Moscow, Russia

May 25 - June 1

Flights:  Denver to San Francisco.  Business Class from SF to Frankfurt.  Frankfurt to Moscow. 

Arrival Saturday, May 26.   

We stayed at the Aerostar Hotel in Moscow.  It was an easy walk to where Don helped with the basketball camp. 

Breakfast buffet at the hotel each morning.

Evening River Cruise on the Moscow River

 

Moscow is a lively city, full of things to see and places to visit, from the Kremlin to lots of spots for shopping and sightseeing.

The sprawling city of Moscow is a mixture of historical and contemporary sights.A tourist in Moscow has a lot of choice. From the Red Square and the Kremlin to tours in the outskirts of the city, there is something for everyone. You can shop, engage in cultural activities in the capital of music and theatre, or simply be captivated by the beautiful surroundings of Moscow.

Red Square

St. Basil's (Pokrovsky) Cathedral

The well-known St. Basil’s Cathedral is located on the opposite side of the Voskresensky Gate of the Red Square. It was built under the rule of Tsar Ivan IV the Terrible in 1554-1560 in honour of conquest of the Kazan Khanate. According to the legend, when the Tsar saw the finished cathedral, he ordered the architects to be blinded so that they would not build such a beautiful building anywhere else.
Despite the gruesome story behind it, the Cathedral itself is an architectural masterpiece consisting of nine altars spread out on one single foundation. St. Basil’s is a must-see for anyone visiting Moscow.

The Kremlin

The Moscow Kremlin is one of the most ancient parts of the city and symbolises the whole of Russia. It is both a cultural sight, as well as the centre of the Russian state, and the residence of the President of Russia. The Kremlin is steeped in history. In 1990, the Moscow Kremlin and the Red Square were included into the list of UNESCO worldwide heritage.
There are many tours offered around the Kremlin, and various museums are located inside the complex, such as the Armory Chamber, Cathedral of the Annunciation, Cathedral of the Archangel, Cathedral of the Assumption, the Patriarch’s chambers, Church of the Deposition of the Robe, Ivan the Great Bell Ensemble, Sobornaya square, and “Archeology of the Moscow Kremlin” collection.

GUM Department Store

The GUM is a huge shopping center, one of the largest in Europe. It is the most famous place to shop in Moscow, but it is also known for its architecture. It is situated on Red Square and the first part of it was built in 1812, under Alexander I.
The shop itself has a luxurious style, selling brands such as Louis Vuitton, Dior, Hugo Boss, Burberry etc. There are also many cafes and restaurants.

Moscow Metro

The Moscow metro is famous for its architecture and the stations called “underground palaces of Moscow” have become main sights of the city.
The old, prewar stations symbolize the industrialization of Russia, whereas the post-war ones were made to symbolize victory and pride of the nation. The first metro line was the Sokolnicheskaya, built in 1935.
Some of them are also protected by the state as valuable cultural objects. The underground complexes are decorated by statues, monuments and art such as paintings, mosaics, and stained-glass windows. The idea was to give every station an individual shape and appearance.

Day Trips
With my personal tour guide, Julia (a university student in English) we took off for four days of sight seeing.  

 

Bolshoi Theatre

The Bolshoi Theatre is the most famous theatre in Moscow. The theatre shows around 3-4 different operas and 2-3 ballets each year. The focus is on classical masterpieces from composers such as Mozart, Verdi, Wagner, and Tchaikovsky. Russian ballet is world famous and is an important part of the Russian culture.