Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Kizhi Island, Lake Onega



Thursday, May 27th, 2010

Not sure Health and Safety people would approve of the painters modus operandi!
We were relieved to find this poster in the engine room of our ship
Traditional welcome of bread and salt in Uglich
Local singers in Uglich
Most wooden houses have ornate fretwork

Another example of fretwork
Ornate brickwork in Uglich

Last Monday,we were in Yaroslavl, which was the most important trading centre on the Upper Volga during the 17th and 18th C and has a fine central square surrounded with 18th C buildings and the church of Elijah the Prophet. We walked to a nearby church, St Nicholas of Nadeen, a merchant church built in 1622. The Iconostasis is unusual because you can see through it. In Soviet times it was policy hide churches by building blocks of flats around them and so this church is hidden from the road.
Volunteer young people maintain a guard at the memorial to the Great Patriotic War. In the background you can see Trinity (?) cathedral which was in ruins, but is being rebuilt, largely thanks to a donation from a Moscow millionaire.

 Icon in St Nicholas of Nadeen, Yaroslavl
Children from an Orthodox school arrive at the Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Savior for the Pentecost(?) Service.

On Tuesday we went to Goritsy. It was cold and wet and so the fur coats and hats for sale on the pier were pretty appropriate.

Domes of the ancient, i.e. from the 14th C monastery of the White Lake, Goritsy
Fishermen somewhere along the Volga.
Tea samovars and other tea paraphernalia

The chef went to town, the night he served fish

Wednesday was Kizhi Island, a small island in the North West of Lake Onega, and at 62 degrees, the furthest North we go. It is an open air museum with a collection of wooden buildings from all over Northern Russia.



Cathedral of the Transfiguration in Kizhi
The domes are covered in aspen shingles which last about 40 years

One of the traditional crafts is glass beaded necklaces.


Svirstroy, a typical village on the Svir river. Cruise boats are an important source of income.




  

2 comments:

  1. The colours and architecture are fabulous. I always thought of the country being bland in colour. I am really surprised. Happy and safe travels to you and Bill. Cheers Jenni S.

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  2. I am so very disappointed that I didn't get a glass bead necklace at Kizhi...I loved them and thought maybe I could find them elswhere. Nope! I won't have that opportunity again.

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