The Volga is Russia’s largest waterway and is connected to the country’s five seas by a network of canals.  We passed through 17 locks on our journey and the landscape varied from industrialized towns with their mills and machinery to enchanting pastoral villages to large expanses of forests full of splendid fall foliage. Next stop: Kizhi Island.

In the village of Mandrogy, the girls tried their hand at Matryoshka doll painting.  Below are some items brought back from Russia.