Cruise along the Volga from the city of N.
Dedicated to my mentor and inspiration.
Our boat trips started recently. This is only the fourth trip, and it's not always a cruise. Sometimes the trip is only one way. But we try not to repeat ourselves and swim (or rather “walk”) along different routes. For us, four trips is already a lot. And I decided on this feat. Yes, it was as a feat that I perceived our first trip. And when we say that we have ALREADY, four trips, acquaintances (they already have about 50 trips), laugh at us, saying that we are still beginner swimmers. This year's cruise, and it's good. You just load and float without thinking about anything. Full relax! Fed, watered, on excursions of choice, drove. The beauty!! !
This year there was a route N. N. - Gorodets-Yaroslavl-Kostroma-Plyos-N. N.
We sailed with the company “Infoflot” from 2 to 5 May. Steamboat "Alexandre Benois". Departure May 2 at 9 am. Check-in two hours before departure. On May 1, they called from the company and reminded me of the trip. We specified the start time of registration and departure, the number of the berth. And kindly informed that after check-in and check-in you can have breakfast.
And here is the morning of May 2. It's raining and cold. The weather is quite sad. But we are firmly moving towards our goal - the journey. We took with us a good mood and hope for good weather. We approach the pier. We see that our handsome steamer meets us with cheerful music. Hooray, vacation begins!
Having received at the reception a card and keys to the cabin, with the number of the cabin, table, and the number of the bus for excursions, and having dropped off our things, we went for breakfast. The breakfast buffet is delicious and varied.
It was the first voyage of our ship. Opening navigation. The rain didn't stop, it just got worse. Therefore, acquaintance with the captain and all the cruise management took place on a closed deck. And the balloons that are launched when sailing were also with us on the closed deck. Such a tradition. It must not be broken, under any weather conditions. Acquaintance with the team passed, music began to play. It was offered a choice of a glass of champagne or juice. And we all, together taking the balls, went to the deck. Quickly releasing the balls, shouting "Hurrah" ran inside. So the cruise began not quite elegantly and festively. But still everyone was in a great mood.
Meet the captain and cruise leader.
Despite the rain, we go to the deck to release balloons.
The city sees us off so sadly and overcastly.
After walking around the boat for a while and exploring all the necessary places (a cafe-bar, a library), we found a boiler, tried wi-fi, etc. and went to the cabin. The cabin already had a detailed schedule for the day. And every day in the morning we received such information for the current day. On the ship's radio there was information about the places that sailed. The schedule for the day included a master class in beading, songs to the accordion. The children were entertained by the clown Bonya.
It's true that it's windy and cold outside, it's raining and it's somehow uncomfortable on the deck. But the most courageous ones walk on the deck. Someone settled in a bar. We settled in the lounge. There is a panoramic view. It's time for dating and communication.
Learning the basics of beading.
The master class begins, beads. I have a little idea what and how. But we didn't want to go anywhere, so we stayed. But suddenly a friend also decided to learn a new craft. And I will help, choose beads and suggest. In general, I help the teacher. The teacher is a very young girl and also for the first time. And such great students. With laughter, conversations, time flies unnoticed.
Here is Gorodets. The oldest city in the Nizhny Novgorod region. According to legend, the city was founded by Prince Yuri Dolgoruky in 1152. But scientists, as always, are arguing about the date the city was founded. The town is very small, but very colorful. The first time we went by ourselves. And so he is on almost every cruise, if you sail in this direction. If it's sunny, the town looks like a toy.
The first place we went to was the Gorodetsky Fedorovsky Monastery.
The territory of the monastery.
The monastery was founded by Yuri Dolgoruky in 1154. In 1263 he took monastic vows in the monastery, and Prince Alexander Nevsky lived and died. And in the monastery the only monument to A. Nevsky is not with a sword, but in monastic attire. We listened to the bell ringing, the stories of the guide. We visited the church. You could climb the chapel and ring the bells. But there was not enough time, it's a pity.
Monument to A. Nevsky.
Next stop Gorodetsky Zemlyanoy Val, an archeological monument. This is part of the ancient fortress wall. Defensive building. The moat and the shaft itself, a small part, have been preserved. The guide told so interestingly that when we drove up to the shaft, the question was asked: “Shall we go to the shaft”? Half of the bus answered: ''Yes''! And bravely set off in the rain to conquer the heights. We went to the shaft earlier, listened to stories, so we stayed on the bus. Jumping out for a moment to testify to his presence. We waited for the soaked, but satisfied fellow travelers, and went on.
Even from the photo it is clear that the rain does not stop.
Following the stories of the guide, very carefully making his way through the narrow streets to the historical part. And here are the old merchant mansions. Most of them are recognized as cultural and historical monuments. And, a monument to A. Nevsky, now as a warrior. It rises on the highest bank and can be seen from afar. This is the historical center.
The photos did not come out of the bus at all (all the photos where the sun is the first trip). And the streets are really narrow.
And the only "Museum Quarter" in the Nizhny Novgorod Region, where every house is a monument. When we got to the "Museum Quarter", there were no more people who wanted to walk in the rain again. It looks like everyone was already in the city. We looked out the window, listened to the guide.
This time the program included a visit to the City of Masters. A new museum complex, made by craftsmen who have preserved the traditions of Gorodets carving. It presents the crafts of the Gorodets region. So interesting, going from one tower to another along narrow stairs, you get from one master to another. The guide tells, and the master presents his craft. We went through the workshops of clay toys, woodcarving, Gorodets painting, vine weaving, pottery, gold embroidery.
The City of Masters is clearly visible from the river and looks very nice.
Zhbannikovskaya whistle is a very ancient type of toy. The exact origin of the fishery is unknown. Whistles of the 13th century were found in Gorodets.
The master tells and shows the stages of creating a whistle.
The potter shows his skills (you always want to try too). But on time strained.
Lozo weaving. Of course, there are a lot of products from the vine (where can I get it), and now they are weaving from paper tubes. The master told how to make such tubes.
Gorodets painting on wood is a unique phenomenon of national culture. This folk art combined the features of folk painting, the roots of which go back to the depths of centuries.
Such wonderful cats in many drawings.
And, of course, signature Gorodets woodcarving.
Weaving, as always, was a women's craft. And the first material for weaving was nettle.
Gold seamstress.
And that was the last master. We go to the bus and go further.
Saying goodbye to the city of craftsmen
But I still want to show the Museum Quarter. Let this be another trip. But the area is so cute.
Photo from the first trip, the weather was great.
The first and most important thing for me is the Museum of Samovars. It's just a delight!! ! The former merchant mansion of the Grishaevs houses a collection of both old and modern Russian samovars, assembled by Nikolai Polyakov. There are more than five hundred samples of samovars on display. And they are all different and interesting. You can hang out in the museum for the whole day.
There is even such a samovar on the street.
Museum Gorodetsky Gingerbread. The museum displays samples and stencils in which they were baked. The collection includes not only Gorodets and Tula gingerbreads, but also Arkhangelsk, Astrakhan and even foreign ones.
Museum of the House of Countess Panina. The museum's expositions include musical instruments, a collection of old Russian costumes, a collection of old clocks, and a small art gallery.
Gorodets Museum of Local Lore has been operating since 1918. As in any local history, the flora and fauna of the Gorodets region. The Petelina estate and many other places where the rain did not let us walk.
It was a small digression. And then…
We went home on the boat. Having quickly reached the ship, we bought Gorodets gingerbread each (Gingerbread is really tasty, having traveled with us for four days, and after lying at home for a while, went as a gift to friends, and remained just as soft, fragrant and tasty). And what happiness on the ship we were greeted with hot tea, friendly smiles. Having warmed up with tea, we went to the cabins.
Then there was dinner, acquaintance with the neighbors on the table. The company was wonderful, enthusiastically discussing the past day and plans for the next day. We did not notice how everyone ate and left the restaurant. The dishes were already cleared from the tables. So fast, agile and silent. And he didn’t disturb us in any way until we, having talked enough, left the restaurant ourselves.
A concert in the evening. And discussing the past day, we come to a conclusion. It is easy to come to Gorodets in the summer, just to look at small houses with carved architraves.
Our creative part of the team.
And this is how everything looked in sunny weather, although it was also the month of May.
From the high bank, admire the expanses of the river. On such a positive ended the first day of our cruise.
