Novgorod ("New Town") is one of the oldest in Russia.  We got there by inter-city bus--strictly utilitarian.  Since the overhead racks are tiny and the luggage compartment was never opened, we had to hold our luggage in our laps.  Otherwise it was comfortable enough.  This church, built in 1406, was a block from our hotel.  The roof is covered in wooden shingles.

The Detinets, or Novgorod Kremlin.  We liked Novgorod a lot.  It's friendlier, quieter, and older than St. Petersburg or Moscow.  The church is St. Sophia's, modelled on the church of the same name in Kiev.



The Church of our Savior on Ilina St., 14th century.  It's a museum with frescos by legendary Theophanes the Greek.  The caretaker gave us a very informative tour--too bad we couldn't understand much of it.