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Published: June 13th 2012
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Due to much popular demand, this entry will not only feature a picture of puppy, but also some photos of unattractive men on the train without their shirts on! Totally safe for work though, just maybe not safe for your delicate constitutions. And also just lots more photos generally! Especially of Lenin! You are all in for such a treat!
Our second to last train trip took us from Perm to Moscow. Due to the number of mines around Perm, we were in a super fancy train, that even let you use the bathroom
any time at all, even when you were at the station. It was crazy! It still contained shirtless men however, and I have put the photo of this spectacle in the photos down the bottom.
About 24 hours after departure we rolled in Moscow, where we were to get to our hotel via the wonderful metro. Well wonderful when you are not carrying 17kg of garbage on your back, in a group of similarly clad people, crashing into the locals on the train. Nevertheless, one short ride later we were at our hotel, and ready to hit the city.
Not yet being depressed enough
after the completion of the Gulag Archipelago (it actually ends a lot better than you would think - or at least any book on the holocaust does), we headed to the Gulag Museum! A few more depressing but enlightening hours later, it was thought maybe the next activity could be a light hearted boat cruise, which due to the curvy nature of the Moscow river, does not offer any insights to the layout of the city, but was a pleasant way to spend the afternoon nonetheless.
We jumped off just after the Kremlin and took a quick Gambol near St Basil's cathedral, before heading out to a Georgian restaurant. The restaurant was peculiar, but not in the way you think, instead clad in fake wood and trees to make it look like it had stepped out of the Georgian woods. And instead of having a main of pyschopath with a side of meglomanic for dinner, instead it was a chicken stew, almost like a curry. With no potatoes!
The next morning we went for a more comprehensive inspection of the Kremlin and red square. I might as well tell you all now, I was unable to visit Lenin.
So the holy trinity of dead communist leader viewing thus remains unfulfilled. Nevertheless, we went inside the Kremlin to see some spectacular jewels, genuine amazing Faberge eggs and armour in (of all places) the amoury. Then outside for another church binge. They are all very pretty on the outside with their domes and the icons and things are quite pretty on the inside, but the orthodox religion does not believe in chairs or any type of resting item for travel weary feet. We then saw a giant bell, a giant cannon and Putin's offices (unrelated apparently), before exiting out the otherside to the frenzy of souvenier stores, some selling real fur hats. Though tempting in preparation for the Canberra winter I will be returning to, not tempting enough to stop being really creepy.
I had discovered by now that Moscow is a fantastic place for taking a walk and getting lost, you always end up finding really interesting things to look at and while your afternoon away. We aimed for the Statue park, which is a mix of former Soviet statues and modern art, including some representing Gulag victims. After making some new friends, we checked out the former
chocolate factory which has been converted into an entertainment precint, which was the ideal place to have an afternoon drink while overlooking the water. Eventually making our way back to the area near the hotel, dinner this time was in a pub/canteen, where you grabbed a tray, asked some friendly Soviet style ladies to pass you snacks from behind the counter, grab your beer and away you go. Except for the smoking, it was a really good way to eat.
On our final day a few of us signed up to go the secret bunker. What is the secret bunker you ask? Well, in the 1950s, they decided nuclear war was given, so the leaders fashioned themselves a bunker right in the city centre, 60m below the ground. We walked down 20 flights of stairs to get the full effect, and the entire tour was given to the background of rumbling metro trains. It was pretty cool down there, and i would highly recommend it to anyone going to Moscow. There is even a lift up for those lazy people like me. We also had a look at some of the beautiful metro stations, still fully bedecked in soviet
regalia and social realism. I did ask someone why they didn't remove it all after the fall of communism. They simply accept that it is part of their history and dont see any reason to forget, which I guess is fair enough.
Another afternoon spent wandering around, before a midnight-ish train to St Petersburg. Moscow, I approve of you!
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MJ
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Lovely!
Lovely! Just lovely! Thank you for this entertaining episode! Pleased to see a stripey shirt featuring in your travels. :)