Petropavlovsk, Russia

Petropavlovsk,Russia
May 6, 2013

... our ship as seen from a viewpoint ...

The tour description say the following:

Board a motor coach for an insightful day of sight seeing. At the Military Glory museum, you will learn all about the intricate and diverse history of this 273-year-old city. An experienced guide will walk you through the museum, the largest in northeast Russia, pointing out facts about Kamchatka’s interesting geography and nature, in addition to the development and history of the armed forces and the role they play here on the Kamchatka Peninsula. It’s then on to the scenic summit of Petrovskaya Hill. One of the most significant monuments you will see along the way in that of famous Vitus Bering. As you drive through the city center, see the chapel built to honor those who defended P-K during the violent Crimean War of 1854. You will also stop at the Russian Orthodox Church and the local market.

Greg and Wyona at War Museum Gate

I should have had to pay more money to be in a Russian Orthodox Catholic Church on Easter Sunday. I felt like this was having a seat in the stalls at a theatre production, only I was in real life.

This is is a tour that wouldn’t have been on my bucket list.  In retrospect I think ... yes, I could not have imagined having a day like this, so I wouldn't have known to think I could in Russian for Easter.

Russian Orthodox Church
people in pink and blue striking church bells

The ship announcements had been warning people – wear boots, it will be slushy; dress in layers; take your scarves, hats and gloves; prepare for cold and rain. I followed Wyona’s lead, packing a large bag last night.

... locks on a bridge railing ..
...a new custom I have seen in Venice as well ...

I finally said to her – you know, it is only going to be zero, for heaven’s sakes.

Zero.

Without a coat, I walk outside with the garbage when it is zero.

Why am I packing provisions and a small candle?

To keep me warm in case the heat goes off in the bus?

These fantastic Asian ports have one thing in common – immigration is slow.

.. the best Russian guide ever ...

We were in the Theatre waiting to leave the boat and told to go back to our rooms, for immigration hadn’t delivered the passports back to the boat yet.

Really, told to go back to a public area where we could hear departure announcements, since they are not made to the state rooms.

One trouble led another – so many people were milling in the waiting area that people couldn’t be separated into different bus loads.

An announcement had gone throughout the whole boat that everyone on tours should go to the theatre immediately

... from a hill, looking at the harbour ...

That was he last thing the people trying to organize groups to go off of the vessel were wanting.

There were pockets of grousing about incompetence.

Many of these travellers are used to speed and convenience. A select few sit back and enjoy the moments of chaos, watching how others deal with it, knowing there is only one good way to deal with it  – relax and let people with the know-how sort all of this out.

Back to the Russian Orthodox Church. Large church bells were sitting on the ground in a small square beside the church, and some families were over there, pulling the clappers, letting the sound ring out.

church bell ringing by the worshippers ... and others

A long wooden boardwalk was the entrance to the church.

Lining it lined were people with their baking set out, iced Easter confections, braided bread rings, hard boiled eggs encircling the braids.

The tour guide said,  “Don’t be surprised by people selling souvenirs and religious icons inside the church.

Indeed the back of the church was lined with such products, as well as people walking around holding hand made trinkets in small trays that strapped over their shoulders ... like the orange girls used to do at 16th century Shakekspearean theatres.

... ceiling decoration in the church ...
... the most beautiful you have ever seen, the guide told us ...

Though we had been told it would be O.K. to take pictures, I turned off my flash and tried to concentrate on just the ceiling and walls of the church. For some reason it seems intrusive to take pictures of the faces of people  who  are worshipping.  I think I left the best pictures behind, but that is not to say that I can't remember them.

Arta