Our lucky day

Today Tuesday 7th May we left Listvyanka in the company of Nadia an Audleys guide.  She and a driver picked us up and we visited the only place we had not seen in the village. That was the Church.
It is Easter Week here and there was a service which was just finishing. 

We were lucky enough to catch the tail end of it and everyone was very welcoming.  The Patriarch was just blessing the congregation with Holy Water which he used a big floppy brush to splash them with.

Spotting us he made sure we got some too.  It even hit Tone and surprisingly did not fizzle and bubble away. Given his lack of belief it was quite a relief really.  The buildings round here are almost all made of wood and rending asunder seemed a distinct possibility. However all was well and it was a lovely experience.

We travelled back towards Irkutsk and visited an outdoor museum consisting largely of wooden houses transported to the site to preserve them from demolition where they originally stood.

These wooden houses, forts, churches and schools were all built without nails.  We had seen a house being built of logs in Listvyanka and it is just like you see on old cowboy films. The houses are lovely and warm.  We though our grandsons wold have loved playing in the real fort which again looked like those in cowboy films.  Fascinating.

On into Irkutsk which was a crossroads for trading of fur, gold and other minerals.  Tania's grandfather had been involved as a geologist in gold mines but in the Soviet era he actually had to work in a gold mine!

Then we went to another church where there was a group of orphans on a day out.  They were being allowed up to the bell tower and Nadia asked if we could go too.  Women are not usually allowed up but as it is Easter they made an exception so the key was found and up we went. 

We climbed some steps, then up onto a sort of ledge on the first roof level, then into  tower which we/I could just squeeze through. Up some very uneven steps in the almost dark, up a steep wooden ladder and into the bell tower!!! By the time we got up there the children were all ringing the bells and it was very loud.  Wonderful views and an amazing opportunity that most tourists would never have.

Sightseeing around Irkutsk was fun lots of old wooden houses, statues to heroes, Tsars, explorers and adventurers plus the outrageous drivers! Tony.

So a church service, which may not turn everyone on, but which I loved and then a chance to go up the bell tower.

Nadia told us that she sometimes takes groups of Americans who come on the train called the Golden Eagle and travel on 5 coaches!  We mused on that group going up the tower and thought not!

Another great day with a guide. Thank you Nadia