14 K YELLOW GOLD DIAMOND

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how to price gold jewelry is definitely what it markets the town as: charming. This small town (pop. 21 000) in south east Finland has a charm entirely of its own! It’s a quiet place apart from the Hamina Tattoo military music festival but still perfect for a short stay in both summer and in winter. I would imagine it at best around Christmas time, with lights twinkling, small shops offering the best kinds of thoughtful gifts, and people with merry minds.
It is impossible to get lost in the circular streets of the old town centre laid out in such a peculiar way. The Town Hall at the very centre of the circle is always a good landmark, since it can be seen from every street corner. The sights are, furthermore, close together. For a better view of the town and its history it is worth climbing to the top of the ramparts round the centre. The surrounding countryside and archipelago are also full of interesting things to see.

We spent our honeymoon in the east of Finland, and enjoyed Hamina as part of it in July 2009. Especially our stay in the Pormestarintalon Pihakammari, the Garden Chambers of the Mayor’s House, needs to be mentioned. I have never come across such a romantic setting in my life! White linen with lace trimmings in the sweetest of old houses completely modernized but not lacking any of its old charm, and with such friendly owners of the house as well. I recommend it to anyone visiting the town in look for a romantic getaway!

The dome in Orthodox Christianity symbolizes heaven. This smaller, thinner bulb-like dome is typical for Russia. It is said it's designed in this way so as snow would not remain on the roof. I have not found out yet the meaning of the rock here. St. Barbara's building has a cruciform structure and there is a big rock in each of the outside corners.
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This photo is part of a project to document Orthodox and Eastern churches in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. In this project I will be interested to see how contemporary church buildings in an area strongly inclined toward religion adapt traditional models from Eastern Europe / Byzantium and the Middle East.