Russian Icon Tour, Part 7 Vladimir

We are in "Vlad-ee-mir" today. Perhaps as a result of our monastic visits, some of us are now adopting a simpler diet. 

We hung around until 9:40 before boarding the bus and starting our Vladimir history lesson with Alexandria. 

We visited two historical sites. Outside site #1:

And inside

Outside #2, the Assumption Cathedral:

Inside the gallery next door, many of us bought a booklet called Rubleyov in Vladimir, which discusses his remaining works - such as this original which was mesmerizing!

(Photo of the image in our booklets)

Next, we were transported to a Russian Wood Village for a great lunch of salad, fish soup, potatoes, chicken Kiev and jam-filled bread. 

A real log cabin!

We got onto the bus again and took off for Moscow.  But first we had dinner in a grotto ...

Then drinks in the hotel bar. 

And finally, we catch a midnight train to St. Petersburg. What a day!

 

Russian Icon Tour, Part 6 Suzdal

We woke at 3:30 am when some vodka-filled wedding guests began cavorting down the lane. I looked through the window screen again at 5 am when a flock of loud-mouthed birds decided to have an early morning conversation. 

Unable to sleep in, and wanting to beat the predicted rainfall, I took a stroll around the hotel. 

Across a meandering stream, I saw a stereotypical fisherman, hard at work. 

Today we picked up another guide, and took in the picturesque villages of Suzdal and Vladimir. After strolling through a historic wood village museum, we drove to this beautiful convent. 

Where we saw their counting house, chapel and gardens. 

The bus took us over to the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin, where we saw some ancient Golden Gates

and marveled at the cobalt blue interior. 

We did some shopping, then had a nice lunch which ended with a surprise birthday cake for one of our travelers. Me. Thanks!

Looks beautiful, doesn't it?

A few minutes later, wham, the storm hit. And we hadn't even finished setting up our tents for the night! (Just kidding)

We took another hike to another chapel, far across a grassy plain. 

At last the day's activities wound down. We reached our new hotel in Vladimir, and headed for the showers. 

Russian Icon Tour, Part 5 Sergeyev Posad

We got up early, grabbed breakfast, checked out of the hotel, and jumped on the bus - destination Sergeyev Posad. Some of us were still a bit groggy. 

Out first stop was the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergei. A Lavra is a high-ranking monastery, and this facility is roughly equivalent to a Russian Orthodox Vatican. Founded in the 14th century by St. Sergei, it has been a pilgrimage site for more than 500 years. 

Everything about it was stunning. Here is the refrectory (dining) hall. 

The domes in sunlight!

We wandered, prayed, attended part of a Sunday service, shopped and had lunch.

At a very charming restaurant, we struggled to get through salad, cream of mushroom soup, veal cutlet, peas, potatoes, bread & butter, crepes with honey and tea or coffee. 

I was able to fill bottles with blessed water from the spring in the monastery. 

Now we're heading to Suzdal for a new hotel and more adventure. 

After 3+ hours of driving, we arrived at the hotel. 

It was a fairly large complex of low buildings, with gardens for weddings (3 in progress) and parties. I saw a wedding photographer using a drone to capture footage of the ceremony - a novel idea!

We were able to find a private room and Edward, our chaplain and priest, led us in a worship service. The icons on the table were gifts to some of the people in our tour group, who had brought toys and supplies to an orphanage near Moscow.  

We ended our day with a great buffet meal in the hotel dining room. 

 

Russian Icon Tour, Part 4 Moscow

We woke up, looked out the window and realized it was raining! Oh no!

No problem, it quickly stopped. So after a 6-stop subway trip, we reached Red Square. It was time to take a photo of our group. 

Today we went back into the Kremlin and started with the State Museum. We saw lots of different historical artifacts, in addition to icons. 

Then we crossed Red Square (which seems rectangular) and found our way, with Teresa's help, to beautiful St. Basil's Cathedral. 

Where we discovered many sets  of formidable stairs

After St. Basil's, we had lunch in GUM department store/mall. 

And then made our way to the bus, which was down the hill past the Cathedral. 

We were transported to the giant, new cathedral of Christ the Savior where we stared in amazement at the decor (no pictures inside). After a brief immersion we strolled downstairs to another, more historical chapel. 

We hopped on the bus again and went on to the Andronikov Monastery, where famous Iconographer Andrei Rublev worked and died, about 600 years ago. 

We got a guided tour around the museum which seemed very long and exhausting. Partly because they had promised us tea and biscuits, and due to a private party in the canteen, we didn't get any refreshments. It was a mild disappointment for our parched and footsore pilgrims. 

The icons were very nice though. 

We went back to our rooms to soak our feet, and dress for dinner. 

No longer parched, we are packing to leave Moscow tomorrow and head for the village of Sergeyev Posad. 

Russian Icon Tour, Part 3 Moscow

We've been walking today, on hard pavement and cobblestones, for over 8 hours. 

Our schedule went like this: 

Metro (2 trains)

Kremlin, 

Churches, 

Armory (no pics)

More churches. 

Metro (2 trains)

Chapel with Vladimir Virgin

Tretyakov Gallery with Rublev icons

Long contemplative pause ...

Metro (3 trains)

Hotel to soak our feet and have a cold beer. 

Astonishment and exhaustion!