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Published: October 5th 2006
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MOSCOW-RUSSIA 23/9/06-26/9/05
Where to you start when describing walking across a place with such a history.
It’s hard to say that the whole trip has been leading up to this moment, since Ive seen and done so many wonderful things so far and yet, at the same time going to Russia and Moscow in particular was one of the main highlights, if not THE highlight of this trip for me.
Red Square!!
We arrived driving into Moscow from the west, driving into the city via their main street and pulling up being able to get out of the bus and stroll (or skip, if your an excitable git like me) across Red Square. Such a prosaic moment in such a legendary place!
My limited literary skills just cannot do justice to how I was feeling walking across those cobbles. St Basils in front of me, the Kremlin wall to my right, the GUM department store to my left and the museum behind me. I couldn’t wipe the smile of my face, and knowing that it was only going to get better once we could roam around the following day.
Our free day in Moscow
started with a city tour, taking in the sights including the Moscow university building, and after seeing that can I just say in Australia I think we are being jipped. The place is enormous, grand and looks like what a place that breeds genius should look like!
The vista of the city slightly blurred by the smog that always goes with such a place, and then the metro tour. Ever wondered what Russia does with its marble. Go and see the metro stations. No joke marble, gold mosaic, broze sculpture and chandeliers.
To top off our day was a trip to the Moscow Circus. Now considering that the kid in me had been bubbling quite close to the surface since arriving in Moscow and seeing Red Square for the first time, the circus then was just icing on the Cake. Being at bit apprehensive to begin with, since I can’t remember ever going to a circus that had exotic animals as part of the performance, I was pleasantly surprised and the girls will agree with me the eye candy certainly went along way to help the situation.
The acrobats and trapeze were definite favorites but the dogs
as well, since they looked like they were having an absolute ball performing to the crowd.
On the way back to the hotel a stop to see Red Square by night and get some great photos. Thanks to my photographer I’ve got a photo of me in front of St Basils that I will hang on my wall and treasure forever.
Our planned excursion into the city to find a nightclub that played the kind of chest thumping, ear burning "doof doof" beat that is a religion to some, was postponed in favor of gathering in one of the hotel rooms to chill after our long day. And to the guy that got stood up because the layout in his particular room was not up to stratch, what can we say.... the other room was just " all about the PC level".
It’s amazing how well you get to know people just sitting and chatting over a few Vodka and Fantas untill 3.30 in the morning. Likes, dislikes. Philosophical questions.... we were well on the way to unravelling all the mysteries of the universe
All joking aside, (this is my drunk and emotional bit) It has
THE Swan Lake
Lake that inspire Tchaikovsky! Moscow Russia 23/9/06 been so great that our group has gotten along so well, because whilst seeing the world is great, that’s really only part of the experience and I know it’s a terrible cliché but meeting new friends is what it’s really all about. It’s such a bonus to be able to spent time with these fantastic people. In this group there are some really well traveled people and some not so, and hearing about what other people have done and seen, experienced and enjoyed, is inspiring.
Everyday I think I’m getting closer to the point where I can take the complete jump out of my comfort zone and leave my pain in the arse, rational, logical, sensible (anal) brain behind me. My list of "things to do before I die" growing ever longer, with some things that I wouldn't have dreamed about doing until now.
DAY TWO in Moscow feeling a bit worse for wear, but being the hard core travellers that we are we ventured via the public transport system into the city centre
After a power walk through the gardens out the front of the Kremlin to take photos of yet another gold domed church, we then met up with a surprisingly conscious group (considering the wee hours of the party the night before) to head into the Kremlin
Yes Into the Kremlin!! Another OMG moment.
Inside its like any other area devoted to civil servants with a little bit more of a Soviet feel due to the massive grey monstrosity someone plonked in the middle. By far the best bit was being able to go into the armory which is the place they keep historical artifacts like Tsarinas coronation dresses, gifts form other nations, royal horse draw carriages, thrones, swords, armor the lists goes on. Some beautiful gospels encrusted with jewels and what Russian collection would be complete without some form of Faberge.
Dinner for once tonight didn’t consist of soup, potato, something fried with chips. Sushi, yum! So there we sat, a group of Antipodeans, in a Japanese restaurant, in the middle of Moscow, Russia overlooking the Kremlin walls.
What did you guys do today?
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