February 1 - Building

Some contrasts today - two amazing buildings, very similar and very different.

The first is a wooden Russian orthodox church on Kizhi island in lake Onega, the second largest lake in Europe in the republic of Karelia, Russia. It is world heritage listed and is under restoration at present. It is built completely of timber, right down to the small tiles that cover the domes. It isn't painted but they say when the sun shines it shimmers in the light. The day we visited was cool, wet and misty which gave all the old wooden buildings on this island an other-worldly air.

Another Russian orthodox church - this one, St Basil's in Moscow - again, a wet day - the one blessing being that there were slightly less tourists in the photos I took ;). We walked around the back of the church and managed a rare moment of sunlight to snap a photo. The differences and the similarities of these two buildings are quite beautiful.

(I have heard the weather in Russia described as 9 months of anticipation and 3 months of disappointment - even in summer it is often damp and cool - but don't let that stop you from visiting, it is a fascinating place)