Contrary to this post's title we didn't get lost today... well, not really. As we all know, you should never rely on Rachel for directions. We did, but we made our way around Moscow bravely, so I'm taking it as a small life victory!
Today's goal was to get out and hit the town since I'm now back from the Caucasus and we only have a 2 weeks left here in the motherland. The agenda for today was long and intense since my individual lesson got switched to Thursday instead of this afternoon. Hannah and I set out for downtown Moscow at about 2:30pm, taking the metro from Vikhino to the Lubyanka Station with every intention of finding the infamous Lubyanka Prison, stationed on what else but Lubyanka Square. When we emerged from the station, I knew exactly where we were. However, despite our valiant efforts and wanderings, we found ourselves lost to the mystery of the Lubyanka: in this case, where the hell it was. Upon later research, I learned that we emerged from the metro right beside the Lubyanka Prison and had even commented on the beauty of the building. I had thought that was the Lubyanka but decided I was wrong. Lessons learned in school, never change your answers! As a result, I do not personally have a picture of the Lubyanka (maybe not possible either due to the police stationed outside) but here's a good picture I stole off the internet!
After seemingly abandoning our search for the KGB headquarters, we hopped the metro back to Ploshad Revolutsii, headed for the Red Square. I've said before that the Red Square is my favorite part of Moscow, and today's visit only reinforced that feeling. We took some more pictures since the sun was out during our visit today, then we decided to take shelter from the 95 degree heat inside of GUM, the old Soviet State Department Store turned giant sprawling designer store mall in the Red Square.
We wandered around for a while, looking into the windows of stores where we would never be able to afford anything unless we sold a kidney. We left GUM sufficently air-conditioned and went hunting for ice cream (which has it's own block on the food pyramid here in Russia). Sitting on a fence and eating our ice cream, we realized that we were right next to Aleksandrii Saad (Alexander Garden) and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We went into the garden and our investigation was well rewarded!
We walked all the way through Alexander Garden and ended up down by the Moscow River. So, we decided to trek down to the Kropotkinskaya metro station to go back to campus as it was then hot and late. On the way, we came upon the Khram Khrista Spassitelya (Cathedral of Christ Our Savior) which is the largest Orthodox church in Russia, seating about 10,000 people at once. It's where all the bigwigs in Russia go for their holiday services and such, meaning Putin pulls up pimping in his limousine every now and then. The church is absolutely stunning, especially with its gold gilded domes in the afternoon sun!
We wound down our adventurous day by grabbing schwarma (kind of like an Arabic gyro on lavash bread) for dinner at a stand by our metro station. Then we went and bought four liters of water and a liter of coke at the RUS Mart because we were literally dying of thirst. It was hot today, and as an east coast resident, I feel like I can complain about it here! Now we're back, showered and resting, ready to continue adventuring the rest of the week! The plan has been laid out, so more is to come!
Love and hugs to all! xoxo
Today's goal was to get out and hit the town since I'm now back from the Caucasus and we only have a 2 weeks left here in the motherland. The agenda for today was long and intense since my individual lesson got switched to Thursday instead of this afternoon. Hannah and I set out for downtown Moscow at about 2:30pm, taking the metro from Vikhino to the Lubyanka Station with every intention of finding the infamous Lubyanka Prison, stationed on what else but Lubyanka Square. When we emerged from the station, I knew exactly where we were. However, despite our valiant efforts and wanderings, we found ourselves lost to the mystery of the Lubyanka: in this case, where the hell it was. Upon later research, I learned that we emerged from the metro right beside the Lubyanka Prison and had even commented on the beauty of the building. I had thought that was the Lubyanka but decided I was wrong. Lessons learned in school, never change your answers! As a result, I do not personally have a picture of the Lubyanka (maybe not possible either due to the police stationed outside) but here's a good picture I stole off the internet!
 |
| Lubyanka Metro Station (I took this one!!!) |
 |
| Lubyanka Prison, infamous headquarters of the KGB |
After seemingly abandoning our search for the KGB headquarters, we hopped the metro back to Ploshad Revolutsii, headed for the Red Square. I've said before that the Red Square is my favorite part of Moscow, and today's visit only reinforced that feeling. We took some more pictures since the sun was out during our visit today, then we decided to take shelter from the 95 degree heat inside of GUM, the old Soviet State Department Store turned giant sprawling designer store mall in the Red Square.
We wandered around for a while, looking into the windows of stores where we would never be able to afford anything unless we sold a kidney. We left GUM sufficently air-conditioned and went hunting for ice cream (which has it's own block on the food pyramid here in Russia). Sitting on a fence and eating our ice cream, we realized that we were right next to Aleksandrii Saad (Alexander Garden) and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. We went into the garden and our investigation was well rewarded!
 |
| Tomb of the Unknown Soldier & The Eternal Flame |
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| Changing of the Guard |
 |
| Leningrad/Saint Petersburg |
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| Chilling with Kiev |
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| The Kremlin behind the walls |
We walked all the way through Alexander Garden and ended up down by the Moscow River. So, we decided to trek down to the Kropotkinskaya metro station to go back to campus as it was then hot and late. On the way, we came upon the Khram Khrista Spassitelya (Cathedral of Christ Our Savior) which is the largest Orthodox church in Russia, seating about 10,000 people at once. It's where all the bigwigs in Russia go for their holiday services and such, meaning Putin pulls up pimping in his limousine every now and then. The church is absolutely stunning, especially with its gold gilded domes in the afternoon sun!
 |
| Cathedral of Christ Our Savior |
We wound down our adventurous day by grabbing schwarma (kind of like an Arabic gyro on lavash bread) for dinner at a stand by our metro station. Then we went and bought four liters of water and a liter of coke at the RUS Mart because we were literally dying of thirst. It was hot today, and as an east coast resident, I feel like I can complain about it here! Now we're back, showered and resting, ready to continue adventuring the rest of the week! The plan has been laid out, so more is to come!
Love and hugs to all! xoxo
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