We
enjoyed a 19-day trip to Moscow and St. Petersberg in June 2001 to see
Lena’s daughter, Anya, and to give Steve his first opportunity to
visit Lena’s homeland.
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We
enjoyed a 19-day trip to Moscow and St. Petersberg in June 2001 to see
Lena’s daughter, Anya, and to give Steve his first opportunity to
visit Lena’s homeland.
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The
Kremlin is on the left overlooking Red Square with Gum department store
on the right. Unfortunately, we had very few days of sunny, warm weather
during our entire visit to Russia. It was unseasonably cold (high 40’s/low
50’s F) and rainy most of the time.
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This photo is taken of Lenin’s tomb and the Kremlin wall from the center part of Red Square looking in the direction of St. Basil cathedral. Gum department store is located to the left side (and not shown) in this photo. [NOTE: We modified this same photo to create our 2001 XMAS CARD as well as this 'ARTISTIC Photo.'] |
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Lenin’s
tomb no longer has a Russian military “honor guard” and is now
only guarded by a couple of Army personnel. Also, it is no longer open
to the public except on special occasions (and Steve’s visit was
NOT such ‘occasion’).
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Moscow
had just completed it’s “White Night” period when some
areas (such as St. Petersburg) experience almost 24 hours of daylight.
Even so, it was only dark in Moscow from about 2:30 AM until 4:30 AM.
This photo of St. Basil was taken about MIDNIGHT and it was still VERY
light.
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This
photo of Red Square (also taken about mid-night) is of the other end of
Red Square (looking from the direction of St. Basil cathedral). The parades
of soldiers and equipment we see on TV marching through Red Square enter
from each side of this building.
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This
is Gum, the most famous (and HUGE and EXPENSIVE!) department store in
Moscow. It is built along Red Square across from the Kremlin. After the
break-up of the Soviet Union, the store is no longer run by the government
and the many individual stores inside are now leased to private contractors.
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Gum
has three floors and three separate, extremely long, sections. Each section
has two sides with a middle walkway that is covered by an enormous glass
roof that provides a great deal of skylight to the floor below.
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This
is a photo taken from the 2nd floor of one of the three sections and shows
some of the many small kiosks which are setup in the middle of the walkways.
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In
the center of one section is this nifty fountain which makes for an interesting
place from which to stop, sit, and “people watch.” Needless
to say, prices in these stores are well above the prices for the same
item being sold at other (less famous) retail stores.
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Lena
priced some pieces of “GEL” (the blue and white china for which
Russia is famous) in Gum just to get a comparison price for making our
purchases at less expensive outlets.
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As
it turned out, Lena found a small vendor in the SUBWAY selling Gel (which
was identical to that being sold at Gum) at prices which were only 25%-30%
of the prices on Gel at stores located inside Gum.
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Needless
to say, Lena bought OUR Gel in the SUBWAY from this vendor whose prices
were 70%-75% UNDER the prices for the same pieces being sold in Gum!
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The
Ministry of Energy is where Lena worked as an upper-level engineer for
almost 13 years. Prior to being moved to this structure, Lena had worked
in the Ministry when it had been located in what is now the “DUMA”
(or Russian Congress) building.
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This
is a view of the rear of St. Basil cathedral (opposite the front side
which faces Red Square). It was taken on one of the MANY rainy, overcast
days we had while in both Moscow and St. Petersburg.
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St.
Basil’s is truly impressive and we regret that we did not take the
time to go on a tour of its interior.
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This
photo is of the area outside the Kremlin where tourists pay their money
and wait to enter grounds.
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“Tolya”
(the husband of one of Lena’s friends) took us on a tour of the inside
of the Kremlin. Since he had a car and driver (and it was intermittently
raining), we really appreciated his guided tour.
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Of
all the things inside the Kremlin, the Czar’s Cannon was one of the
more memorable items.
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This
is an incredibly MASSIVE brass bell which had been cast for hanging in
a church during the time of the Czars.
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Unfortunately,
the weight of the bell was so huge that it was dropped and broken while
trying to lift it into the church...and it never rang! (No doubt a number
of people lost their heads over that little "accident!")
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This
is a commercial photo taken during winter time that provides a good early-morning
view of the Kremlin’s bell towers and cathedrals (as well as the
massive brass bell and Czar’s cannon.
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For
some reason or other, Lena does NOT seem to be too impressed by the fact
that she is standing in front of President Putin's office building inside
the Kremlin grounds!
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And, for Steve, it was a real surprise to learn about and see the number of beautiful churches which are located inside the Kremlin walls. |
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This “Lena” is a long-term friend of Lena Snider. Both she and her husband are exceptionally nice people and we thoroughly enjoyed their company. |
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Lena, Lena, and Tolya are standing in front of the beautifully REBUILT Christ the Saviour Cathedral which had been torn down by Stalin and made into a swimming pool. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, Russia tore out the pool and rebuilt the cathedral. |
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While many people probably appreciate the rebuilt cathedral, no doubt there are many others who would prefer to still have the swimming pool! |
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