The third day in Moscow was a little frustrated for me because I explored many places with few information background. Nevertheless, it was a great time and I enjoyed it anyways.
5 – I – 2020
The Kremlin.
Now it was the time that I finally go inside the Kremlin. Somehow, the jewel of the power of Russia. Why did I posponed until the third day? Well again, it was too CROWDED! (But I understand why).
What can you visit on the Kremlin? From the Arsenal to the Cathedral, there are many touristic attractions inside. You will also find inside unvisitable government buildings, such as the Senate Building.
Costs.
- Armoury Chamber: 1000 RUB (12,76 USD).
- Architectural complex of the Cathedral Square: with audio-guide 1000 RUB (12,76 USD).
- Temporary Exhibitions: 500 RUB (6,38 USD).
- New Kremlin Square: 250 RUB (3,19 USD).
There are also discounts of visitors under 16.
Before buying the tickets, I visited the gardens in front of the Kremlin and Alexander I Monument. Because of the time, I chose only the Architectural complex of the Cathedral Square. There is a lot to visit inside! There are also another minor attractions like the Tsar Cannon and Bell. Unfortunately, you can't take pictures inside the churches.
What do you find inside.
- The Assumption Cathedral,
- The Archangel Cathedral,
- Ivan the Great Belltower,
- Church of the Twelve Apostles,
- Patriarch's Chambers (Museum of the Orthodox Church).
- Church of Laying Our Lady's Holy Robe.
- Blagoveschenskiy Cathedral
The Assumption Cathedral, also known as Dormition Cathedral, was actually built twice since a small earthquake shook the city in 1474 and needed it a rebuild. Then, the architect Aristotele Fioravanti in 1479 re-erected the cathedral but with much better foundations . It was used to symbolized a power of Ivan the Great and the newly formed Russia.
An unusual picture.
Around the Sobornaya Square, there were a few “military-looking” men, with green coats and the typical russian hats called “Ushankas” . Thanks to the Google Translation app, I asked the leader of their group to take a picture with me (with the whole group); luckly, she agreed.
This place is also guarded around the states buildings. The guards will guide all tourists to follow a certain path to the churches plaza and escort them outside the Kremlin. Please remember that this is a government facility and don't try to trespass the security.
The exit from the Kremlin is located at the Spasskaya Tower. I was very close to the St Basil Cathedral and I took again the chance for taking pictures with this monument. Also, standing upside-down.
Upside down in Moscow.
Convent of Novodevichy.
This is a building that I wish I found some guided tour. It was sunday and there were practically no one on the door, offering me such service. I entered anyway to the Convent and I such dedicated myself to photograph my surroundings. It was a quiet place, no one really wanted to make a noise, no one had a reason to. It was already getting dark, to the point of just a few light will guide me through its churches.
A quiet reflexion site.
From one point to the next one there were few people who visited the place at the same time I did. The interior was peaceful and full of art. The only thing you wanted to you, is to contemplate. I was discovering the orthodox church, an entirely new experience for me.
It's construction started in the decade of 1520 and ever since it became a political, cultural and religious institute related with the Tsar's Family, especially for women. Its style of construction its called “Moscow Baroque”. You can learn more of it's history in this link.
University of Moscow.
This part of the way was when I did the most walking through an area that wasn't particularly well signed (even if it was, I would still be lost reading in russian). It was cold and dark, and the University of Moscow was big too big.
I dropped off at the University metro station and I couldn't find the entrance. The walk took like half block to find a “half-opened” door, by which I entered to the pedestrian door into an “University Boulevard” without anybody else around. Was I in the correct place? I mean, this was supposed to be a colossal building but I found more dorms, administrations buildings, parks and plazas more than anything else.
Academically Colossal.
Then, I saw a light. Being guided by the GPS module on my smartphone, I finally arrived to a build so wide, that my camera couldn't take in one shot. And what I was looking was just the southeast wing. The central hall was on the other side and it was enormous. As I took pictures around, I began questioning myself, how do people get inside and outside all day long? Unfortunately, it was Sunday around 7pm and I couldn't know inside. Seeing this educational building was inspiring. I keep thinking about the complex designs involved. You can learn here more about the university following this link.
Moscow's Underground Museum.
Imagine a museum underground.
You probably imagined the Moscow's underground metro stations, right? No?
Not every city has stations dedicated to the story of its country. Not every station in Moscow its glamorous, by any means. But many of them tells the story of the nation triumphs in politics, sports, cultural, etc.
A few of them I will list it here:
- Novoslobodskaya.
- Novokuznetskaya.
- Komsomolskaya.
Return to the Arbat Street.
I wanted to go again to the Arbat Street, just to see if I could find a Matryoshka for Saeli. Unfortunately, all were too expensive. If these russian toys (or russian barbies, as some of them call it so) were a little cheaper, I would definitely buy one for each of my friends in Turkey. But I had to limit myself to just 2, one of them was “half Matryoshka” since it had a magnet for the refrigerator. In the end I just contemplated the some of the weirdest souvenirs that, well, tourist actually like to buy them!
The journey backhome: From Moscow to Ankara.
Instead of making one separate post for the return to Turkey, I decided to just include a few extra paragraphs.
The return was pretty much the same way as the travel to Russia. I went to the Belorusskaya train station and took the Aeroexpress train back to the airport. There was a poignant monument called “Farewell to Slavianka” as I found later. It symbolizes the hope for a soldier to return back to his family after the war. On each side, are the dates of start of World War I and II in which Russia is involved. You can read more about in this link.
I left the keys to my apartment to Saeli, just in case something happened to me in the airport and I couldn't get again to Turkey. In fact, I did have some delay in the Istanbul Airport and I had to explain that I still had days to stay in the country, in English and also sometimes in Turkish. In the end, I passed and returned to Ankara.
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