Yaroslavl

Yaroslavl, Monday May 24th, 2010.

A tour of the Kremlin is almost compulsory in Moscow. Apart from the President's Offices and other Government buildings, there are several churches and museums. We visited the armoury museum and the cathedral of the Assumption. The former houses all sorts of treasures including 10 of the Faberge Easter Eggs, massive English table silver from the 16th and 17th C, a beautifully carved ivory throne - a gift from Shah Abbas and a collection of 18th C carriages ornately carved and decorated.

In the evening I went to the Moscow Circus. It has a full live orchestra and a large performing troupe with gorgeous costumes and plenty of animal acts. I particularly liked the clown magician with rabbits and a fox in the proverbial hat, which he topped with a living fur coat - it disintegrated into live ferrets which ran in all directions.

I guess I am not alone in being unfamiliar with Russian paintings, but the Tretyakov gallery has some fantastic paintings. I was intrigued to find a large collection of small paintings painted about the same time as the Melbourne 9 x 5 cigar box paintings.

Before we left Moscow we found a Supermarket, which had everything we might want to buy in Melbourne, but we limited ourselves to beer and vodka.

Today we sailed to Uglich, via the Moscow Canal and the Volga and 7 locks. In Uglich we had dinner with a family. The niece had spent last year in Texas on exchange - how the world changes!

Cathedral Square in the Kremlin, Moscow

The Czar's 200 ton bell

Moscow Circus - children are not limited to patting poodles and ponies!

Marriage tree - you put a padlock and throw the key in the river

Along the Moscow Canal

Church of Dimitry of the Blood, Uglich

Moscow Friday May 21st

Well we had as good a flight as you can expect for spending so long in the plane.


When we arrived in Moscow at 11 at night, while standing in immigration we got talking to the man behind us in the queue. He sat beside us on the plane from Dubai, and to our amazement drank a whole bottle of whisky and all the planes supply of Coke. He had then to switch to Pepsi. However he was still coherent. 

Another girl joined the conversation and offered to share her pre ordered taxi to the city and our hotel. It was a great start to our Moscow visit. Moscow by night is very pretty with a lot of buildings and bridges and statues lit up.


On Wednesday we found our way to the boat. The cabins are very compact, but the champagne for breakfast is an unexpected luxury touch! There is a lovely park by the boat station, and we have just caught the end of the display of tulips.


Thursday we started our touring in earnest. Red Square in reality is very impressive. Even though in a way it is familiar from pictures seeing it is another dimension. St Basil's and the other gold domed churches are real picture post card - particularly as we are having beautiful weather -  touch wood!


Lunch on a boat on the Moscow River was a pleasant relaxing interlude. As we glided by we had great views of the solid Art Nouveau buildings from the Stalin era.


Then a tour of some Metro stations and they certainly leave London's Underground for dead.


The 8 lane straight boulevards are impressive roads, but the traffic is horrendous and the parking Raffery's rules but no parking meters. No one seems to drive small cars or ride bicycles or motorbikes. Petrol is about $1 a litre.

 St Basil's, The 16th C church of the Insurrection (I think that is the correct title)

Red Square, with Lenin's mausoleum on the left

Inside GUM, the famous department store on Red Square. Note the glass ceiling

GUM is very up market

Icon above an entrance to GUM

Russian children in Red Square

One of Stalin's Seven Sisters or Wedding Cake buildings

Relaxing in the park near the New Maidens Convent

In the Metro

Wall lights in the Metro

Bill rubs the nose of the bronze dog statue in the Metro. Supposed to bring you luck.