Moscow Russia

This is the last of a series of posts that is result of a Visa trip that Sister Moleff and I took to Madrid Spain. While in Spain we visited the cities of Madrid, Toledo, and Segovia. On our return trip to Ulan-Ude, we had a 12 hour layover in Moscow and, therefore, visited Red Square. All sightseeing expenses, no matter where we are, are on our own nickel. Professional photographs are inserted in this Blog to capture the majesty and vastness of Red Square and the Kremlin that our location and digital camera could not do.

Red Square is the most famous city square in Russia, and maybe in the whole world. Red Square separates the Kremlin from a historic merchant quarter known as Kitai-gorod. The Kremlin is a historic fortified complex at the heart of Moscow overlooking the Moskva River (to the south), Saint Basil's Cathedral and Red Square (to the east) and the Alexander Garden (to the west). The Kremlin includes 4-palaces, 4-cathedrals, and the enclosing Kremlin wall with Kremlin towers. The complex serves as the official residence of the President of Russia. We did not tour the Kremlin, only in and around Red Square.


This is a professional photograph of the Cathedral of Saint Basil the Blessed (Saint Basil's Cathedral) taken from Red Square. The cathedral was commissioned by Ivan IV (also known as Ivan the Terrible) to commemorate the capture of the Khanate of Kazan. Not particularly large, it consists of 9 chapels built on a single foundation. The interior of the cathedral is a collection of separate chapels, each filled with icons, medieval painted walls, and varying artwork on the top inside of the domes. It is not as ornate as the cathedrals found in Spain.



This is a professional photograph of Red Square taken from Saint Basil's Cathedral. The long building on the right is the GUM (pronounced goom). It is a 3-story Mall (may have been the first indoor multi-story Mall) where you can get most anything. The GUM has very eloquent shops where the best is found. Sister Moleff and I purchased several bricks of cheese (that you can't find in Ulan-Ude) in an exquisite Deli in the GUM. On the left is Lenin's Tomb. The area called "Red Square" is the open area in front of the picture. The red building at the far end of the photograph is the State Historical Museum. This is an areal view of the Kremlin. There is a red fence with towers that enclose the Kremlin. Red Square is located between 1 and 3 o'clock at the top of the picture. This is a picture inside the GUM of Elder and Sister Sartori, a CES senior couple, of the Vladivostok Mission. Notice how beautiful it is. Kremlin and Red Square, a must to visit. So far we have been to Moscow and Red Square three times in our first four months of our mission.