Christmas in Torjok
Right after Christmas we decided to go to an old Russian city - Torjok. The time was symbolic, in my opinion, considering that the town is most famous for its’ churches. And visiting it right after Christmas had a more than simply touristic mood.
Our numbers were moderate: 2 cars, 6 people, 3 men and 3 women. First challenge was to reach the town as soon as possible. And we managed to do it without significant difficulties. The weather was nice, road was empty. We were stopped around 5 times by brave Russian cops without any reason. Out of those 5 times the car with girls was stopped 3 or 4, which caused a lot of funny jokes in our “men car”.
In the town we spent some time looking for a suitable hotel. The town-guidebook failed to be helpful in this matter and finally we have reserved two rooms in the new hotel that was not mentioned in the guide. Nice place with reasonable prices and relatively cheerful personnel.
10 or 15 minutes after getting into the rooms, having a quick launch and parking the cars we have started our walk. And most of this day we spent exactly like this: walking. We have visited half of the most interesting places in the town: churches, monastery and one of the museums. Express course of town history and part of Russian history connected with the town. I especially liked the monastery - we have found a few half-ruined and hardly reachable places: certain parts of monastery wall and towers. And we considered it a must for us to visit those places. It was not too easy, it was slightly tiring. And when we did it we felt… rewarded.
Also, I think that it was the first time when I visited so many churches within one day. And it created a very special mood. Always have this mood when I visit the church: when I see this special light, unique scent and strict faces of Russian saints looking at me from the icons. I’ve lost my belief in God long ago. Even my belief in the existence of any supernatural power. And yet - when I am in the church - I feel the faith of our people. I know that this is a saint place of rest and refuge for thousands of people all other the world and I share a part of this faith. I feel absolutely calm in the churches. And I like it.
The ending of the day was a total contrast. We have spent two hours in a restaurant - a nice place with prices that can be called not less than funny for average Moscow citizen. We began drinking there and continued in the hotel. Talking, listening to the music, sharing latest impressions: all parts of the standard friend-party were included. Later in the night the girls talked me into helping them to have an innocent joke on
starina_chuk . For some reason he was pissed off by that and, as far as I think, that was the main reason for him to leave us on the second day and walking around (as well as making his way home) on his own. Also this, in my opinion was a reason for him to spoil my bed. Although this is just my guess and I cannot prove anything. Anyway - here I want to apologize for any action that could have hurt you, Paul. And I sincerely hope that my apologies would be accepted.
Next day was similar to the first one. There was also a lot of walking, a bit of relaxation in another restaurant and a good chunk of sightseeing. However everything was slightly calmer and we were definitely unhappy about Paul’s decision. Still we have received lots of pleasure from this last day in the town. And after a farewell cup of tea with pancakes we have started our road back…
P.S. That was like in the song “a minor fall, a major lift”: despite all downsides of the event I like it. And I think that it would be possible to repeat it. Someday.
Our numbers were moderate: 2 cars, 6 people, 3 men and 3 women. First challenge was to reach the town as soon as possible. And we managed to do it without significant difficulties. The weather was nice, road was empty. We were stopped around 5 times by brave Russian cops without any reason. Out of those 5 times the car with girls was stopped 3 or 4, which caused a lot of funny jokes in our “men car”.
In the town we spent some time looking for a suitable hotel. The town-guidebook failed to be helpful in this matter and finally we have reserved two rooms in the new hotel that was not mentioned in the guide. Nice place with reasonable prices and relatively cheerful personnel.
10 or 15 minutes after getting into the rooms, having a quick launch and parking the cars we have started our walk. And most of this day we spent exactly like this: walking. We have visited half of the most interesting places in the town: churches, monastery and one of the museums. Express course of town history and part of Russian history connected with the town. I especially liked the monastery - we have found a few half-ruined and hardly reachable places: certain parts of monastery wall and towers. And we considered it a must for us to visit those places. It was not too easy, it was slightly tiring. And when we did it we felt… rewarded.
Also, I think that it was the first time when I visited so many churches within one day. And it created a very special mood. Always have this mood when I visit the church: when I see this special light, unique scent and strict faces of Russian saints looking at me from the icons. I’ve lost my belief in God long ago. Even my belief in the existence of any supernatural power. And yet - when I am in the church - I feel the faith of our people. I know that this is a saint place of rest and refuge for thousands of people all other the world and I share a part of this faith. I feel absolutely calm in the churches. And I like it.
The ending of the day was a total contrast. We have spent two hours in a restaurant - a nice place with prices that can be called not less than funny for average Moscow citizen. We began drinking there and continued in the hotel. Talking, listening to the music, sharing latest impressions: all parts of the standard friend-party were included. Later in the night the girls talked me into helping them to have an innocent joke on
starina_chuk . For some reason he was pissed off by that and, as far as I think, that was the main reason for him to leave us on the second day and walking around (as well as making his way home) on his own. Also this, in my opinion was a reason for him to spoil my bed. Although this is just my guess and I cannot prove anything. Anyway - here I want to apologize for any action that could have hurt you, Paul. And I sincerely hope that my apologies would be accepted.
Next day was similar to the first one. There was also a lot of walking, a bit of relaxation in another restaurant and a good chunk of sightseeing. However everything was slightly calmer and we were definitely unhappy about Paul’s decision. Still we have received lots of pleasure from this last day in the town. And after a farewell cup of tea with pancakes we have started our road back…
P.S. That was like in the song “a minor fall, a major lift”: despite all downsides of the event I like it. And I think that it would be possible to repeat it. Someday.