City Celebration

So far the streets and sidewalks in the town have been very quiet, but the warm weather and a City Celebration brought them out today. Lots of families with babies and young persons came to see craft booths and musicians, get balloons and ice cream and something called Kvass which is like ginger ale without so much ginger. It was the Drink of Peasants. It was a warm day for strolling all the way along the Volga, climbing a bell tower in the kremlin and trying to determine if I can get to every single church in 3 weeks.


There was a football field full of dancers and gymnists and violin players. Pretty much every kid in Yaroslavl who had talent was particiating. The Russians do nothing on a small scale. If there is a ballet it is 250 ballerinas. In the stiffest tutus I have ever seen. And the new park that was dedicated in 2010 had the flowers replanted to read 2011....

We stopped by the local church on the way to town and got there when the gates to the Holy of Holies was open and saw - amid much insense and bell ringing - the moment of consecration! (Really on a clergyperson on holiday would care!) Since services are about 3 hours long hitting a Big Moment is rare. As we were leaving a big tour bus pulled up - apparently their timing was off. I hope the Father hadn't counted the wafers looking at the assembled group and been surprised the by the latecomers! Oh, well there was a gift shop.

We ate lunch at the VanGogh restaurant. No clue why it is called that. And found a bookstore with a Cinderella in Russian - as well as the novel with the man lost on an island, and he finds a helper called "Friday" but I can't remember the title.

Thus we end week 1!