Saturday July 10th - Day Trip to Vladimir and Suzdal

We had arranged to meet at 7:45 on the platform at the Chkalovskaya metro station, which was near the station from which our train was to depart. As well as Lena and Masha, we were planning to meet with another two of Lena's friends - Liu Yong and Yu Hong, students from China. I arrived ten minutes early, and found Liu Yong and Yu Hong already on the platform. Having not met them before, I was not sure it was them. But they were the only asian couple on the platform, and after observing them not catch the next train, it was obvious they were waiting for someone so I took a chance and introduced myself. Lena arrived more or less on time, but Masha (who I gather isn't fond of early mornings) never arrived. So after waiting as long as we dared, we dashed off to the railway station.

The train was crowded, and having arrived only a short time before it was due to depart, we had to forgo the luxury of a seat and make ourselves comfortable at the end of the carriage.
Here we are at 10:06, two hours into our three and a half hour journey. Fortunately there were more people leaving the train than joining it at this stage of the trip, and we did manage to get a seat (and an invitation to come and visit the lady we ended up sitting opposite) shortly after this.

Vladimir

	We arrived at the station (numbered 17 in the lower right of the map) at about 11:30, and by 11:44 had our ticket for the 12:30 bus to Suzdal from the adjacent bus station at 16. That gave us 45 minutes for a lightning tour of Valdimir.

11:53 - lunch time traffic in Vladimir.

At 11:54, Lena leading us up the path toward the Assumption and St Dmitry Cathedral's at the top of the slope.

Sat Jul 10 11:58:16 2004 imgp1835.jpg

We reached the end of the path at 12:02, arriving at the top of the tree covered slope (with the Assumption and St Dmitry Cathedral's through the trees in the background). The location looks down onto the Klyazama River and surrounding countryside, with a pleasant little forecourt on which we were standing.

we stopped for a quick snack on the forcourt, and were nearly trampled by a stampede of wedding parties just after this was taken.

Looking back at St Dmitry's Cathedral (12 on the map) as we head off back down the path at 12:11.

Then it was back to the bus station on onto our 12:30 bus which was to take us to Suzdal. Or at least it took us most of the way. The other end of the bus route was a bus station which rather inconveniently rather short of actually reaching the town. It would probably have been possible to walk the rest of the way if you knew which way to go, but we didn't so we had to catch a taxi bus the rest of the way.

Suzdal

We came from the bus station along Vasilevskaya ulitsa and arrived at the trading arcades near the centre of town, (number 21 in the centre of this map), and made our way south toward to the "Museum of Wooden Architecture & Peasant Life" at 39.

At 14:22 we were in Suzdal, and had left the trading arcades and were making our way down Kremlyovskaya ulitsa to the south. Off to the right was a small pedestrian square leading almost to the river, with traders and some small shops and resturants. Here Lena is making a dash for a little shop at the end of the square.

While Liu Yong (who seems to be being followed by some people I don't know) is taking some photographs

Just past Lena's shop is the Kamenka river. Looking to the right This is the view looking to the left, over the trading arcades to some churches in the distance.

Looking to the left from the same place, surprise - more churches...

looking back at the little square from the same spot.

Ju Hung and Lena at the gate to the Cathedral Bell Tower, which seems to be part of the Archbishop's palace, at 14:34 (33 on the map).

Across a small bridge over the Kamenka river and a short walk up Pushkarskaya ulitsa and we reach the Museum of Wooden Architecture and Peasant Life.

The imposing structure beside the entrance.

At 14:38, heading down the path to find more exhibits.

Digging out our tickets to gain entry to one of the exhibits at 14:52

Inside of which, amoungst other things, was a pottery wheel - which Lena leapt on and was up to her elbows in mud before anyone could stop her. We decided not to keep the resulting work of art.

By quarter past three, we had had enough walking..

and sat down to finish the rest of the food we had brought.

Lena reverting to childhood at at 16:04 - fortunately you can't see who is on the other end.

For some reason I was having trouble framing this shot.

We left the museum of wooden architecture just after 16:00, and decided to make our way back to the bus stop via some of the back streets, where there were plenty of nicely maintained wooden houses.

On our way back to the bus stop we encounter a delapidated church in the process of being repaired. The solid walls had kept it cool, providing a welcome respite from the sun, and the priest sitting inside the almost empty structure seemed happy to have someone to talk to. This was a view looking back as we departed at 16:45.

We arrived back at market at which we were dropped by the taxi bus on our arrival, ready to start our return journey. We made one last tour or the market to find a bathroom before leaving, and at 17:26, while we were waiting for the others to return, Lena found a derelict building to investigate.

Four hours later, at 21:30, heading back onto our Moscow bus after a rest stop.

Sunday July 11th - An unplanned day in Moscow

Our late return to Moscow left us very little time to get home, shower and collect out things before meeting back at the metro station for our trip to St Petersberg.

Lena and I got back to the just in time, but there was no sign of Ju Hung and Lui Jung. We waited as long as we could, and then faced a difficult decision. There was still time to walk from the Metro station to the train station and to catch our train. But if there other's were not there, we would have a choice of either leaving without them or being stuck at the station till morning as we would have missed the last Metro home.

Lena was convinced that they wouldn't have gone to the station without us, so not wanting to leave without knowing what happened to them, we took the other option, which was to return home on the last metro and try to find out what happened to them in the morning.

	At 10:05 on Sunday morning, before heading out to see if we could find Ju Hung and Lui Jung, lena making some breakfast in her kitchen.

Having failed to contact Ju Hung and Lui Jung by phone, we went to their rooms at the University, but there was no sign of them. So there was nothing for it but to assume that they really had gone without us and make our own way there. So we bought new tickets leaving at 23:24 that night.

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At 14:22 we were in Suzdal, and had left the trading arcades and were making our way down Kremlyovskaya ulitsa to the south. Off to the right was a small pedestrian square leading almost to the river, with traders and some small shops and resturants. Here Lena is making a dash for a little shop at the end of the square.