Excursion... Partea a Două (...still Oct. 11, 2009)

So, after spending an hour or so at the farm, it was on to the second leg of the excursion.  And in true Moldovan fashion, it would involve food, wine, and dancing.  Please enjoy the pictorial.

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The Entrance

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 The ladies are preparing the table... Moldovans are very particular about the fact that a table should be properly filled and presented... therefore, this is a very important part of the process.

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 The food is laid out, and Artiom is ready!

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 Our side of the table....

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...and the other side of the table (the kind woman in the middle had brought some really good sarmale to share; it was in the brown-clay pot above...)

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 Artiom flashes his American-smile, and his step-dad gives it his best shot.

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Yep... it turned out there was a drum-set in the manager's office.  I had heard the unmistakable sound of a child banging drums; it turned out a little fellow was on his dad's lap learning how to play.  Lesson #1:  position the hi-hat...

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 ...Lesson #2:  strike the hi-hat with rhythmic ferocity...

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  ...then proceed to Lesson #3, which entails rocking out like you might not see another drum-set for 8 months.  It was a short 5 minutes, but I loved every minute of it.

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 Artiom and Irina warming up the dance floor.

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 Artiom hollering at me to come on out and give it a shot...

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Irina, thinking back to how nice it was to dance with someone who knew the steps.  :^)

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 We played some soccer for a short bit (this is a "before" shot.)  The highlight (or lowlight...) was when I kicked the ball in an uncontrolled fashion, and it veered straight for a little girl's arm.  I don't think she ever forgave me, and I may have damaged the good name of America in the process.  I couldn't help but feel like Ben Stiller in Meet the Parents... "It's only a game Focker!"

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But, nothing heals the soul, like a little karaoke!

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Artiom, putting out the vibe.

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 And then the show was interrupted... by the show.

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 She looks familiar...

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 The "short guy" and the "strong-legged woman" danced a great show!

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This man and I were making sure the wine bottles weren't being left unattended... but someone should probably have thought twice about leaving us unattended.

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 And what is an excursion without dancing?

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That completes the excursion.  We walked the farm, took in a great table, sported around a bit, and then danced until the sun set.  Artiom told me that this was a celebration of the end of the season; and that soon (today being March 6) we will be celebrating the coming of the season... reminds me of the "Here Comes the Sun" and "There Goes the Sun" parties at The Cove in Leland.  Good times.