Pages

Monday, July 15, 2013

Shoes

I can't resist one last post from our trip to Russia.  From the very first day in Vladivostok, I enjoyed watching and sometimes photographing the footwear of the unsuspecting fashionistsas we saw. What to do if you are a bit too young?  Rollerblades!  Too old? Well, you'll see. Here's my slideshow.


Thaaaaaaat's All, Folks!

Last day in Moscow--and of our trip

June 30, Sunday. We have a day on our own today and spent it walking around Red Square, the GUM department store, and the entire perimeter of the Kremlin. 

Across the street from Red Square, stores, offices, apartments, and the corner of the Bolshoi 

Outside the Armory with Soviet commander Field Marshall Zhukov
The Armory again, now a museum housing, among many other things, the Russian crown jewels

The entrance to Red Square




Kazan Cathedral on Red Square was destroyed during the Communist purges.  This is a reconstruction.
The more famous St. Basil's Cathedral was scheduled for demolition as well, but public outcry saved it.


The Armory from inside Red Square





St. Basil's Cathedral

Two Russian war heroes from the 1600s


Across from St Basil's is this clock tower in the Kremlin wall

Lenin's tomb just outside the Kremlin wall

We walked all the way around St. Basil's...

...and photographed it from every angle







Next, we turned our attention to the famous GUM department store.  Back in Communist times, only high ranking party members could shop here.  Today, it is open to all, but be sure to bring money.

Yes, it really is this big.



Inside looking up at the domed promenade from the ground floor level...

...looking to the right...

...and to the left.

Looking down from the second level...

...and from the third.
After visiting GYM, we walked all the way around the Kremlin.  We did not go inside this time as we had done that on our previous trip to Russia.

The walls of this old fortress are massive.

A glimpse of one of the cathedrals inside the Kremlin.

Government buildings are located inside the walls as well.

Across the street on one side is the huge Russian State Library

The facade of the library...

...honors Russian workers
 You may have noticed several different building toppers.  Here are some of them.
This is the three-bar Russian Orthodox cross.

This is the Russian double headed eagle. This was the symbol of the Russian empire under the Tsars, with one head looking toward European Russia and the other looking toward Asian Russia or Siberia.  It was supplanted by the star during Communist times, but has now been restored as the modern post-Communist symbol of the Russian Federation.

The Communist Red Star (not always red) is still seen in Russia but is no longer the official emblem of the state.

We continued to walk back toward Red Square on our way back to our hotel.

I don't know who this is.
I don't know who he is either, but both caught my eye.

Statues are everywhere...
...especially in the moat.
Braving the water to visit this guy is popular enough that his hands and arms are shiny.

The moat

People all over the world take a break at the ubiquitous golden arches


I have no idea what this small parade of elderly Russians was about, but I think it was some kind of protest.
On our way back to the hotel, we paused for one last look at the Bolshoi Theater.



We tried to walk to the Arbat but couldn't find a way to cross the ring road on foot so gave up and headed for the hotel and lunch. Delicious salad and wonderful gazpacho, but unbelievably pricey. Over $200 US for two salads, two soups, and two beers!  Moscow is deservedly known as one of the world's most expensive cities. I read and dozed all afternoon while John tried walking again, only to be chased home by rain. Dinner, bed, and home tomorrow. A great trip, but as always, I will be happy to be home. 


July 1, Monday. Driving out of historic downtown Moscow this morning on our way to the airport, we are once again reminded of why Russians are so justifiably proud of their  country. Passing the beautiful monuments of the distant past, the sturdy and sometimes beautiful buildings of the Stalinist era, the crumbling rusty apartment buildings of the late Soviet era, and the modern skyscrapers of today's Russia, you have a window on the glories and hardships Russians have endured and survived throughout their long history. This is a beautiful country with people who are very much like people everywhere. Different languages, customs, religious views, and histories, but we all want the same things for ourselves and our children. We all look at our governments with great skepticism and agree that if only politicians would get out of the way, our world would be peaceful and happy. A few days ago in Kazan, our guide spoke fondly of the Russian winter, reminding us that snow makes everything beautiful.  I realized that while I hope never to see another snowflake, most Russians love winter, not just for its beauty but I think also for its harshness.  They are proud to know they can survive and thrive here.  Winter defeated Napoleon and Hitler, but the Russian people came through as strong and proud as ever.