Hi all we are in Moscow,
Russia has been a real supprise to us both, we did not know what to expect but lovely people and wonderful scenery.
I left you in St. petersburg and the next day we went to the Hermitage Museum or palace, well about 10 km s of walking and viewing of fabulous rooms full of paintings, van gogh, monet, and to name just 2 that all I can remember, but there were certainly lots and lots more, will think of then later, plus all the royal jewellery from the Szar dinasties, back to arund the 14th century.
From there we went to the Spit Blood Cathedral,so named because one of the Szar's was murdered in the place where the Cathedral now stands. Inside the walls are totally covered with muriels all done in mozaics, depicing everything to dowith christ, birth, the wise men, apostals, and his death, cannot discribe this totlall unbelievable.
we then walked all over the rest of the town and in palace Square there was the practise of the parade for there Liberation Day Celebrations 9th may, so we watched them march up and down, before back to our hotel , next day train to Moscow.
After Krakow wallet bit was looking at everybody in the station as a pick pocket.
No, station very well organised, onto the train, had a snack meal, steak and salad, country side was interesting, lovely rolling hills but not much high on the hills, and many small power stations along the line to keep up power to the electric rail system. Many old areas, all broken down, they tell us this is since 1991, end of soviet communism rule, every thing is more western, but wages still around $450 to $500 per month.
Moscow, we got there on 1st May so holday and rRed Square Closed, we altered our day to take in the subway stations, cannot believe them, huge halls with muriels and sculptors of, prominent people, war hereos, agriculture, almost every thing history provides.
today Red Square and Kremlin, beautiful area, gardens, tomb of the unknown soldier, fountains all started up last week for summer, Th Armoury Museum with all the gold ornaments, coaches, clothes and armour they had back in those good old days, armour wieghing 50kg, for the knight and up to 100kg for the horse, weapons, axes, spears, etc, plus all the official cloths for state events for the last half a century.
sad the Soviet communst party distroyed many churches and cathedrals during their time and replaced them with, shopping centres, swimming pools to show the people they could do with out them, but now from the Gorbacov, Yeltsen era who were baptised in secret have ordered the rebuilding of the cathedrals etc.
Red Square thousands of people there, huge area and as our guide said, 25 years ago they could not have ever imagined, Elton John, Rolling Stone etc playing concerts there but they have now.
Our journey is just about ended, been great, had wonderful time met some lovely people, and a wine import company for Russia Simon.
Love to Aidan, Taylor, Luke and Joel, and their mums and dads.
Ken and Margaret.
Russia's Flag
Map of Russia