37. Shashlik at Finnish Bay
Two departments at my office (neither of which I am a part of) invited me to their team-building barbecue event on the beach in the suburb of Sestroretsk, 34 kilometers northwest of St. Petersburg. It was perhaps a 30 minute drive from our office at the northern fringe of the city - far enough north that Sestroretsk was part of Finland for half of the nineteenth century. Sestroretsk is beautifully situated between Lake Sestroretsk and the Gulf of Finland (or, Finnish Bay as most people refer to it locally). The beach was wide, flat, and had nice white sand. We barbecued underneath the trees at the edge of the beach.
It seems that Russians and Americans share a passion for grilled meats. In Russia the meats are typically skewered shish-kebab style ("shashlik" is the word in Russian). This is a common sight on restaurant menus, but what better way to experience it than prepared on the beach under a clear blue sky with a light breeze blowing through the grass? The spread included shashlik, grilled bread, fresh soft cheeses, tomatoes, and cucumbers. On the way there, I stopped at a liquor store with some colleagues and picked up a lager from a local St. Petersburg brewery. There was more than enough food for second helpings for all 20 people who showed up.
After eating, the group played charades, then tag on the beach, and then passed the volleyball around. Definitely not the kind of activities I've ever done at a work event in the United States, but the average age of this group was probably late 20s or early 30s - considerably younger than any office I've worked in during my recent career.
The water in Finnish Bay was much warmer than I expected it to be, and if I had been dressed appropriately and had more time, I would have gone wading or even swimming. Apparently the water stays shallow at this spot for several hundred meters out from shore. The water is mostly fresh from the output from the Neva River (originating from Lake Ladoga, Europe's largest lake just to the east of St. Petersburg).
The vehicle I hitched a ride with back to the city was one of the first to leave - over five hours after the party started - but when it's light outside pretty much all night, the party can go on for quite a long time!
It seems that Russians and Americans share a passion for grilled meats. In Russia the meats are typically skewered shish-kebab style ("shashlik" is the word in Russian). This is a common sight on restaurant menus, but what better way to experience it than prepared on the beach under a clear blue sky with a light breeze blowing through the grass? The spread included shashlik, grilled bread, fresh soft cheeses, tomatoes, and cucumbers. On the way there, I stopped at a liquor store with some colleagues and picked up a lager from a local St. Petersburg brewery. There was more than enough food for second helpings for all 20 people who showed up.
After eating, the group played charades, then tag on the beach, and then passed the volleyball around. Definitely not the kind of activities I've ever done at a work event in the United States, but the average age of this group was probably late 20s or early 30s - considerably younger than any office I've worked in during my recent career.
The water in Finnish Bay was much warmer than I expected it to be, and if I had been dressed appropriately and had more time, I would have gone wading or even swimming. Apparently the water stays shallow at this spot for several hundred meters out from shore. The water is mostly fresh from the output from the Neva River (originating from Lake Ladoga, Europe's largest lake just to the east of St. Petersburg).
The vehicle I hitched a ride with back to the city was one of the first to leave - over five hours after the party started - but when it's light outside pretty much all night, the party can go on for quite a long time!
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