One of the best things about going on the river cruise was the ability to see so much of Russia that I wouldn't have likely put on my itinerary if I was planning it myself. Getting to compare the historical richness of St. Petersburg to the small outdoor museum of Khizi, to the bustling city of Yaroslavl, to the veritable metropolis of Moscow was fascinating. However, there were definitely times where we felt a little trapped within the schedule of the boat, and the limited time we got to spend in some places left us feeling like we wanted to stretch our legs by the end of the trip. Moscow was our chance to do this.
We had planned a day with no optional excursions (except one late in the evening) and had planned to explore ourselves. Step one was getting family and individual pictures in front of St. Basils. While our walking tour had taken us by this spot the day before, we didn't have nearly enough time, and given that this is THE iconic spot in the city, we took advantage of it early in the morning. Lines were also short to go inside, and while we had seen PLENTY of cathedrals with their walls of painted and gilt icons, this one was very different. Instead of one main room, each dome hosts an individual chapel with its own wall of icons. It was a nice break from the usual, and great to see people taking care of such an iconic place.
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| Outside of St. Basils |
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| Inside St. Basil's |
Stop number two was a walk through an enormous and elaborate department store, GUM (rhymes with doom). Exiting on the other side of Red Square, we took in the gardens, fountains, and statues that surround the Kremlin, enjoying our leisure time, and the sunshine.
At the suggestion of our Hotel Manager on board the ship, we walked to the Ritz Carlton and took the elevator to the top floor where they have a rooftop bar. Believe it or not, you don't have to be a guest at the swanky hotel-- just be willing to pay for a cup of coffee or a bowl of ice cream and you can get one of the best views of the city.
Next, we walked to the Bolshoi-- home to famous Russian ballet artists. While we didn't get to go in, as we didn't have tickets for that evening, we did enjoy the courtyard, and seeing pictures of the history of the ballet.
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| Bonus points to whomever can tell me what's playing! The title is in red. (I figured it out phonetically) |
After an afternoon of wandering through Moscow, hunting Lego souvenirs for my boyfriend, we finally ended the day with a tour of Moscow by night. A stop at the WWII Monument, and a boat ride along the river were nice, but my favorite moment was getting to see St. Basil's all lit up. The bus stopped on one side of the church, and many people were disappointed to see it in the dark. I decided to walk up the small side street to get a picture of the lights on GUM, and much to my surprise, there was a projection show being tested for an upcoming festival (which explains why the lights were out on the other side. I was the only one on the bus to get to see it, but it was breathtaking. I could have stood there all night, and I wish I had the chance to explore their equipment, and talk to the programmer too! It was a beautiful way to end a beautiful trip.
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