Moscow Part 2

Saturday, June 10

First, a photo from last night, and the same view this morning.

After an seemingly endless bus ride, during which we could see almost none of the sites that were pointed out to us by our guide, we stopped at the Novodevichy Cemetery. I don’t recall seeing another cemetery with so many trees, which is probably a comment on the narrowness of my experience, not so much a comment on the number of trees here. More importantly than trees, the cemetery is the final resting place for Russian notables of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Soviet leaders, artists, performers, authors, playwrights, cosmonauts—any Russian of national prominence. The variety is amazing, and I think this was a worthwhile stop for the morning.

Chekov

Rostropovich

Kruschchev

Yeltsin

When we left the cemetery, we were bussed to the top of a hill overlooking the city. That stop might have been better on a clear day, but as it was, the sight of the city center, from a park next to the University, was a bit gray.

After that, we headed out for Red Square. Right away, another big chunk of my preconceptions about Russia in general and Moscow in particular just got brushed aside as being a waste of time to even consider. Judy and I were sort of burned out with our guide’s commentary, so we just left the group and moved on through the gate. I know Moscow is a national capital, and I knew I would see a large space, with really important national buildings all around it. And I did. But being there isn’t the same thing as watching one of those Soviet military parades on the evening news.

The place was crowded, as it probably is every day during the tourist season, but preparations for the Day of Russia celebration two days after we were there no doubt made it seem even more overflowing with people. Huge stands were being put up, as were a stage and all the usual things you’d see at an outdoor concert. What a madhouse! I loved it.

Enough chitchat. here are the photos.