I took the rainbow in the photo to be a good omen that, despite the old noisy van and its problematic GPS, we would indeed get to our destination.
The Belarus landscape reminded me of home in Ontario, Canada a generation ago: October fields with hay, potatoes and other crops already harvested. The trees reminded me of Canada too: deciduous and evergreens, many familiar species. I remember having a similar observation when I travelled in Poland a few years ago.
I took the rainbow in the photo to be a good omen that, despite the old noisy van and its problematic GPS, we would indeed get to our destination.
I took the rainbow in the photo to be a good omen that, despite the old noisy van and its problematic GPS, we would indeed get to our destination.
on the way to Pruzhany and then Ruzhany
After my long voyage (Toronto-London-Warsaw-Vilnius-Minsk-Grodno), I was finally on the way to the place I most wanted to see, Ruzhany. Ruzhany is a town of about 3,000 (with only one restaurant and it was not open the day I was there, but that is another story); Pruzhany, the regional centre of government, is a considerably larger and wealthier town about 45 minutes away.
Pruzhany, the regional centre
In Pruzhany, a prosperous-seeming dairy town, the local official of the region was very welcoming. I gave him organic maple sugar candies and he gave me tourist brochures about the region, including photos of the Ruzhany castle. Shown here are me, the official, and Mr. Lukashenko, the (ever-present) Belarus ruler since 1994.
I saw many private flower gardens and well-kept houses in Pruzhany, and the central square is nicely landscaped around the requisite statue of Lenin.
Pruzhany Jewish cemetery
The local official took us to see the Pruzhany Jewish cemetery which was well located and quite central in the town; a monument to the town's Jews had been erected by American descendants and was in good shape.
Goats are a very efficient if low-tech method of controlling the weeds and grass that grow up in the cemetery.
Goats are a very efficient if low-tech method of controlling the weeds and grass that grow up in the cemetery.
Museum at Ruzhany castle
The very enthusiastic young man in charge of the Ruzhany castle museum (in a restored part of the front gate house) proudly showed me around his museum, including a model of the Ruzhany castle complex.
The photos below show the museum's one display case devoted to items from the "Jewish period" (from our Pines ancestor's purchase of the castle from the Polish Duke Sapieha in 1829), with glass pharmacy bottles and a large metal bell, along with black and white photographs.
The photos below show the museum's one display case devoted to items from the "Jewish period" (from our Pines ancestor's purchase of the castle from the Polish Duke Sapieha in 1829), with glass pharmacy bottles and a large metal bell, along with black and white photographs.
Ruzhany castle, restoration in progress
It was very moving, after seeing many photos over the years, to finally be standing in front of the castle where my grandmother, Golda Pines, for whom I am named, grew up. 
There is much activity; the main gate of the castle complex is now being restored and from chatting with local authorities I got the impression that they have big plans to make this a tourist site.
There is much activity; the main gate of the castle complex is now being restored and from chatting with local authorities I got the impression that they have big plans to make this a tourist site.
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