Nearing Kihzi

Traveling through the locks has been interesting, to put it mildly. We go down or up 10 -20 feet in the various canals , lakes and waterways of the Volga/Baltic system


This rises like magic after we are in


The countryside looks much like Minnesota...until you see the homes...there are still many wood structures, the traditional Russian architecture of a bygone era


The school in Goritsy...there are 160+ students and 20 teachers. They begin studying English in second grade and can choose also to study french or German when they reached 5th grade


They have a map of the USA with notations to the right about where you find such things as cotton--wheat...and cowboys...


Also interested in Australia



And...


The Church of the Transfiguration is mammoth for these parts and, being a wooden structure, is getting badly needed , very expensive, very clever repair.
This is on Kizhi, a long, skinny island at the northern end of Lake Onega


This young man is using an ax, carving shingles out of aspen wood. These are used on the domes of the church. There are 22 domes needing 32,000 shingles


You could buy some shingles that have local scenes painted on them


The Church of the Intercession is just beyond the windmill. This is, of course, the heartland of beautiful old and new iconography

Location:The White Lake...second largest in Europe

Uglich by 3 PM

You can circumnavigate this ship in 10 minutes...unless you ( inexplicably) left the room without shoes and jacket, then you can do it in 5 and still take a photo or two.

This bathroom clearly is not to share, but we seem to have sleep/ wake alternate patterns, so this isn' hard to do...


The shower is for a tall person...hmmm...but can be detached ( by the tall person) to be hand held for some of us.
The use of a curling iron poses the problem. So far the Russians don't appear to feel a need for plugs in bathrooms...not even in the Marriott. I can make it work!


The swimming pool...has The Bar to the left, and a nice viewing deck you can see..


The Bar at the other end of the ship


Ready...doesn't look appealing at 6 am...there are 35 rubles/$








There are rumors that Vantage will not be sailing in Russia next year...i have no way to know the veracity of that.

Back to the deck...maybe a new lock to enter...think i'll bring my coat and shoes

Location:M/S Tolstoy

River Boat to Saint Petersburg

Exhausted after seeing the magnificent gold and silver collections in The Armory along withe the indescribably densely jeweled HORSE livery of the early rulers/tsars/ conquerors of any title...many "gifts" given by the conquered ( no photos, I bought the book)we rested near the lovely Tomb of the Unknown.


The wax begonias


A final look at the Churchs of the Cathedral Square in the Kremlin. Again, no photos in the icon laden churches...many of which have art dating back to the 12 th century and some before.


A (somber...go figure) Falconer was a part of the military parade that included music, marching and a 21 gun explosion at noon





It was a hooded gaclon


-We arrived at our boat around 4...some of us famished!!!!!





It is now dawn of a new adventure...and only I, a couple of worker bees and the person who made coffee are admiring the sunrise











Fog in thevalley near


Ill get photos later of the many campers along the canal

Location:M/S Lev Tolstoy

Russia...perfect Days in Moscow

It is amazing to me that we once wondered IF we should take an extra day or two in Moscow. After all, what is there to see after Red square & The Kremlin?
We have re-visited Red Square four times, including a night visit to see the lights...it is still a happening place at 11 pm.


There is the historic GUMs Department store, built in the late 1800s with it's many "lanes"' multiple stories, a display of classic cars complete with photos of them in use...old times and now! Pre-scooped solidly frozen ice cream comes seem be a signature of the place and Tom lined up with the locals to get us one








-The Metro...underground...is nothing short of heart stopping the first time you step onto that steep escalator into what was previously also a bomb shelter"....
And alternately breathtaking when you see the marble, mosaics and bronzes that populate the walls of many of the stations

Location:Staropimenovskiy pereulok,Moscow,Russia

We are off to RUSSIA!

And I need to re- learn writing and posting. We have birthday-ed all the kids and now we are ready to go. Gathering clothes and devices...


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Location:S Garfield St,Denver,United States