Mother Volga通過Yvon from Ottawa

As we were about to leave the Volga River and enter Lake Rybinsk, we went through some lock at the far end of which – on the lake side – was this imposing statue standing on one of the jetty-like structures that guide the ships through the lock. We were in the dining room when we passed it. The ship was moving forward at full speed and I just had time to pick up my camera from the table and snap this picture through the window without knowing exactly what I was photographing (they must have announced it on the PA system but, as is often the case, I didn't hear it). But I'm glad that I took the picture because, as I found out later, this statue is quite famous. It represents Mother Volga, a statue of a lady with her right hand stretched out towards Lake Rybinsk and holding a document in her left hand (not visible) that is said to contain the plans of the lock. The base has a Hammer and Sickle medallion attached to it as well as an engraved inscription of words from Lenin referring to Communism and Soviet power. We didn't see (or noticed) neither the medallion nor the inscription; I guess we weren't facing the right side. But I hope that the repairs or renovations that are being carried out – re, the scaffolding – do not include removing these symbols of the past. This is history, and I am a strong believer that no one should be allowed to mess with – i.e. remove, alter, wash off, delete, hide, etc. – historical facts no matter how condemnable these may have been.