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Published: August 3rd 2016
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We have been busy little tourists - walked 20km yesterday and followed this up with another 11km today.
Moscow was worth every step of it. It is a beautiful and stunning city. It is undergoing massive redevelopment and renovation all over the city. The Metro is a breeze to use and is being increased with a second ring. The stations are magnificent and are a delight to be in (not something you can say about most of the Sydney stations).
Yesterday we were woken at 3.30am by our friendly train stewardess to allow all her last minute tasks (collect and tally the sheets and towels, lock the toilets, etc) to be completed prior to the train arrival into Moscow at 4.11am. We were met by our driver at the station and taken to our hotel to book in and freshen up to meet with our guide for the day at 9.00am. Prior to that we had the 'joy' of breakfast at the hotel with 20 bus loads of Japanese, Chinese, etc tourists all of whom were sure that the items laid on the table for breakfast were in short supply. They were determined to ensure that they would not
be caught short of any foodstuff. The balancing tricks we observed with multilayered plates of food were stunning. A delightful entertainment that should not be missed. We could not face a second show though the next morning and obtained breakfast elsewhere significantly quieter (Some good things should only be enjoyed once).
Our guide introduced us to the Metro and took us to the Bolshoi Ballet theatre first off and then Red Square. It was Air Force commemoration day so we couldn't go into St. Basils (that most beautiful cathedral)as things were happening there. We did enjoy the most sophisticated shopping mall on the Square and then the Kremlin. Each of the cathedrals built within the Kremlin walls are magnificent and have been restored to their former glory. The icons within each are priceless and we could see the importance of some of them as they told the biblical stories in pictorial form when so many didn't have the privilege of being able to read.
We then visited the Church of Christ the Saviour. During Stalin's time this church had been redesigned as a swimming pool but has since been restored and is a magnificent operating church. Al and
the guide couldn't go in as they both had shorts on so only Julie could go in. We had lunch in the Area that had been the artists' quarter and then took a completely different path to the Aero Park and a following park that had many palladiums much like our Darling Harbour. The Air force celebrants enjoyed the amenities here by swimming and diving in the fountains to cool off (it was about 35 Celsius).
By the end of this little walk through the park we begged our guide for mercy and he guided us back to the hotel. We enjoyed a beer with him whilst he helped us work out what to do today.
We had a rest this morning and then hopped on the Metro about 11 to go the Moscow River to pick up a boat tour. Before we boarded the boat we had a coffee in a shopping mall that rivalled the malls in Dubai (without the ski slopes or aquariums). It was fascinating to see the city from the vantage point of the river and put into perspective where we had been yesterday. The commentator for the boat gave his Russian spiel
over the mike and then translated personally for us. He loved the architecture of the Stalin era so we got a lot of information on those buildings. The amount of renovation and reconstruction was amazing. Moscow even has a ski jump for winter time.
We then headed off to the Art Museum of the 17-20th Centuries. It was interesting to note the changes in design and painting over this era. The painting was quite dour in some parts but the effect of the impressionists stood out in the latter part of the exhibition. We managed to navigate our way home, interpreting the Cyrillic station names without actually understanding any of them.
Tomorrow, off to St. Petersburg.
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