Staritsa, late December 2004 and early January 2005
One of the arguments for winter riding: your chances of hurting yourself or
the animal should you fall are quite small compared to summer months.
A well-preserved old cart discovered near the village of Shukhino
during a small expedition to find a common common grave from the
fall and winter of 1941.
I plan to transport this
museum piece to my property in the very near future, where it will be
treated with used engine oil to prevent further rotting and placed in front of my house.
Stern-faced village
elder Faina Alexeyevna from Shukhino
Two babushkas, the only
permanent inhabitants of a formerly flourishing village, who rely on Faina's
help and
support.
The spirit of hospitality
is still alive in these villages. A homestay with one of these babushkas can
be arranged fairly easily and inexpensively. Authenticity enthusiasts are
welcomed to write me.
This pre-revolution
photo of Babushka Marfa's grandfather survived a turbulent century,
including a period when an image of a Tsarist soldier would have been
construed as anti-soviet propaganda punishable with 5 to 25 year prison term.
Another photo to sell you
the idea that Russian countryside is full of wholesome fun even and
especially in the winter.
Lastly, an embarrassingly touristy photo of Staritsa. Business is slow in
the winter forcing me to welcome anybody, including plain boring travellers.
Winter in Staritsa 1 ~ 2 ~ 3 ~ 4 ~ 5