Lake Ladoga, River Svir and Lake Onega

The ‘Waterways of the Tzars’

Is the river trip we took with Viking Tours, going from the Neva River on which St Petersburg sits,  into Lake Ladoga.  It is Europe’s largest freshwater lake at 6,800 Square miles, and the 14th largest lake in the world.  The some 70 rivers pour their icy waters into it and keeping it filled with ice for about 6 months of the year.  Canals have been built along the southern shore through which vessels carry timber, iron, granite and other products.  A system of waterways connects Lake Ladoga with the White Sea to the North.

Very comfy cabin on the Viking ship to watch the river life go by from.

The Wooden windmill in Mandrogy is proof of the windy conditions which luckily we did not experience the day we visited this charming village on the river.

Many crafts were being practiced in these barns and houses,

Fun to watch old time crafts of  weaving, jewellery making and painting, as well as the blacksmith at work.

David went into the Vodka Museum, and tasted a few of the 3041 types of them...

Classic photos of Kruschev and Stalin enjoying the stuff too!

Whilst the girls bought some handmade jewellery, enamelled and glazed.

Whilst David looked at the Kalishnikov shaped Vodka bottles and Faberge Egg designed one