Sept 1st is the Day of Knowledge in Russia and celebrates the return to school & universities – one explanation for some of the Moscow traffic jams was parents rushing to buy uniforms!
Today’s port of call was Mandrogi a reconstructed village built on the shore of the Svir River (connecting Europe’s 2 largest lakes) to illustrate the traditions & lifestyle of North Russia’s past. The original village was burned down during WW2. While somewhat cultivated the setting, wooden houses and crafts were interesting with activities such as painting elaborate matrushkas, ceramics, lacemaking, weaving and decorating birch bark boxes. A picnic was planned but the weather did not oblige!!
We are now heading to St Petersburg, again passing beautiful scenery with willows, alders, birches and pines. Some of the trees which grow right down to the river edge, are beginning to turn yellow and it makes for a pleasant picture despite the rain. Even the locks have attractive approaches lined with trees & some flower gardens – the locks themselves and the hydro power station today look in need of maintenance! The pine trees in the area were once used to build ships for the Russian fleet – still see several logging operations along the river. Little villages pop up in the clearings beside the river – small rustic houses, some painted bright colours, some with large gardens, bath houses and boatsheds which slope down to the river.
