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Yarlslavl was an unexpected pleasure. It's an ancient city, founded in 1010 as our local guide repeated again and again (how else would I remember the date three days later, even though I am the daughter of a history teacher I no longer have a capacity for rote memorization). It sits on the confluence of the Volga and the Arshkeyvarngey Rivers (well, the Volga but our guide told us even the locals have a hard time pronouncing the other one so I didn't even attempt to retain it phonetically.) They say that Dmitri killed a bear on that spot, so their emblem is the bear. See pictures.
One highlight which I was inclined to avoid was a trip to the Governor's Mansion. Russia has learned how to make their history a little more accessible by dressing their museum guides in period costume and having them maintain the persona of an appropriate local. As I type this, it reminds me of Disney World where the "cast members" play their roles according to which attraction they man. Same same here.
The museum guides lined up to greet us were gorgeous college-aged women, in various periods of dress. We got Tatiana, a peach-colored version of Scarlett O'Hara complete with tiers of ruffles over a hooped skirt. She introduced herself as the governor's daughter and, as he was away on business, she would host us 'guests' to her home.
She explained various rooms, their purposes and the artwork (paintings and furniture) with which each one was decorated. Several pieces were gifts to her father by various dignitaries foreign and Russian royalty.
Because her father was 'away' she could take us into his study, where none of the children (and certainly none of the girls) were welcome.
At the last art room we heard sounds of a three piece emsemble (two violins and a piano) so were escorted back to the ballroom where a trio was playing 18th-19th century music. Two officers joined Ms. Peach and another "sister" - this one from early 1800s - and they demonstrated several lovely dances. Then they broke into the crowd and pulled out guests - some delighted and some a bit against their will or better judgment but with good humor nonetheless - and danced and danced. Our friend Myrna was one of the latter, but was a good sport. In the video with her (red shirt and capris, silver hair) another couple kept waltzing in front so I wasn't able to capture much of her magical moment. (She was happy enough about this as she claimed she has two left feet.)
For the next dance, our bus-mate Peter was selected, and he was a perfect gentleman. It was such a joy to see the delight on his face as Ms. Peach and he waltzed around the floor.
We also were hustled to their market, which was a huge hall overrun with fruit, cheese, fish, meat and flower vendors. We were able to taste some cheeses, Yarlslavl and a kind called braided, smoked cheese. I'm not all about cheese anymore (Erica, I gotta tell you when I go off cheese) but damn, that was good. Smoked and somewhat like Gouda, but with a texture almost like meat. Sounds tasty, I know, but if you ever have a chance to try it, you won't regret it. I would have loved to have purchased some but I knew it wouldn't make it thru customs and we have so much damn food on the ship it wasn't worth it. (And I got a little more the first night in Moscow as it was included on the ubiquitous cheese platter available every dinner.)
And that's what I remember about Yarlslavl, just three days later.
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