KITAY GOROD

[I am posting this blog very late on the afternoon of Friday, September 14. I should be out enjoying the weather and the city before it totally clouds over and starts to rain, but there was work to be done today on the computer, and if I don't keep up with the photos, they become overwhelming.]

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Andrea and I had separate Russian language classes today. She, of course, is getting one-on-one training to help her perfect her speaking and writing skills.

She finished at 12:30, and I finished at 12:40. We met outside and settled on Sbarro’s for lunch. It was a disappointment in both the price paid and the food eaten. Oh well.

I walked her to the Lenin Library on a beautiful early autumn day, and said good-bye to her as I headed across the street and through the Alexander Gardens to visit the Kremlin.

Timing is everything, and I have none. In fact, it’s about time I began to check my guidebooks prior to venturing off; the Kremlin is closed on Thursdays!

But no big deal. I embarked upon on a long afternoon of walking along the Kremlin wall, into Red Square and then through an area literally lined with little churches and interesting historical buildings. There are also quite a few government buildings, many under reconstruction using the overflowing funds from the state gas and oil coffers.

This quaint area is called Kitay Gorod. I followed the guidebook through it before coming out onto Theatre Plaza and back down Mochavaya Street, past the famous State Duma, Hotel Metropol, National Hotel, and probably a bunch of other sites I was too tired to note.

Because it was such a gorgeous day (and based upon the seemingly accurate Weather.com prognostications for Moscow), I decided I would not go into any place, saving those adventures for a later time when the weather may not be so cooperative.

I walked a long way and saw a lot. Here are some photos from a great day in the great city of Moscow.

TRINITY TOWER OF THE KREMLIN FROM THE ALEXANDER GARDEN THAT RINGS THE KREMLIN.

FOUNTAIN IN FRONT OF THE MANEGE. THE MENAGE WAS BUILT TO ACCOMMODATE AN ARMY REGIMENT'S DRILLING OUTSIDE THE KREMLIN AND IS NOW AN EXHIBITION HALL.

WALKING TOWARD THE RESURRECTION GATE. THE KREMLIN IS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC ON THURSDAYS.

BUILT INTO THE KREMLIN (KREML MEANS WALL, THUS OUR NAME FOR THE PLACE)  IS A GROTTO, FROM WHENCE THIS PHOTO WAS TAKEN.

OBELISK OUTSIDE THE GROTTO COMMEMORATING HEROES OF THE RUSSIAN COMMUNIST PARTY.

LOOKING AT ALONG THE KREMLIN TOWARD THE WALL COMMEMORATING THE CITIES OF WORLD WAR II.

EACH MAJOR CITY HAS A STONE AND STAR, SUCH AS THIS ONE FOR LENINGRAD. IN THE BACKGROUND IS AN ETERNAL FLAME FOR THE SOLDIERS WHO DIED IN THE GREAT PATRIOTIC STRUGGLE. THE FLAME IS GUARDED BY SOLDIERS AT ATTENTION, 24/7.

STATUE OF MARSHAL ZUKOV IN FRONT OF THE  STATE HISTORICAL MUSEUM.

RESURRECTION GATE. THE STATE HISTORICAL MUSEUM IS TO THE RIGHT. THROUGH THE ARCHES IS RED SQUARE. RED SQUARE WAS ESSENTIALLY CLOSED, TOO. CREWS WERE DISASSEMBLING LARGE BLEACHER SEATING AND STAGING, PRESUMABLY FOR SUMMER CONCERTS IN THE SQUARE.

IN RED SQUARE LOOKING BACK AT RESURRECTION GATE. RED SQUARE IS A LARGE OPEN AREA WITH COBBLESTONE STREETS. LENIN'S MAUSOLEUM WAS ALSO CLOSED OFF.

KAZAN CATHEDRAL JUST INSIDE RESURRECTION GATE. FIRST OF MANY CHURCHES I WOULD SEE .

GUM - THE FAMOUS MOSCOW DEPARTMENT STORE. ALONG THE OUTSIDE OF IT, OVERLOOKING RED SQUARE, ARE CHI-CHI, HIGH-PRICED CAFES CATERING TO TOURISTS.

GUM STORE WINDOW. THE MOTIF WAS ITALIAN MOVIES OF THE 1950s AND 60s.

STATE HISTORICAL MUSEUM OVERLOOKING RED SQUARE.

ST. BASIL'S CATHEDRAL. IT HAS RECENTLY BEEN RENOVATED, AND LIKE THE CHURCH OF SPILLED BLOOD IN SPB, IT'S A JEWEL BOX OF A CHURCH SITTING ON THE EDGE OF RED SQUARE.

STATUE IN FRONT OF ST. BASIL'S CATHEDRAL. WHILE I WAS THERE, A BUNCH OF RUSSIAN ELEMENTARY KIDS HAD JUST COME OUT OF THE CHURCH ON A FIELD TRIP AND THEIR TEACHERS WERE LINING THEM UP FOR PHOTOS IN FRONT OF THIS STATUE. A VIDEO CREW WAS ALSO LOADING UP A TRUCK OF EQUIPMENT AFTER HAVING VIDEOTAPED THE CATHEDRAL.

ST. BASIL'S IS VERY PHOTOGENIC. THERE IS JUST NO BAD PHOTO FROM ANY ANGLE OF THE PLACE. IN THE BACKGROUND LOOMS THE KREMLIN CLOCK TOWER.

LOOKING UP AT ST. BASIL'S FROM ITS BACK SIDE.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF RED SQUARE IS KITAY GOROD, WHERE RELIGION AND COMMERCE WENT HAND IN HAND GONG AS FAR BACK AS THE 12th CENTURY. THIS IS THE OLD ENGLISH COURT, A DWELLING IVAN THE TERRIBLE BUILT TO ENCOURAGE TRADE (GUNS) WITH THE BRITISH.

BETWEEN RED SQUARE AND THE ENGLISH COURT IS THE CHURCH OF ST. BARBARA.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ENGLISH COURT ALONG VARVARKA STREET IS THE MONASTERY OF THE SIGN. 

AND JUST BEYOND THAT ON VARVARKA IS THE CHURCH OF ST. GEORGE.

SMALLER THAN ST. BASIL'S BUT AS INTERESTING IS THE CHURCH OF THE TRINITY IN NIKITNIKI. IT IS TUCKED INTO A GROVE OF MODERN GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS SURROUNDING IT.

THE RUSSIAN SUPREME COURT.

THE GOSTINY DVOR OF MOSCOW. I VENTURED IN HERE, BUT THERE IS NOT MUCH TO SEE, YET. IT LOOKED AS IF ON THE MAIN FLOOR, THEY WERE TEARING DOWN A TRADE EXHIBIT. THERE WERE ONLY A FEW, HIGH-FALUTIN' SHOPS ON THIS CORNER OF THE MASSIVE STRUCTURE.

THIS PINK BAROQUE GEM IS CALLED THE MONASTERY OF THE EPIPHANY. I HAVE YET TO TAKE MORE THAN A FEW EXTERIOR PHOTOS IN SPB OR MOSCOW IN WHICH SOME KIND OF UTILITY LINE DOES NOT APPEAR.

NIKOLSKAYA STREET. THIS KITAY GOROD STREET IS LINED WITH FANCY BOUTIQUES. SEVERAL FACADES ARE UNDERGOING RECONSTRUCTION. 

THE OLD SYNOD PRINTING HOUSE ALONG NIKOLSKAYA, WHICH DATES BACK TO THE 19th CENTURY. 

TRETYAKOV PALACE SHOPPING ARCADE OFF OF NIKOLSKAYA: TOM FORD, ARMANI, HARRY WINSTON...HAVE SHOPS  IN THIS QUIET COURT CATERING TO MOSCOW'S ELITE.

THE BOLSHOY THEATRE DOMINATES THEATRE SQUARE, A BROAD AND BUSY LOCATION. TICKETS FOR THIS YEAR'S THEATRE SEASON ARE SOLD OUT.

REVOLUTION PLACE: CARLO MARX URGING THE PROLETARIAT TO RISE UP. KREMLIN IN BACKGROUND.

THE STATE DUMA BUILDING. SITE OF A LOT OF ACTION BACK IN 1990.

MOSCOW OLD UNIVERSITY AND A STATUE OF MY OLD PAL, MIKE LOMONOSOV, WHO FOUNDED THE PLACE IN 1755.

THIS IS WHERE ANDREA LIVES DURING THE DAY - THE LENIN LIBRARY.