Russia's open-air museums show us wooden buildings from long ago. One very famous museum is Kizhi, on a beautiful island in Lake Onega (Onezhskoye) in Karelia. But there are many others. Homes Spotlight on Russia visits the museums at Malye Karelie and Vitoslavlitsy near Novgorod. Here we are at Malye Karelie, near Arkhangelsk. This is a typical izba. It's a small wooden country house with just one or two rooms. The family room is a bedroom, kitchen and living room all in one. There isn't a bathroom, but there is a wooden sauna (banya) outside. This is the 'beautiful corner' (krasny), with the family icon and a special table for guests. Now we're at Vitoslavlitsy. Let's look inside the 1882 'Ryshevo' izba. There is a large clay oven (pech') in a corner near the door. There are sleeping benches (polaty) above the oven. +0 EAC There are different sorts of traditional buildings in different parts of Russia. Draw or photograph some old buildings and send your pictures to us, with a short description. There are low benches along the other walls, one or two tables, and a cupboar for dishes. ACT • Tell your partner about the rooms and furniture in your house. Use the text to tell your English- speaking pen friend about a typica Russian izba. 129