THE OLDEST MONASTERY AND A LITTLE COOKING - Chapter 5
Not
exactly the warmest of weather but after St Petersburg we had sun, very
cold mornings and not too good in the late afternoons. Although the
following morning we could have a quiet moment cruising before we
arrived at the small Russian village of Goritsy. Here there is the
famous Russian Orthodox monastery which is situated a bus trip away at
Kirrillov.
Two monks founded the monastery in 1397. The Virgin Mary appeared to them and instructed them to build a monastery by the White Lake. It’s a huge complex of buildings. Although it became a museum later, in 1988 a small community of Monks came back to live there.
Apparently the water in the lake had some curative therapy if you bathed in it. Regained youth? Not even the ducks would take the plunge
This was a heart rending sight. In the region of Tver
a number of villages were submerged as the reservoir was filled.
The population was resettled, and some of the buildings were moved. In
total, the area of 254.60 square kilometres
(98.30 sq mi) went under water. But what was so upsetting is that many
families stayed on to be drowned rather than leave their homes.
Back again and this evening there was to be a folk festivity. All the passengers were to dress in something Russian and to cross the « border » into the dining room, saying a Russian word. To be honest, I was terrified. Pierrette is a linguist and had already learnt a little Russian years ago. Here she was coming out with phrases and new words to the delight of the staff. Here was I trembling that I could retain one word outside of all those names of composers, artists ….well I got it out and have forgotten what I said. There were some Russian lessons aboard - which I didn’t attend, but I did go the cooking class…
Two monks founded the monastery in 1397. The Virgin Mary appeared to them and instructed them to build a monastery by the White Lake. It’s a huge complex of buildings. Although it became a museum later, in 1988 a small community of Monks came back to live there.
Apparently the water in the lake had some curative therapy if you bathed in it. Regained youth? Not even the ducks would take the plunge
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Back again and this evening there was to be a folk festivity. All the passengers were to dress in something Russian and to cross the « border » into the dining room, saying a Russian word. To be honest, I was terrified. Pierrette is a linguist and had already learnt a little Russian years ago. Here she was coming out with phrases and new words to the delight of the staff. Here was I trembling that I could retain one word outside of all those names of composers, artists ….well I got it out and have forgotten what I said. There were some Russian lessons aboard - which I didn’t attend, but I did go the cooking class…
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