Hi everyone.
We decided to do part of the “Golden Ring” an area north east of Moscow that has many ancient churches, etc.
We caught an electric train to Vladmir and Kathy was chatting most of the way to a Russian couple. They suggested we go straight on to Suzdal. Hence, we arrived at Vladimir and 40 minutes later were on a local bus to Suzdal.
At the bus stop a Russian couple heard us speaking English and spoke to us in English. They were a really interesting couple and so we decided to stay at the same guest house they were. It was a great decision. Besides their company the 72 year old lady running the place was a great host. Kathy chatted to her about recipes etc. It was fantastic.
They had arranged for a guide, with a great knowledge of local history, to show them around the next day and invited us along. The guide was a bell ringer by profession.
Suzdal is an old town (older than Moscow) and has about 36 churches/cathedrals – most with a number of spectacular domes. This is in a town of 12,000 people. Best of all the people are turned on to tourism (mostly Russians) and were really nice.
We had a great time in Suzdal. Being a small town off the railway line made it very pleasant.
Back in Moscow it was the city’s 862 birthday yesterday so there were lots of celebrations – concerts etc.
We have an overnight train tonight to St Petersburg.
We are both thinking of you all lots.
Love………..Brian & Kathy
The photos are;
the bed above the fire place in a museum house(Kathy now understands what her grandmother tried to explain to her), cathedral, the lady at the guest house, a lady selling pyroszki she had cooked (nice!), our Russian friends trying local mead.
