Russia 2012: Novgorod

Russian forest - Just as we thought it would look like.

Dacha's on the road to Novgorod - typical 2nd homes.

Churches in the former Yaroslav's Court and market center. St. Paraskevi (not white) in background. 

Touching St. Paraskevi is a tradition of Novgorod women - it brings them husbands if they circle the church and touch it. There is a path around the church today - the tradition still observed.

Novgorod city walls and River Volkhov.

Novgorod city walls; Cathedral of St. Sophie in the background

The Russians are known for their bells - they all have names.

Novgorod administration building - typical of many administration buildings we saw.

The Russians made buildings from wood using no nails - easier to take them down, move them and build them again. Amazing craftsmanship.

Traditional Russian lunch. 

Cathedral of St. Sophie - built between 1045 and 1050. Full of icons and relics, it is the oldest functioning building in Russia.

Celebration of Novgorod's millennium - built in 1862 it depicts Russia's great leaders, fighters, artists and clergy.

The mote and city walls of Novgorod.

Traditional Russian village made from wood and no nails.

About 3 hours from St. Petersburg by car is the city of Novgorod. As Steve's dad said "For the Russians, this is where it all started." Written history mentions the city as far back as 859. From that point, its history is not unlike other cities in Russia - full of economic development, war, rebuilding, more war, and rebuilding. Still situated on the Volkhov River, it is now a city of over 200K people. We were fortunate that some of the older churches and city walls survive. Steve studied Russian history in college (taught by Steve's dad) so both he and his dad were in their element. For Steve, to be in the city that hired Alexander Nevsky to defeat the Teutons - an event depicted by Sergei Eisenstein in his 1938 film, one of Steve's favorite movies - was truly special. It was a day of churches, walls and traditional Russian wooden architecture - those buildings were made without nails!! We finished the day with a traditional Russian meal where Kate and Anna discovered Russian dumplings. Natasha came with us on the trip - it was her first time to Novgorod. She was excited to go and we were happy to have her along. A great day.