Oh Russia, how I miss you and every single wonderful experience and adventure you offered to me as I turned each and every corner. Here is a little digital walk down memory lane...
Day 1: As we boarded our ship, Amakatarina, our floating hotel for the next 12 days, we were greeted in traditional Russian fashion, with an offering of bread dipped in salt (which I mistook for sugar and really laid it on thick, that was a salty shock)
So what better to wash the salt down with but a pivo (beer) from the local kabob stand.
The weather was unseasonably warm for Moscow, and the sun sets late, we took advantage by meandering around the park, pivo in hand. Falling in love over and over with every step we took. It felt so good to finally move our legs after a full 23 hours of traveling.
Day 2: We started our day the best way imaginable, sunrise yoga on the sundeck followed by mimosas at breakfast. Our first sight seeing adventure was right to the heart of Moscows spiderweb like city center. Just outside the Kremlin at the Red square which contains St. Basils Cathedral, Lenins tomb, memorials, museums, and the GUM-Moscows version of rodeo drive, only more luxurious. Old mixed with the new everywhere you looked.
These beautiful and colorful structures date back to the 1500's originally built to celebrate Ivan the Terrible's victory over the Tartar Khans. After soaking in the rich history of the cathedrals, we had to check out the GUM, a glorified, upscale, boutique mall that feels more like a palace than shopping center. The price tags resemble phone numbers in length. Needless to say we were only window shopping.
The Red square and window shopping in the GUM worked up quite an appetite in us. From there we embarked on a lovely lunch cruise along one of Moscows many canals, the Moskva river.
After our river lunch, we ventured beyond the walls of the Kremlin right into the red square. We toured the expansive grounds to see a conglomeration of cathedrals, the Armoury museum, beautiful gardens, and the senate house of Vladimir Putin.
Trinity bridge
The wealth and richness of history within the walls of the red square is overwhelming. Not only does it have the Armoury, a museum which houses a vast collection of weaponry, jewels, and artifacts, it's the former residence of the czars, has the epicenter of the Russian orthodox faith, it is also the current location for Russian parliament.
After our long day out and about it was time to get back on the ship to be wined and dined.
Day 3: Another full day of sightseeing events ahead of us. Jet lag had no place to creep its ugly face into this vacation. It was go go go all the time. First stop was bow hill a panoramic lookout point showcasing Moscow's expansive horizon. Followed by poklonnaya, a memorial to WWII, and then a brave adventure to the outskirts of the city via the elaborate Metro rail, first stop at the Ismailovsky flea market, followed by Arbat district, and a wondering meandering walk through the city.
crazy Russian drivers!
After our morning under Moscow's blue skies and fresh air, it was time to travel deep beneath the surface, into the luxurious labyrinth of Moscow's subway system. The stations are adorned with old world statues, chandeliers, mosiacs, stained glass, and paintings. Pieces looking like they belong in a palace, not the subway. Getting around was a bit tricky, but we had a blast with it. It was like deciphering an encrypted code as we tried to read the railways maps which are written in cyrillic, a foreign alphabet and nearly impossible to properly pronounce for us tourists.
We ventured into what felt like the most marvelous jungle of junk, known as the Ismailovsky flea market. We haggled our precious rubles for trinkets and treasures with gypsies. Wondered up and down the aisles and crooked alley ways, bewildered by the collection of vintage finds, arts, soviet era memorabilia, all on display in wooden hand made miniature versions of Moscow's well known monuments and churches.
After a few hours, the search was over. We found a few one of a kind pieces, Morgane, an adorable pair of binoculars and a watch. I found a purse, a blouse, a watch, and a kgb flask. Once again shopping worked up a huge hungry appetite. We could smell the smoking kebabs throughout the entire market.
Bellies full, and pockets a tad more empty, time to hop back on the metro to Arbat street, Moscow's oldest cobblestone street.
Of course we got hungry again, and needed more traditional Russian treats. We stopped at a lovely cafe in the tsum for wine and blinis, a savory pancake, mine was stuffed with a mix of forest mushrooms.
And the day would not have been complete without peeing in one of these fabulous state of the art bathrooms complete with a hole in the floor.
We made it back to the ship just in time to get dolled up for a cocktail party to celebrate the first night of cruising. That evening as we toasted and clinked champagne glasses, our ship took off for Uglich.
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