Friday 18 October 2013

Onward to Moscow

Wednesday 2nd October
on the way

Along the way

Still on the way!

Just a short stop off today at 1.30pm at Mandrogy for a purpose built shopping village for souvenir shopping, if you like that sort of thing.
Time to buy your Matrioshka doll and watch it being painted, and or, your chance to make use of a Russian Banya (sauna), or get ripped off for a bottle of vodka!
As you can guess,with years of travelling, you become aware that there is always an inclusive trip of the local craft centre, I didn't expect this so early on in the cruise, but saw it coming. Some..the Yanks paid for a "special" tour!!



Back on board and cast off at 4pm.

Thursday 3rd October (day6)

Today we visit Kizhi Island, close to the centre of Lake Onega ( see the map) the scenery along the way is very much forest and anyway most of the sailing is in the dark!

8.30am is our arrival.
The island is home to the oldest wooden church in Russia. The 14th Century Church of the Reserection of Lazarus.
No nails were used in the construction of the two churches within the fenced Kizhi Pogost, a UNESCO World Heritage site
It is currently undergoing some restoration, we couldn't get in but the construction was quite clever, particularly the method of structure to enable no water to settle and rot the timbers.

Whilst not told this at the time, it appears that most of the wooden buildings, there are 80 or so, were moved to the island for preservation.

Autumn is here
22 domes of the Transfiguration church

and the 9 dome Intercession Church of the Virgin


"Typical northern Russian house"

The area is frozen over from late October

house content

Chapel of the Archangel Michael
Anyway, quite a fascinating story of the island, the history and it's inhabitants over the years, but back the the boat, we cast off at 10.30am.for another whistle stop tour of the town of Kuzina.






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