large hang out room like the pay banya. The pay banya was 300 rubles per hour, or something like that. Anyway, we gladly accepted. The French couple was also invited, but they declined the offer.

We were soon kicked from the bistro and we went back to ours rooms to get ready to go. The Anna and Kaitlin changed into their swimming suits, but I did not have one, so I decided to wear my boxers.

I leave for the banya wearing only one layer of clothing, I guess maybe it was the vodka, but I was not cold. It was actually kind of refreshing.

We are the first ones there, and Anna and Kaitlin leave to go get Becca and Brendan. While they are gone the Russians come in and bring with them more alcohol, and towels and blankets for us to use in the banya.

Once we are all together Brendan looks at the towels, and says something along the lines of, “oh, looks like we’re doing this the Russian way.”

The Russian way meant without clothes, only towels. So, the girls go behind a screen and wrap the bed sheets around themselves, and I put my towel around my waist and slid off my boxers.

The banya is really hot, and small, and really hot. I am sitting directly in front of the stove, and I have to cover my face with my hands to avoid the feeling that it is being burned off. Then, the Russian, who I believe to be called Alexei, threw some water on to the hot stones.

Immediately my entire body with hit with a flaming wave of unbearable heat, and I was sweating like a pack of dogs.

A few people left the room right away, and I left with the middle crowd. I want to say that the last two people to join us were Alexei and Anna.

We then cracked open more beers and sat around talking. I was sitting in the corner talking to Becca who was sitting on the end of the bench. When Anna and Kaitlin got up from the bench at the same time, Becca went crashing to the ground and the other end of the bench went straight up into the air.

After recomposing ourselves, we went back into the steam room. This time I was able to stay in much longer, I think, it was either the second time or the last time. Anyway, when Alexei went to throw some water on the rocks, we all freaked out were like “nooooooo!” So he held off for then.

He would warn us next time, and some of the party did leave before the burning air could engulf them.

Back outside in the socializing room we continued to drink and to talk. Then the girls decided to leave. I left a few minutes later because I did not want to wake them up when I came back. So, I put on my thermal pants and shirt and went out into the -30 Celsius air.

They say that the effects of alcohol are multiplied when in the banya, and I believe that I concur. I was briskly jogging back to my room, and I felt like I was running on sponges.

I got back to the room and there was no one to be found. I decided to wait around for a bit, but when no one came, I went to Becca’s room to see if they were hanging out there. No one was there either, so I went back to the banya.

They had all returned to the banya, and I would find out later that I missed out on one crazy Becca running through the snow in her swim suit. In an attempt to retrieve Becca to her room, Anna tackled her. By the next day Becca would be sporting several bruises.

Also, for some reason Becca and Anna had their tooth brushes with them when I returned to be banya.

We then ran back to our room, but Anna then noticed that her coat was still at the banya, I said I would go back and get it for her. So, back I ran across the sponges in the frozen air. But, when I got there, there was no coat. Me and Becca had a really odd conversation about the coat, and how it was ok, and that nothing bad would happen to it.

Becca and Brendan then went to the Russians room to spend some more time with them. I went back the room and told Anna that I could not find her coat. She then remembered that it was left in the Brendan and Becca’s room and that she would get it in the morning.

We all then went to bed, and I felt great, if not still a little bit dizzy.

AWAY!