Venicia

11:14 PM - Mike here.

We went to dinner with Chris, So Jun, Inna, and the kids of course, to a place called the Venicia. So Jun is a friend of the owner, and he had dinner with us and treated us like family. We had a fantastic time.

Dinner consisted of barbeque chicken as good as I've ever had, plus an assortment of salads, french fries, grilled potatoes, lots of beer, and fresh veggies. Very, very nice, and with the owner being very generous, Linda and I would have only paid 2000 Tenge -- but Chris even sprung for that tonight.

At one point, the owner proudly escorted me to the "kitchen" where the chicken was being prepared (allow 40 minutes to cook). I had to duck my head several times and watch my step as we ended up out behind the restaurant, where the chicken was on a grill made of what looked like an old oil drum, cut in two pieces (one for the bottom, one for the lid). The chicken was on a bed of burning wood, and the lid of the grill was propped open with a piece of sheet metal for ventilation. Each piece of chicken itself was sliced several times, and the cuts were filled with a mix of sauce and herbs. The actual kitchen which we passed by on the way out, was a room about 12-by-12 with a counter, a sink, and a trash can. I didn't see a refrigerator, though there must have been one. Probably in the next room. it was poorly lit. No health codes here, apparently.

Music was provided by a man with a keyboard (synthesizer) and a PA system, and who had a very nice tenor singing voice. On queue from the owner after dinner, he cranked up what must be well-known favorites, because everyone was out on the dance floor. "Everyone" here included us and the other table, a group of about 12 who were there celebrating a birthday. Everyone stood in a circle, and people took turns taking the center. I noticed that men didn't necessarily dance with women. In fact, it was the owner himself who ushered So Jun and myself to the dance floor to join the group when the music started.

Bacha stole the show. She spent almost the whole time in the center of the circle, trading partners that included several people in the other group. Tucker had a blast, too, mostly chasing Nastya (Chris' daughter) around.

We finally left at about 10 (four hours after arriving). As a farewell number, the owner specially requested the Eagles' "Hotel California" for us. It was just a little surreal, with lyrics like "we are all just prisoners here, of our own device..."

It was the best time we've had since we arrived here (meeting Bacha notwithstanding, of course). I think I'll post a bunch of pictures.