Russia- Day 5

Day 5 June 4 with the same temperature and no internet

We are sailing down the Neva River about 40 miles. We pass little settlements, dachas owned by the more affluent, and onion -domed churches. We then cruise into Lake Ladoga which is the largest lake in Europe consisting of 7,000 sq miles. This lake is shallow and has plenty of salmon and sturgeon which is a source of Russia's caviar.

We then passed into Lake Onega which is the second largest lake in Europe covering an area of nearly 4,000 square miles. Fifty rivers enter this lake which empties into the Svir River. It contains 1650 islands and is the home of 1200 petroglyphs along its banks dating from the 4th to the 2nd BC.

                                                    Views along the river banks.

                                            There are many barges of wood being transported.

                           Coming into a lock and a very familiar sight sitting on the side.

Our next stop is a small village of Mandrogy on the Svir. This village was ruined during WWII.  In 1996 it was reconstructed and opened as a museum keeping the traditions of Russian villages alive.

                                           Terry and I are visiting a typical home back then.

                                                     The houses are brightly painted pine logs.

                                                                   The bakers house

Here the crafters were selling their wares. Some were carving and making many Russian dolls called Matryoshka dolls, tree ornaments, St Nicolas painted with beautiful scenes on them. These dolls were first designed here in 1890 with the first set of eight. Ten years later they were awarded the Bronze medal in the Paris World Expo.  This is where I got my set for Amanda. Each set tells a story like little Red Riding Hood.  Mine tells of the chicken and the egg. Each set can have as many as 15 eggs in one set. I took a session of painting my own. Fortunately it only has 3 dolls in it. (I am still working on it!)

                                                 The sign says that this is a private house.

Here in Mandrogy David took a banya.  This is a a common way of relaxing in Russia. Along the river you will see small houses that are banyas. The banyas have room that becomes a hot saunas. When David had his experience, he had an attendant that came into feed the fire with water to make the steam hotter The attendant then took birch branches that are wet and lightly hit you to stimulate the circulation. The next step is to either jump into the river or have cold water thrown on you.  The girls were brave to jump into the river while the guys had the buckets of water. It was repeated one more time.

We are on the move again.  You are seeing the inside of a lock. We have just come into it and now we wait till it fills with water before the gate will open and we can go on to the next adventure.
Bye :)