I know what you are thinking, "A Beach? In Russia??" But by all means, it is true! I went with 2 families to their "Dacha." A dacha is basically a summer home usually found outside the big cities and in the country. When summer months arrive Russians flood out of the cities to their dachas. (Russians take advantage and appreciate the warm weather, as they only have it for a short time.) These little houses were some of the cutest houses I had ever seen! The dachas were very "homey" and welcoming. Each dacha also had a beautiful, lush green garden. The dacha I was at had a garden growing a large variety of vegetables, fruits and flowers. It was beautiful.
We had to walk a short way down a hill to reach the beach. Now it was not your typical beach because it was not an ocean, but a river! But they insisted that it was indeed a beach! This part of the river was very wide. I was amazed at how many people were at this beach! Young and old were sunbathing, making sand castles, and splashing around in the river. There was a little place you could rent a boat from and take it out on the water, so before I knew it, I was on a boat and out in the water. It was a bit difficult to get out into the water because there was a lot of green grass and growth in the water. But it was beautiful. Once we got out into the waters, we jumped into the river and swam around a bit. I never thought I would find myself swimming in the Volga River in Russia! When I returned to the United States many people were shocked to see I was in a swimsuit and in water in my pictures from "Russia!" Just goes to show, stereotypes are just that, stereotypes.
If you are invited to a "dacha" it would be a hige mistake to turn down the invitation. I cannot express what a wonderful experience it was to travel to a dacha. I even got to taste Russian barbaque! The countryside of Russia is so relaxing, and not many people from the outside get a chance to see this way of life. You can soak in the culture of Russian life. The importance the Russian people have of family, enjoyment, and summer is very refreshing.
From journal The Mysterious Land of Russia: Saratov