Day 7 - Kirillov

This day began with more sunshine and warmer temperatures.  After breakfast we had another informational session on "Russian History - 1917-1985" -- from the abdication of Czar Nicholas II and the Bolshevik Revolution to the era of Mikial Gorbachev.  As has been the previous case, what we heard from our Russian guide was not quite what we had read or heard.  In some ways, it was worse: the brutality of Stalin and his reign of terror.  In some ways it was more human: hearing the Russian jokes told about the foibles of their leaders.

The shore excursion for the day was a visit to the Kirillov Belozersky Monastery, which at its heyday was the second largest Orthodox monastery in Russia.  Our tour included the grounds set on a beautiful lake, and a museum established during the Communist era to display the icons and other religious objects belonging to the monastery which had been closed by the authorities.  Some relics of the monastery included the personal effects of one of the Orthodox patriarchs who had been exiled to the monastery because of his liberalizing ways, for creating the schism in the church which resulted in the "Old Believers".

Upon our return we were treated to Russian tea and the origin and use of the samovar -- basically a portable stove for heating water for making the tea.  Afterwards we had a second session on the Russian language, learning valuable phrases such as "how much does it cost?"  Tonight we are setting on the outside deck after dinner, watching the countryside slowly pass by.  We are on our way toward another day and another adventure.