City Photos News Russia/Valday

Makeshift kiosk selling souvenires, shawls and china (road to St.Petersburg)

Thu, 29 Mar 2007 06:37:35 +0000

Those are goods of local factories.
Valday, Russia, photo by Pavel Viaznikov.

Monument to Soviet pilots on the road from St.Petersburg to Valday

Thu, 29 Mar 2007 06:37:32 +0000

Monument to Soviet pilots on the road from St.Petersburg to Valday.
Valday, Russia, photo by Pavel Viaznikov.

Valday lake - Ryabinovy (Rowan) Island

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 08:12:44 +0000

Valday lake - Ryabinovy (Rowan) Island.
Valday, Russia, photo by Pavel Viaznikov.

A ruined church some 40 km from Valday town

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 08:12:41 +0000

A ruined church some 40 km from Valday town.
Valday, Russia, photo by Pavel Viaznikov.

a street on the outskirts of Valday town

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 07:50:48 +0000

yeah, not a megapolice - nor even a street of those nice carved-wood log houses you see in tourist booklets....
Valday, Russia, photo by Pavel Viaznikov.

Steam-baths on the bank of a lake near Valday

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 07:50:42 +0000

A "black steam bath" is a very old type of a steam bath; it has no chimney, and the smoke gets out through a tiny window. First, you feed lots of firewood to the stove; each time I was adding wood, I took off all clothes, inhaled deeply and dived into thick smoke, holding my breath. Upon emerging - gulping for the air and smelling like a smoked sausage - I dived into the lake. Ok, when the bath is hot enough and the stones on the stove are almost red-hot, and the water is boiling in the big pot, - you open the door for a draught and quickly ventilate the bath, and then the fire's out and people get in with those birch-branch "brooms" (to force the steam to the body and for massaging birching; that's fun!) and start pouring water with diluted beer (or kvass - fermented drink made from rye bread, with mint or horse-raddish) onto the hot stones. The fragrant steam, the birch branches (with leaves of course), and the subsequent diving into cool water are really revitalizing and enjoyable. The problem with the "black" bath is that all the interior is covered with soot and after the washing most people have black spots here and there, not unlike those 101 Dalmatins. The folk saying is, "baths are dirty but wash you clean". No problem, the lake water takes care of the soot....
Valday, Russia, photo by Pavel Viaznikov.

Iversky monastery - from boat window

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 07:26:52 +0000

Iversky monastery - from boat window.
Valday, Russia, photo by Pavel Viaznikov.

A passenger boat on Valday lake

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 07:26:48 +0000

A passenger boat on Valday lake.
Valday, Russia, photo by Pavel Viaznikov.

Town cathedral

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 06:56:08 +0000

Town cathedral.
Valday, Russia, photo by Pavel Viaznikov.

Iversky Monastery of the Holy Mother of God on Ryabinovy island

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 06:56:05 +0000

The monastery was founded in 1653 ny the future Patriarch Nikon (See the New Jerusalem photos) pursuant to a vision of the Virgin Mary to him who ordered to establish a monastery here. The island (it has two names, Rudnev and Ryabinovy (Rowan)), the lake (its name, Valday, is an ancient word "Clear") and the surrounding forests form a natiuonal park..
Valday, Russia, photo by Pavel Viaznikov.

Iversky Monastery of the Holy Mother of God on Ryabinovy island

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 06:47:55 +0000

Iversky Monastery of the Holy Mother of God on Ryabinovy island

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 06:47:53 +0000

Central square

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 06:10:51 +0000

Valday is a small town halfway between Moscow and St.Petersburg, on the banks of the Valday Lake (the ancient name means "Clear") - one of the cleanest lakes of Europe..
Valday, Russia, photo by Pavel Viaznikov.

Central square

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 06:10:48 +0000

Valday is a small town halfway between Moscow and St. Petersburg, on the banks of the Valday Lake (the ancient name means "Clear") - one of the cleanest lakes of Europe..
Valday, Russia, photo by Pavel Viaznikov.