For me, and others on the trip, the highlight of this day, and perhaps the entire trip, was our visit to an "Old Believers" village. The history of these people goes back to the mid-1600s when groups of people opposed the anti-religious dictates of the Russian authorities, withdrew from society in general, founding their homes and culture in remote areas of the country.
It was not until the 1980s that these Russian Orthodox peoples were discovered, living in isolation, still speaking an old dialect of Russian and living a reasonably organized life. Hence, the name "Old Believers" for those people still practicing their religion and their way of life.
When our bus arrived the Old Believer's village, we were met by people in colorful attire and singing a happy tune in Russian, assumedly giving our group welcome to their village. In addition to song, our group was treated to something to drink (vodka) and tasty baked goods of one sort or the other. All of this brought smiles to our faces.
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