Russia Poland July 31, 1998, Friday

We arrived in Yaroslavl in the morning. A tour bus with a city guide was waiting. The city had a population of one-half million. Our guide took us to churches, a monastery, and a modern reparatory theatre for children. Most of the acting was done with puppets. They did sell high quality lacquer boxes at high prices. On the street there was no shortage of tourist merchandise at much cheaper prices but the quality was in question.

Our guide spoke good English and was well-versed in the history. The route from Moscow to St. Petersburg was an ancient trade route so through the years, armies, including the Mongols, had swept through leaving devastation in their wake. The Volga was part of the water highway through Central Russia. Pleasantly, in August the weather was warm but in the winter it became a frozen wasteland where there was good reason to wear fur hats and bear skin coats. The 80◦ temperatures in August made it easy to forget the frozen winter ahead.

Back on the boat we were served a choice of several flavors of vodka at a late afternoon party. Shortly afterwards most everyone went on deck because we entered a lock leaving the Volga and entering the Rybinsk Reservoir, a large body of water impounded for hydroelectric power.

There were 43 passengers from Portugal aboard. They got together in one of the meeting rooms and danced their native lively pattern dances, singing as they kicked their heels. I could only watch. In the evening we danced to canned music. The Portuguese kept things lively.

Russia was a vast country with a variety of climates and cultures. There must have been pockets of poverty but from outward appearances the people looked healthy and not to be in great want. All around the banks of the canal and the Volga families were picnicking and swimming. The markets were full of produce and trade goods. If there was great poverty it was all well hidden from us. It could be that, as one passenger said, there was lots of produce on the shelves but no money to buy.

In the evening we danced to the music of the disc jockey. Many more women than men wanted to dance so often they would circle the floor and keep time with the music. The Portuguese, who were a full-loving bunch, kept the party lively.

We arrived in Yaroslavl in the morning. A tour bus with a city guide was waiting. The city had a population of one-half million. Our guide took us to churches, a monastery, and a modern reparatory theatre for children. Most of the acting was done with puppets. They did sell high quality lacquer boxes at high prices. On the street there was no shortage of tourist merchandise at much cheaper prices but the quality was in question.

Our guide spoke good English and was well-versed in the history. The route from Moscow to St. Petersburg was an ancient trade route so through the years, armies, including the Mongols, had swept through leaving devastation in their wake. The Volga was part of the water highway through Central Russia. Pleasantly, in August the weather was warm but in the winter it became a frozen wasteland where there was good reason to wear fur hats and bear skin coats. The 80◦ temperatures in August made it easy to forget the frozen winter ahead.

Back on the boat we were served a choice of several flavors of vodka at a late afternoon party. Shortly afterwards most everyone went on deck because we entered a lock leaving the Volga and entering the Rybinsk Reservoir, a large body of water impounded for hydroelectric power.

There were 43 passengers from Portugal aboard. They got together in one of the meeting rooms and danced their native lively pattern dances, singing as they kicked their heels. I could only watch. In the evening we danced to canned music. The Portuguese kept things lively.

Russia was a vast country with a variety of climates and cultures. There must have been pockets of poverty but from outward appearances the people looked healthy and not to be in great want. All around the banks of the canal and the Volga families were picnicking and swimming. The markets were full of produce and trade goods. If there was great poverty it was all well hidden from us. It could be that, as one passenger said, there was lots of produce on the shelves but no money to buy.

In the evening we danced to the music of the disc jockey. Many more women than men wanted to dance so often they would circle the floor and keep time with the music. The Portuguese, who were a full-loving bunch, kept the party lively.