People watching in Zagorsk

Other than at the monastery, elderly women definitely dominated the landscape in Zagorsk. Like anywhere else, young people flee to the cities; and, of course, among the older generations, many more men than women were lost in World War II. Russia lost more people than any other country in that war—20 million, I believe—and many more were killed by Stalin when they returned.
I confess I really enjoy taking photos of older people, especially in the countryside—so I didn't put my camera down much in Zagorsk.

Skywatch Friday: Here comes the sun

The sun is trying really hard to come out in this shot of the Zagorsk monastery in Russia.
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Smile, nobody's looking

Even though they were in a tour and not really on duty, these guys looked around surreptitiously before they smiled for the camera.

Still in Zagorsk

These photos really evoke the Soviet Union for me.

Ah, the monastic life

When I was in the former Soviet Union, I had the opportunity to visit Zagorsk, a small town outside of Moscow. The beautiful monastery on the hill was, at the time, one of only two tolerated by the Soviet government, and the Russian Orthodox Church made the most of it. Probably one of the most photogenic places I have ever visited.