St. Basil's Cathedral
This icon of Russia is a spectacular sight that everyone
should see. It was commissioned by Ivan and completed in 1561. According
to legend, Ivan was so amazed at the beauty of the cathedral that he
blinded the architect so he couldn't build anything as exquisite again.
River View of the Kremlin
PhotoMann had to be patient to get this shot as the
sun kept hiding behind the clouds.
Tzar Cannon
The impressive Tzar Cannon is found inside the Kremlin walls. This massive
40 ton cannon was cast in 1586.
Tzar Bell
This is the largest bell in the world weighing in at
200 tons. There is an 11 ton chunk broken out on the opposite side.
Unfortunately the walkway barriers and ever present guards prevented
PhotoMann from shooting from a better angle.
Cathedral of the Assumption
This is one of three cathedrals inside the Kremlin. The inside is
richly decorated with frescos. Regrettably only had about two minutes
inside so PhotoMann didn't buy a permit to take pictures before going
inside. There wasn't enough time to go back out to buy the permit.
Red Square
Red (beautiful in Russian) Square is a massive open
area with the Historical Museum (see here) at one end and St. Basil's
Cathedral at the other. It's bounded on either side by the Kremlin and
the Gum department store. Lenin's tomb is along the Kremlin side as
well.
PhotoBabe runs on the loose
Chanapa chased the pigeons in Red Square during our 'box lunch' break.
St. Basil's Cathedral and a Kremlin Tower
Inside Gum Department Store
This 'department store' was more of a mall with a bunch of small shops.
Cathedral of Christ the Redeemer
The Eyewitness guide indicates that this riverside cathedral
was rebuilt 1994-1997. Part of the grounds were still under construction
when PhotoMann was there in 2000. To get this shot PhotoMann had to
run down along the river from the Kremlin. The bus tour didn't include
a stop there but PhotoMann saw it from a distance and had to
check it out. He ended up holding up the bus for a couple of minutes
but it was worth it!
St. George Church
Victory Park which is a memorial to Russian perseverance in WWII. The central monument is a figure of St. George slaying a dragon. There was also a small Russian Orthodox Church, war museum, holocaust memorial and a diorama display.
Stalinist-Gothic Skyscraper
There are a few of these monstrosities around Moscow.
Russian Matrushka Dolls
Tourists see these Russian 'stack' dolls virtually everywhere
they go. The designs, size and number of nested dolls vary greatly.
The quality also differs significantly from ones that a child might
have painted all the way up to masterpieces.
Izmailovo Handicraft Market
This market had just about every 'typical' Russian handicraft at
excellent prices. Everything was cheaper and the selection better
than anywhere else during our stay in Russia. In fact, many street
vendors go here to get their stock.
Wooden Ornaments and Dolls
A selection of Christmas tree ornaments and wooden
dolls found at the Izmailovo handicraft market.
St. Basil's Cathedral at night
A late evening stroll in the cold to Red Square yielded this wonderful
digital picture of the cathedral. Seeing Red Square lit up in the
evening was spectacular.
Suggested Moscow
& Russia Travel Guides
(Order Through Amazon Books - Click on the book name)
Insight
Pocket Guide Moscow
The Insight Pocket Guide series of books is my favorite
for short stays at any destination. The book highlights the must see
destinations in full day and half day itineraries. This includes detailed
maps and suggested walking routes. This guide is a must have especially
for a short visit.
Eyewitness
Travel Guides: Moscow
Eyewitness guides provide great detail on sights and history. It's
a great reference especially with it's fantastic three dimensional
cutaway views of sites and monuments to point out all the details.
It makes finding things much easier than merely having a bunch of
words and a map.
Lonely
Planet Moscow
Lonely
Planet Russia, Ukraine & Belarus
As with most Lonely Planet guides, these editions are invaluable
resources for planning your journey. They offer you the most up-to-date
information about where to go and where to aviod, how to get there
and get around, where to stay at a reasonable rate. The guides provide
everything you'll need to know for a rewarding visit.
Fodor's
Moscow and St. Petersburg
A lively, graphic, full-color guidebook to Moscow and St.
Petersburg. The author provides solid travel reporting on every region
including what to see and do plus recommended tours. It's rating system
identifies the not-to-be-missed sights.
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