Russia 2005 – Petersburg and Vytegra

Russia 2005 – Petersburg and Vytegra

Michael Makin

My 2005 trip to RussiaMy 2005 trip to Russia

In October of last year I flew to St Petersburg, where my very good friend Vasya met me at the airport, and took me to his cottage in Lemovzhe for the

weekend. After a day back in St Petersburg, we headed to Vytegra,

(Vologda oblast’), for the annual Klyuev symposium.

The River Luga at Lemovzhe was beautiful, but predictably unkind

to me (I caught nothing)

The River Luga at Lemovzhe was beautiful, but predictably unkind

to me (I caught nothing)

Maybe when Vasya fills the carp pond at his dacha, I’ll finally catch something….

Maybe when Vasya fills the carp pond at his dacha, I’ll finally catch something….

Lunch in Café Stolle back in St Petersburg was not to be

missed

Lunch in Café Stolle back in St Petersburg was not to be

missed

Nor was the view from the apartment of Ksenya, Vasya’s

oldest daughter

Nor was the view from the apartment of Ksenya, Vasya’s

oldest daughter

After a couple of days in Lemovzhe and St Petersburg, it was off to

Vytegra for the Klyuevskie chteniya

After a couple of days in Lemovzhe and St Petersburg, it was off to

Vytegra for the Klyuevskie chteniya

Vasya drove me in his brand-new Jeep Cherokee to Vytegra, and before the chteniya began we took a trip to Gakusa, from where a fisherman took us to the Muromskii Monastery. We stopped at Saminskii Pogost along the way to Gakusa.

Early on a frosty October morning at Saminskii Pogost

Early on a frosty October morning at Saminskii Pogost

At Gakusa, across the Karelian borderAt Gakusa, across the Karelian border

From here we took a motor boat up the canal, past the huge cranberry bog, through Lake Murom, and on to a fishing

settlement by the shores of Lake Onega

Down the canal, with a bitter wind blowing

Down the canal, with a bitter wind blowing

Then a walk along the shore of Onega to the Monastery

Then a walk along the shore of Onega to the Monastery

The Muromskii MonasteryThe Muromskii Monastery

Its remaining buildings are slowly being restored

Its remaining buildings are slowly being restored

On the left: the building within which formerly sat the Chapel of St Lazarus, now on Kizhi. On the right: myself, Vasya, the

Abbot of the Monastery, and Vytegra author Venya Tampio

On the left: the building within which formerly sat the Chapel of St Lazarus, now on Kizhi. On the right: myself, Vasya, the

Abbot of the Monastery, and Vytegra author Venya Tampio

Lunch at the fishermen’s settlementLunch at the fishermen’s settlement

After the day at the monastery there was also time for fishing, but

success was … limited

After the day at the monastery there was also time for fishing, but

success was … limited

I visited the Vytegra College of Forestry and gave an informal

lecture

I visited the Vytegra College of Forestry and gave an informal

lecture

Symposium participants visited Makachevo…

Symposium participants visited Makachevo…

… and both Vytegra schools… and both Vytegra schools

This year’s Symposium was small, but as successful as ever

This year’s Symposium was small, but as successful as ever

I spent my last evening in Russia eating roast bear at

Ksenya’s apartment

I spent my last evening in Russia eating roast bear at

Ksenya’s apartment

And then it was back to DexterAnd then it was back to Dexter

Where major family events awaitedWhere major family events awaited