Moscow --What a Surprise!

Moscow was our final destination, and, to be perfectly honest, we did not arrive with high expectations, having already seen so much beautiful scenery and incredible sites.  But after  1 ½ days (not nearly enough) our impressions of the Russian capital had definitely changed.  

We docked on the Volga in the suburbs of the city and took about an hour to get in

to the city center.  First surprise was not only the traffic (only a few Russian-made cars were on the roads when I was there in 1972) but also the amount of  late model luxury cars.  Many Lexus and Mercedes, Cadillac Escalades, as well as Toyotas, GM cars, etc.  Definitely more upscale automobile taste than found in a typical US city.  The newly renovated Bolshoi Ballet Theater is in the background.

Our first stop in Moscow was the Kremlin.  The word literally means fortress or

walled town, and Moscow’s is definitely one of the largest and most famous in the world   One side of the red brick wall faces the Volga while the other side borders Red Square.

Within the walls are government buildings (Putin’s office was in one of them but time didn’t allow a personal visit), gold-domed cathedrals and palaces. 

Every Tsar since the 15^th century has been crowned in the Kremlin.

The 2,000 ton Tsar’s Bell  cracked in a fire before it could ever be rung. The piece that fell off still stands by the bell.  Continuing our walking tour we passed the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier where 2 guards stand watch at the end of the lovely Alexander Garden.

Although we toured several of the cathedrals, the most memorable experience was in the Armoury which contained the original coronation gowns of Empresses such as Elizabeth and Catherine the Great.  There is no way to describe the jewels that adorned these gowns and crowns or even imagine how the royalty were even able to stand in them.  Sadly, no photos were allowed.

The hall displaying the royal carriages was equally awe-inspiring.  I don’t think there is another collection in the world to equal the Kremlin’s Armoury.  It’s easier to understand the Bolshevik revolution after realizing the wealth the Tsars spent on their gowns, jewels, carriages and palaces

while their serfs were condemned to lives of hopeless poverty.

Our second day in Moscow was an absolutely beautiful day, making it hard to resist photo after photo.  Even Russia isn’t immune to Starbucks!

First stop was Red Square and the famous St. Basil’s

Cathedral.  Forty years ago I stood in front of it and found it just as amazing this morning.

Red Square is the 3^rd largest square in the world behind Tiananmen Square and the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg.

I had visited Lenin’s Tomb previously so didn’t take the time to stand in line for this popular site.  Did enjoy walking through GUM’s Department Store.  In the 1970’s, I remember long queues, shabby goods and empty shelves in tiny stalls.  Today, the shops within GUM’s contain top designer wares. 

A Hermes belt was over $2000 USD (and no, I didn’t purchase it!)!

Leaving Red Square we were treated to lunch and a cruise down the Volga.  What a perfect way to see the famous buildings.  The Kremlin Wall has 20 individual towers each showing the quirks of their various architects.

Financed by a private donor this huge statue was originally built for the US with a statue of Christopher Columbus.  
   

When the US declined the gift, the sculptor chopped off Christopher’s head and replaced it with Peter the Great’s!

Continuing with our land tour of Moscow, we stopped at one of my favorite sites –- a lovely park with a view of a beautiful convent set on a lake and resembling a scene from a Russian fairy tale. 

In the same park were structures based on Make Way for Ducklings, in honor of Barbara Bush’s visit as this was

one of her favorite books.

Our final activity in Moscow was a ride on their world-famous metro system.  After very careful instructions and with some trepidation we entered a station via the longest escalator I have ever ridden.  It seemed to take several minutes, but that could be a slight exaggeration.

More like palaces or museums, each spotlessly clean station (we saw three) was decorated in a different style.  

One designed by Khrushchev depicted various scenes of ordinary people fro Kiev, his hometown while another had statutes of was heroes in each alcove.

The third station had alternating arches of pink and light grey marble   

All had mosaic scenes at the end of the station

Our drive back to the boat through heavy traffic took about 1 1/2hrs but time passed quickly as our young guide  encouraged us to ask her questions about life in Russia today.  

Perhaps, the best memory we will take with us will not be the lovely souvenirs we purchased, the breathtaking palaces or the vast expanse of this country but our impressions of the Russian people.  We found them to be so much like our own families and friends back home with the same interests and challenges.

I hope to return again to this nation emerging from long years of Soviet oppression and see what changes have taken place.
Linda