Moscow, Day 1 of my Trip to Russia

The Red Square and many other interesting places in the heart of Moscow.

The place that I wanted to visit the most in Moscow, was the Red Square. There are plenty of thing to see and visit there! To access the place, I needed to pass an “airport-like” control for entering the square; that means, I had to take my cellphone, keys or anything metallic outside my pockets and open my backpack. Every inspector that checked my belongings, talked to me in Russian. For this purpose, I understood everything with the gestures and voice tone.

There was SO MANY PEOPLE and SO MANY WINTER/CHRISTMAS activities that I could have lost myself if wouldn't know what I was up to. There were Ski-sliding tracks, Christmas Markets, multiple Santa Clauses in every corner, Christmas trees and lighting decorations. Well, Christmas and New Year's Eve have just passed by!

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

One important monument worth visiting and staying for reflection, is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, located in front of the Kremlin. This memorial honors the soldiers fallen in World War II. Read about what other people think about this memorial in this spot in Tripadvisor

On one side, there is the State Historical Museum. Next to it, the imposing Kremlin with its many towers is located from the beginning to the end of the square. On its front lies the Mausoleum of Lenin. The GUM shopping mall is located on the opposite side and St Basil's Cathedral was erected in the south end of the square.

Here is useful link to Wikipedia and Lonely Planet for learning more about this place.

The St. Basil’s Cathedral.

Behind the Minin-Pozharsky monument, is located the most photographed place in Moscow.

Is not as big as you may think. But it is wonderful in the outside and mysterious in the inside. It's an Orthodox Church and it's altar points to the east. That is in fact the norm of the orthodoxs. It has a plenty of small domes, symbolizing the conquest of the city of Kazan in 1552. Check this article out for more information.

The entrance with the audioguide costs around 1200 RUB (18,25 USD) and the explanations inside are worth the money, if you have enough time for the city. I suggest that you spend between 2-3 hours inside with the audioguide, if you like history, religion or concentrated details of course.

Walking along the artificial island.

I came to this island, after I saw in my pocket map about a monument of Peter I, the Great. This topic is unavoidable in Russia and I will definitely visit St Petersburg to see more of his work.

I tried to search the name of the island but I couldn't find anything. According to this article in Wikipedia.org, it belongs to a historical zone called “Zamoskvorechye”, but it has no name. I also happened to walked next to the Google offices in Russia, but I didn't notice it back then.

Children Are the Victims of Adult Vices.

In that island, I stepped into a park where there was a half circle of figures pointing at two children. I was already dark and cold. This gave it even more meaning to this figure.

The author of this sculpture is Mikhail Shemyakin and was erected in 2001. This art piece represents how children are transformed into the worst of society. Adults transmit the bad habits, attitudes and problems to children. You can learn more about it in this page. These are the vices exhibited:

• drug abuse
• ignorance
• irresponsible science
• indifference
• prostitution
• theft
• child labour
• poverty
• alcoholism
• the propaganda of violence
• sadism
• those without memory
• war

Peter I, the Great.

My final destination was the monument of Peter I, the Tsar that gave the Russian Empire a seaport; I mean literally. Unfortunately, I couldn't go further because my way was blocked through a wall but I was able to see the great picture.

I felt somehow unusual in Moscow.

After this visit, I went to the supermarket to buy some food. My hostel had a kitchen and a fridge, so cooking there was going to be not only viable, but cheap. With the help of Google Translator, I searched basic meals to eat in that place: bread, cheese, ham, cereal, milk, etc. I went to hostel to have my own dinner later.

From my breakfast in the shawarma/kebap place in the early morning until the 9 o 10pm that I arrived at home, I haven't eaten anything. Normally, I eat 3 times per day. But I didn't felt hungry at all anytime during the day. Not even snacks crossed my mind. I don't know why exactly but I suspect that I could be because of the excitement of being around and exploring.

Weather in Moscow. Was it that bad?

Let me get this straight:

It was COLD, but it was handleable. Many of it's parks were with snow but the streets and sidewalks weren't. But there are parts in Russia where the weather in winter is MUCH worse. It was a bit colder than in Ankara, Turkey; because of the humidity. In Ankara, I wear a thermal clothing inside but in Moscow I needed to use at least 2. Also, my gloves weren't enough. I needed to buy 1 extra pair, for around 100 RUB (1,52 USD), because my hands were freezing.

My German host father, from 2009, told me that all the Siberian zone are perhaps the most affected place from Global Warming. Of course, cities are warmer than rural areas; but I imagined Moscow much colder.

Continue the Story in Episode 2

https://www.voyagellama.com/blog/moscow-day2/

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