The UNESCO World Heritage site of Kizhi Island (one of 1600+) in Lake Onega is a go for us as tomorrow and we will have a 2 1/2 hour walking tour. We got the final word today as the Lake Onega, the second largest lake in Europe, freezes completely and travel through it with a boat is not possible during many months. The Lake is also part of the ice road mentioned earlier. Kishi means "ritual games", due to the pagan rituals, dances, worshiping of the sun and rains gods, etc. that took place in the early centuries. The word is, we are not to step on the island grass because of snakes. I personally believe it is too cold for snakes, but no matter. It is a small island and the population of 90 (10 children in school), who take care of the Museum of Wooden Architecture, live there year around. It is the home of the Church of Transfiguration, Church of the Intersession and a bell-fry between the two. The Church of Lazar of Murom, located nearby, is a wooden church without any nails. We were told that, the main architect threw his hammer in the lake after it was finished as he said there will never be another church like this again. We will be the first ship to visit the island this year.
That was written last night, change of plans one more time, as the lake is not free of ice and there were some large ice bergs floating in the water which were deemed dangerous to ships. Therefore our ship turned around somewhere in the early morning and we journeyed on the southern edge of the lake. I did see a large ice berg this morning out of my window as we left the lake on our way to Vytegra, our new sightseeing stop. We will have a tour of the village and of a soviet submarine instead.