With a short break, for reasons beyond my control, I will continue the story of the journey ...

Well then to the islands!

Experienced helmsman Ivan confidently leads a motor boat along the Ochakovsky ring.

It smells of river and algae. About thirty minutes from Vilkovo. Our guide and helmsman Ivan moored the boat off the coast under old willows

The inscription on the plate "Wine". You can see this more than once, near the houses of the islanders, and in Vilkovo.😊

So, we are on the island! A cat ran out of the thicket.

Beautiful landscape, right? I mentally asked myself, but could I live here for a long time? I don’t know

Everything seems to be as usual ...

Village Manor...and around it is a river.

An elderly mistress named Maria came out of the house towards us. We learn from the hostess’s story that she has been living on the island since 1953:

In her words:

 “After the wedding in 1953, here on the island, she and her husband built a house and lived. During this time, much has changed. The husband died a few years ago, there is no one to talk to. Children and grandchildren come in boats for the weekend to help with the housework. "

The islanders build their huts from reeds, smeared with river sludge from above and bleached. The brick house will not stand here, it is very heavy for the unsteady soil of the delta.

The islanders build their huts from reeds, smeared with river sludge from above and bleached. The brick house will not stand here, it is very heavy for the unsteady soil of the delta.

The frame of the house is made of logs. Then reed sheaves are installed in the frame. Inside and outside the house is coated with Danube silt mixed with chopped reeds or straw, and the last upper layers are mixed with sawdust. Such a Temros-house! In winter, it retains heat well, and in summer it is cool.

Of all the benefits of civilization, there are only two things - a cylinder of liquefied gas and a small radio. There is no electricity on the island.

From an old woman's story:

“When it gets dark, I will light the kerosene lamp, I will sit, tie the rugs, and I go to sleep. I love morning: our air is so clean, so transparent ... And the birds are singing ... I will not exchange life on the island for anything! ”

We were allowed to see what is around the house. The garden is large.

Of course, the elderly woman cannot do without the help of children and grandchildren; they help grow strawberries and other fruits and vegetables for sale.

The main territory is occupied by the apple orchard. Every year, the hostess takes a good harvest of apples, pears,

... pears, peaches and plums

In addition, Noah grapes grow in her garden, a variety of isabella varieties from which the famous “Novak” with a characteristic flavor of strawberries is obtained.

Mistress makes wine. At the local market, "Novak" wine is being bought up by tourists.

Isabella grapes are a variety derived from Vitis labrusca or “fox grapes” that is used to make table juice and wine.

For most residents, the main means of survival were the gardens on the islands in the Danube Delta.

Gardening on the islands in the delta has its own specifics, because all the land here is man-made.

From the story we learned:

“Great-great-grandfathers created these gardens with their own hands. With high winds from the sea and spring floods, this area is flooded with water. Dwellings, outbuildings and gardens require flooring from boards. Soil for earthen flooring is taken here, digging channels around the plots. This is very hard work - with a shovel and a wheelbarrow ... If the owner throws the garden, after two or three years it turns into impassable floodplains. "

This crop is for sale.😋 Yes, we bought juicy peaches, grapes and pears.

Tasting "Novak" wine and smoked fish.

Everything here is genuine nature, people, and food.

Well, it's time for us to continue on the river ..

Pictures from life:

Enjoy!

Original photos by @leylar

Thanks for your time

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