Yaroslavl
5 June 2008
Yaroslavl is our first real city (or town) since we left St. Petersburg.   Yaroslavl, with a
population of 680,000 is located at the confluence of the Volga and Kotorosl rivers, about
150 miles (250km) northeast of Moscow, and continues to be an important river port.  We
arrived there in the early afternoon and then went on a bus tour of the city
A partial view of Yaroslavl, viewed from our ship.
A broad orderly avenue typical of
Yaroslavl's central business area.
Yaroslavl is famous in Russia for its magnificent churches and monasteries, especially the
Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Savior.  
Many levels of great iconic paintings and
murals on entire walls from floor to ceiling.
A small sample of the beautiful
intricate wall decor.
One of several beautifully decorated doorways.
A quartet singing hymns.  Because musical
instruments generally are prohibited in
Russian Orthodox churches religious singing
has become a highly developed art in Russia.
We saw many churches which were also beautiful on the exterior.  Below are a couple.
In most of the world church bells are rung by pulling ropes at the bottom of the bell tower.  
However, in Russian Orthodox churches the bell ringer is up in the tower with the bells
pulling the bells with great precision to produce beautiful melodies.  The bell-ringer below
played a sample for us.
Bell-ringer playing a sample.
We enjoyed our stay in Yaroslavl.  At about 8:00pm we sailed for the next port, Uglich.