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Cindy Hiteman | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> North Caucasus Plus - 2017 tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

North Caucasus Plus - 2017

North Caucasus: You're familiar with them, right? North Ossetia, Ingushetia, Chechnya and Dagestan PLUS a pre-trip to Sochi in Russia, plus Abkhazia and Adygea, Karachay-Cherkessia and Kabardino-Balkharia. All but Abkhazia are Russian republics/federal districts located between the Black and Caspian Seas, and north of Georgia and Azerbaijan. Does this help? I wasn't familiar with most of them before this trip either. Much of the area is mountainous (beautiful mountains); many different languages are spoken; the people were very, very friendly. Tourists seldom visit, so if this appeals to you, go soon!
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You may recognize this: it held the Olympic flame during the Sochi Olympics.
You may recognize this: it held the Olympic flame during the Sochi Olympics.		 The Olympic Rings
The Olympic Rings		 One of the ski areas used druing the Olympics (summertime photo)
One of the ski areas used druing the Olympics (summertime photo)
Want to cross this hanging bridge?
Want to cross this hanging bridge?		 A bus stop made by the Russians; we were told there is a book that features such stops. Are they all this unique?
A bus stop made by the Russians; we were told there is a book that features such stops. Are they all this unique?		 Ceramic art is also common.
Ceramic art is also common.
Russian era statues are common in parks.
Russian era statues are common in parks.		 Lake Ritsa in Abkhazia
Lake Ritsa in Abkhazia		 In this region Russian leaders had/have many dachas. Stalin spent time in this one; hence his likeness...
In this region Russian leaders had/have many dachas. Stalin spent time in this one; hence his likeness...
Young girl painting in a lovely botannical garden
Young girl painting in a lovely botannical garden		 A monastery in Sukhumi, Abkhazia; love the Eastern Orthodox domes
A monastery in Sukhumi, Abkhazia; love the Eastern Orthodox domes		 A simple home in Krasnodar Krai, Russia
A simple home in Krasnodar Krai, Russia
Russian tourists come to this picturesque area to paint.
Russian tourists come to this picturesque area to paint.		 This is an instrument maker in Maykop; he has this flute anchored on a tooth! Never have I seen this before, but it works.
This is an instrument maker in Maykop; he has this flute anchored on a tooth! Never have I seen this before, but it works.		 Ruins of a tenth century Alanian church
Ruins of a tenth century Alanian church
Beautiful wildflowers blooming everywhere
Beautiful wildflowers blooming everywhere		 These are bee hives! We saw many of them and ate raw honey often.
These are bee hives! We saw many of them and ate raw honey often.		 Note the white, snow capped mountain to the right of the two green mounds.
Note the white, snow capped mountain to the right of the two green mounds.
This is Mt. Elbrus, 18,500', the highest mountain in Russia and Europe.
This is Mt. Elbrus, 18,500', the highest mountain in Russia and Europe.		 In the big city of Pyatigorsk, these fancy shoes are for sale.
In the "big" city of Pyatigorsk, these fancy shoes are for sale.		 More of them
More of them
Many young women were fashionably dressed.
Many young women were fashionably dressed.		 These are known as shameless baths; hot mineral water comes out of the hillside.
These are known as "shameless baths"; hot mineral water comes out of the hillside.		 City parks have broad sidewalks/promenades and, often, small buildings next to them.
City parks have broad sidewalks/promenades and, often, small buildings next to them.
Young boy feeding a squirrel
Young boy feeding a squirrel		 Orthodox cathedral in Pyatigorsk
Orthodox cathedral in Pyatigorsk		 Its beautiful iconostasis
Its beautiful iconostasis
An interesting building in a park
An interesting building in a park		 A newly married couple and his daughter
A newly married couple and his daughter		 In Kabardino-Balkharia, a museum director is wearing traditional Circassian clothing.
In Kabardino-Balkharia, a museum director is wearing traditional Circassian clothing.
This woman made these pies for us.
This woman made these "pies" for us.		 They are sort of like pizza, and stuffed with cheese, meat or beetroot leaves: delicious
They are sort of like pizza, and stuffed with cheese, meat or beetroot leaves: delicious		 Beautiful hollyhocks
Beautiful hollyhocks
Roadside sculptures were built by the Russians many years ago.
Roadside sculptures were built by the Russians many years ago.		 We encountered this herd of sheep twice.
We encountered this herd of sheep twice.		 A small mining town
A small mining town
Need anything from this shop?
Need anything from this shop?		 The sacred site of Rekom in North Ossetia
The sacred site of Rekom in North Ossetia		 Wish rags
Wish rags
Gorgeous mountain scenery every day
Gorgeous mountain scenery every day		 A blue gentian
A blue gentian		 14th to 18th century pagan tomb
14th to 18th century pagan tomb
Our first medieval tower; we're hoping to see many more.
Our first medieval tower; we're hoping to see many more.		 Orange poppy
Orange poppy		 Necropolis of Dargavs (City of the Dead)
Necropolis of Dargavs ("City of the Dead")
Medieval tombs
Medieval tombs		 Very pretty place
Very pretty place		 Walking street in Vladikavkaz
Walking street in Vladikavkaz
Older people sell their wares in the parks.
Older people sell their wares in the parks.		 Cheese seller in a market
Cheese seller in a market		 Another beautiful church
Another beautiful church
A shop named for Putin... Used to have shops named for Obama; so far none are named for Trump.
A shop named for Putin... Used to have shops named for Obama; so far none are named for Trump.		 Ingushetia and its famed medieval watch towers!
Ingushetia and its famed medieval watch towers!		 Gorgeous site and sight
Gorgeous site and sight
Nice?
Nice?		 We were VERY happy to get to see these.
We were VERY happy to get to see these.		 Such beautiful scenery
Such beautiful scenery
Last towers...
Last towers...		 Dancers (not bride and groom) at a wedding we happened to find.
Dancers (not bride and groom) at a wedding we happened to find.		 Wedding guests
Wedding guests
Mosque and new highrises in Grozny, Chechnya. Much of the city is new, as it was heavily damaged in recent wars.
Mosque and new highrises in Grozny, Chechnya. Much of the city is new, as it was heavily damaged in recent wars.		 A variety of clothing styles on these girls
A variety of clothing styles on these girls		 Flower shop and its workers
Flower shop and its workers
One of their bouquets
One of their bouquets		 Friendly young women; they took our picures, too.
Friendly young women; they took our picures, too.		 A painting in a Grozny museum
A painting in a Grozny museum
Typical Chechnya rug design
Typical Chechnya rug design		 Museum workers on break?
Museum workers on break?		 This was a FANTASTIC group of very young dancers.
This was a FANTASTIC group of very young dancers.
Traditional costumes. Girls dance in an extremely graceful way, always with their arms out and their eyes downcast.
Traditional costumes. Girls dance in an extremely graceful way, always with their arms out and their eyes downcast.		 A village street market in Dagestan
A village street market in Dagestan		 Women inspecting
Women inspecting
Men waiting?
Men waiting?		 Vendors
Vendors		 Check out her teeth; often people cap their teeth in gold.
Check out her teeth; often people cap their teeth in gold.
More wedding guests; these are in Dagestan
More wedding guests; these are in Dagestan		 Waterfall
Waterfall		 Our homestay hostess and one of her daughters
Our homestay hostess and one of her daughters
This woman just filled her jug with water.
This woman just filled her jug with water.		 Rugged scenery
Rugged scenery		 See the village on the hillside?
See the village on the hillside?
Another view
Another view		 Check out the switchbacks; we did NOT drive on that road.
Check out the switchbacks; we did NOT drive on that road.		 Terraced hillside
Terraced hillside
Many homes have museum rooms to display their collections
Many homes have "museum" rooms to display their collections		 Two of our group dressed in Dagestani bridal wear
Two of our group dressed in Dagestani bridal wear		 Women in the village of Kubachi, Dagestan (famous for it silver work) often wear these white scarves, embroidered with gold.
Women in the village of Kubachi, Dagestan (famous for it silver work) often wear these white scarves, embroidered with gold.
Isn't this silverwork lovely?
Isn't this silverwork lovely?		 Another look at the shawls; the pots hold water.
Another look at the shawls; the pots hold water.		 A Sufi tomb
A Sufi tomb
Friendly (and colorful) cooks in a restaurant where we had lunch
Friendly (and colorful) cooks in a restaurant where we had lunch		 Friendly berry seller in a Makhachkala market
Friendly berry seller in a Makhachkala market
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Guest 06-Sep-2017 22:00
Beautiful gallery of a brand new area for me. Wonderful history lesson as usual. Thank you. Loved the silver piece. Did u get one? Those berries look yummy too.

Lol your sister in law N
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