I would really like to be poetic when describing our experience here; but it is hard to do so after spending two days with our guide who explains in a disturbingly matter-of-fact way how Lenin destroyed the country and Gorbachev overnight devalued the currency resulting in the ruin of her family's finances (my father sat on the couch for four years and watched TV and couldn't go out, she relates - not looking for pity, only translation).
Moscow is not inspiring poetry; rather it calls for a reality check. This is a city where the Treasure House contains jewels and Faberge eggs that are invaluable and the bones of czars who freed the peasants before Lincoln freed the slaves. On these same cobble stones, our guide was forced to march in parades and wave to leaders high above the 'cheering' crowds on national holidays. Forced, as in it was "compulsory"she says, with a silent spit and shrug of her shoulder.
History was made here, and I am both giddy and reverent as we pass through Red Square, the Kremlin and stand before Lenin's tomb.
I sense a thawing of my beliefs. No longer a monolithic icon of red flags and gutteral proclamations...Russia is like a princess kept in a tower. She is still waiting for her handsome prince to rescue her. And she has kissed a lot of frogs...Yeltsin, Brezhnev Stalin, Krushchev....
Karl Marx with a pidgeon on his head.
The top of the Metropole Hotel - frescoes by Ruben.
Marketplace - you can buy these dolls in dolls in dolls everywhere. I bought Emma a music box instead.
Brent throwing a coin over his right shoulder - a good luck ritual outside Red Square. (Did he wish for the Blackhawks to win the Stanley Cup?)
Look alikes outside Red Square.
Inside Red Square. Judith, thanks for the fanny pack. Came in handy :-)
Inside the Kremlin, which is an entire campus, not one building.
Local kids performing outside Red Square.
Solders would commission these suits of armour and tested them by stabbing the craftsmen with the suit on. "Either the quality was ok or they found another craftsman." Talk about Quality Control.
The ride home after a long day.
Moscow is not inspiring poetry; rather it calls for a reality check. This is a city where the Treasure House contains jewels and Faberge eggs that are invaluable and the bones of czars who freed the peasants before Lincoln freed the slaves. On these same cobble stones, our guide was forced to march in parades and wave to leaders high above the 'cheering' crowds on national holidays. Forced, as in it was "compulsory"she says, with a silent spit and shrug of her shoulder.
History was made here, and I am both giddy and reverent as we pass through Red Square, the Kremlin and stand before Lenin's tomb.
I sense a thawing of my beliefs. No longer a monolithic icon of red flags and gutteral proclamations...Russia is like a princess kept in a tower. She is still waiting for her handsome prince to rescue her. And she has kissed a lot of frogs...Yeltsin, Brezhnev Stalin, Krushchev....
Karl Marx with a pidgeon on his head.
The top of the Metropole Hotel - frescoes by Ruben.
Marketplace - you can buy these dolls in dolls in dolls everywhere. I bought Emma a music box instead.
Brent throwing a coin over his right shoulder - a good luck ritual outside Red Square. (Did he wish for the Blackhawks to win the Stanley Cup?)
Look alikes outside Red Square.
Inside Red Square. Judith, thanks for the fanny pack. Came in handy :-)
Inside the Kremlin, which is an entire campus, not one building. 
Local kids performing outside Red Square. 
Solders would commission these suits of armour and tested them by stabbing the craftsmen with the suit on. "Either the quality was ok or they found another craftsman." Talk about Quality Control.
The ride home after a long day. 
Hi Aleen,
ReplyDeleteI read your whole blog, I love it! Congrats on staying, 'present' to 'what is'.... :-)
You and Brent make a really cute couple. Have fun on your adventure...I'll vicariously tag along.
Loving the blog and your outstanding descriptions!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to hearing how you like the train ride to St. Petersberg and experience the great contrast to Moscow. Be sure to try some blinis from the street vendors in St. Petersberg. YUM!