Russian diary: Moscow- the Kremlin and Red Square

The Kremlin of Moscow is directly associated with every major event in Russian history.  The Kremlin sits in the center of the city, on Borovitsky Hill above the Moscow River.  

Since the beginning of its construction in 1156, it has been the center of both temporal and spiritual power. In 1367-68, skilled artists and architects from across Europe were employed to rebuild the Kremlin. They shaped the site into roughly its modern form and appearance. The Kremlin’s tower-studded, walled complex contains an ensemble of monuments of outstanding beauty.

The Arsenal

Assumption Cathedral

Kremlin Guard

Bell tower Ivan the Great

Red Square is closely associated with the Kremlin, lying beneath its east wall. The square used to be a market square adjoining the merchants area in Kitay Gorod (part of Moscow).It has always been a place where occupants of the Kremlin chose to congregate, celebrate and castigate for all the people to see.

At its south end is the famous Cathedral of St Basil the Blessed.

The Cathedral was ordered by Ivan the Terrible to mark the 1552 capture of Kazan from Mongol forces. It was completed in 1560. Nothing is known about the builders, Barma and Postnik Yakovlev, except their names and the dubious legend that Ivan had them blinded so that they could not create anything to compare.

During the Soviet era, Red Square became a focal point for the new state. Military parades take place here since 1919.  Lenin’s Mausoleum is the part of the square complex.

Red Square is closed to traffic and filled with tourists snapping photos and marveling at their surroundings.

Kremlin tower

Marshall Zhukov against Samsung

Red Square getting ready for the Victory day parade

World's famous mummy home

Hmmm... a competitor or a soul mate?

History museum

You may see more pictures here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/elka-igolka/sets/72157630035809599/

Russian kaleidoscope

I’m back from visiting Moscow & St. Petersburg, Russia. It feels like everything I saw and experienced is still rotating in my mind creating a kaleidoscope of colorful recollections.

Moscow: Construction everywhere…cranes in all directions and huge pits where wonderful bits of architecture previously existed.  The streets are dynamic, overcrowded with people and cars.  Eclectic, a melting pot of Federation and Western cultures. However, still a great mixture of old and new, people drinking beer openly and in large quantities.   Crazy traffic and more crazy traffic – but whenever you step on the road to cross the street everyone stops!  This is a huge paradigm shift – as recently as 3 years ago, crossing the road was an equivalent of committing suicide!

Construction and traffic in Moscow.

A monument to marshal Zhukov seems to be a part of traffic.

Ivan Fyodorov established Moscow Print Yard in 1564, now a neighbor with Bently store.

Lots of Georgian restaurants (even though Russia was at war with Georgia several years ago), Georgian people are very friendly and hospitable, I talked to one restaurant owner who said that now is the best time to visit Georgia - best rates, best food, wonderful cities an exotic culture, I think I’ll give this thought a try.

Georgian hinkali, to die for.

The best time to see Moscow is Sunday morning at 6 am. Then you can really enjoy the center of the city, its wide avenues and beautiful buildings without the human contamination.  Not that I have issues with humans, but Moscow has really become a melting pot of nationalities retaining their languages and customs.  When I lived here, Moscow was a melting pot but everyone embraced the host language.

Kremlin Tower.

Tsar canon, never shot a canon ball, just a decoration.

During May Holidays Moscow gets decorated.

St Petersburg: I lived in this city for 28 years and I love it with all my heart, but I never saw it looking as gorgeous as this time. The city was never built in a random way, from the first days of its foundation by Peter the Great, every street was designed as an architectural ensemble. And you can still see this, because St. Petersburg was lucky enough to become a “province” and not to experience reconstruction during the Soviet era. It was carefully preserved, and now it is a truly European city – clean, fresh, stylish with its roots in our history.

Moika river.

Moika river and Griboedov canal merge together.

Nikolsky cathedral.

Briges and rivers are decorated with metal grates.

St. Isaac cathedral.

He looks tired.