9th Aug 11 - Archangelsk and Solovki, Russia
Archangel is a rather different place to
Murmansk. Here crowds gathered to look at Silver Cloud.
We took a little plane to Solovki to see the Monastery and hear the history of
when the place was the first Soviet Gulag in the 1920s.
|
| Little plane to Solovki. Noisy but rather good fun! |
|
|
|
| The airport fire fighting equipment was 'basic'. But not half so 'basic' as the airport loos! |
|
| No wonder they call it the 'Kremlin of the North'. |
|
|
| I don't usually use 'library photos' but I was never in a position to take a picture from the other side of the Holy Lake although we saw it from the bus. These are photos I missed! |
|
|
| Prosperity Bay and the Holy Lake on the seaward side of the Monestry |
|
|
| In the courtyard of the Monestry |
|
| As usual it was the women doing all the work! |
|
|
|
| The screens in the Russian Orthodox Church. Mostly quite recent as the place was burnt down several times. |
|
| All the ladies had to to cover their heads and wear skirts. Hence Elizabeth's garb! |
|
| The peepholes in the doors are from the time when the monastery was used as a Gulag (or Concentration camp) between 1910-1930. 80,000 political prisoners were taken there. 40,000 are buried on the island. |
|
| Our guide showing us the layout of the Church of Ascension. Another place of torture for the prisoners. |
|
| Church of Ascension doubles as a lighthouse in the dark months. |
|
| Staircase (294 steps) to the Church of Ascension |