It must have been my 5th visit to Varzuga. The first new object noticed was a freshly painted outhouse right as you enter the village.

A practical addition to the village household till you enter it.

When you do that’s what you see inside:

Varzuga dubbs itself as “the center of northern spirituality” (“центр северной духовности”) and is actively promoted in this capacity. My liking for the place however drops down yet another level every time I visit it.

Below is the official image of Varzuga, reproduced ad nauseum in tourist sites and brochures. The photo above is to add a doze of reality to this somewhat artificial picture.