Russia: Day 3 & 4

I am a captivated by tangible history. I wish time travel were possible simply to observe other time periods. Once something sparks my interest, I want to soak up every bit of information I can possibly find on that topic. So you can imagine my excitement as we spent the next couple of days exploring historical places in Kostroma. 

We started at Ipatiev Monastery (Ипатьевский монастырь). This monastery was established in the 1300s. The Trinity Cathedral and a private home of the Romonav family are located there. I enjoy imagining what real life was like as it took place in these buildings. We explored many historical artifacts including a letter written by Anastasia Romonav to her father.

Trinity Cathedral

Romonav Palace

After leaving the monastery, we walked down the road a bit to visit the wooden village (or Museum of Wooden Architecture). The wooden village is a collection of old wooden buildings from different regions in Russia. There were homes of various size and class, as well as different styles of churches. This also happens to be a traditional place for wedding photos. We saw six brides while in the village!

The village was rather picturesque and it certainly made you feel you were in another time and place.

A wealthy home.

One of the churches.

Beautiful backdrop of birch trees.

This was a church in Kostroma from 1712.

We finished our first sight-seeing day at a local cafe in the middle of town. Such a neat little eye-catching place with delicious food!

Russian pancakes…or dessert
(filled with cream cheese!)

Chicken wings

The next day we headed down to the Volga River for a boat cruise, which would provide us with a different and beautiful view of the city. While waiting for our tour to depart we bought some ice cream from a street vendor and walked around the nearby park. The park overlooked the river and is home to an extremely large statue of Vladimir Lenin. "The monument was originally designed to be a tribute to the Romanov dynasty, with 26 sculptures of tsars and notable historical figures positioned around the base. The seven-meter-high base was laid down in 1913 as the dynasty was celebrating a 300-year anniversary. Nicholas II and other members of the royal family took part in the ceremony. But the 1917 Revolution shattered the dynasty, and Lenin was symbolically hoisted onto the top of the structure in 1928, where he stands now at an impressive 15 meters above the ground." (Source: The Moscow Times). After our boat cruise, we went back into the city center where there is a market full of local vendors. There were many neat things to see and plenty of souvenirs for purchase.

Panorama of the river

Us with Lenin.

The monastery from the river.

Yummy treats at one of the vendors.

Later, we went to visit a local hang-out place, called the Anti-cafe, that a couple people from the church own and run. This endeavor is intended for evangelism, and is such a unique place. 

When you enter the cafe you log your arrival time, then you are directed to a coat/shoe room where you may hang your coat and exchange your shoes for slippers. Then you partake in a laid back atmosphere where you may read, play games, or simply socialize, all while enjoying tea and snacks. Rather than paying for these things individually, you pay for your time spent. A neat concept.

Comfy feet.

Treats.

Socializing.

We concluded our day with a trip to the Banya (баня). The Banya is more or less a sauna. Going to the banya with friends or family is a cultural priority in Russia. It is a place to relax and bond. You start out in the sauna, which is heated to outrageously high temperatures, hotter than any sauna I've experienced in the states. When you reach the point where you can no longer stand the heat, you exit the sauna into a type of shower room where you proceed to either jump into a ice cold tub of water, or pull a shower chain and have ice cold water dumped on your head! Finally, you exit into a living room of sorts, where you enjoy hot tea, water, and snacks. Then repeat the process…for 3 hours! I was certainly relaxed by the end, but the ice cold bath was a challenge. Definitely a unique experience!

The Banya.