Love in Moscow, Russia

We had an AMAZING time in Russia. Moscow is incredibly beautiful and spectacularly interesting. The city center has a surprisingly European charm with its colorful domed cathedrals, 19th century architecture, and cobble stoned roads. Infused with all its splendor is a distinctively Russian strangeness and the expected post communist creepiness. It’s a great place to people watch- people seem to do and say whatever they want without inhibitions. The first few nights we stayed in an amzaingly nice apartment right down town, a block away from Red Square. The location was incredible. We had a great visit with Brady's aunt, uncle and cousin the Meservy's chatting, eating good food, playing games and conseqeuntly depriving them of sleep. Our time was romantic, fun, exciting, and extremely entertaining.

St. Basil's- the most famous Russian Cathedral, in Red Square. It is absolutely stunning. Almost worth going to Moscow just to see this Cathedral.

Babushkas hard at work selling empty spaghetti sauce jars, used tennis balls, gerbals, flowers from their cottages,hand made hats, anything they can think of.

Brady trying on Russian hats at the market

There are a surplus of Russian police lounging around everywhere ready to blow their whistle at you for running across a busy street, taking pictures in metro stations, (they are supposedly bomb shelters and supposed to be off limits to pictures) or supposedly illegally selling old communist souveniers Don't Russians know- women can't pee standing up!

Metro luxury. Stalin wanted the metro stations to be a palace for the workers so they are all pretty fancy lookin'. They're decorated with chandeliers, lofty ceilings, and lots of communist mosiacs.
This babushka kept feeding the pigeons and everyone was getting mad because they were swarming over peoples heads.
One of these things is not like the other. These guys are everywhere. This guys seems pretty benign but most of them look scary and dare I say, kinda evil looking.

The market. Watch out or you will be run over by a cart or chased by a wild dog. On Saturdays they have a live bear here on display. Pretty crazy.

The door of a church at the Kremlin. A few of the Russian rulers built churches in hope that if they lived in a sanctuary that their enemies wouldn't dare storm the church and kill them at night. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't.

The old Moscow State University of Red Square.
Old town Moscow by the River. I was really expecting to see more ugly, gray concrete. Nope. The center of the city is very historically preserved, clean and colorful.


Lenin's Tomb. Lenin died in 1924 and his enbalmed body is still floating in formaldehyde on public display. Gross-yes. Creepy- definitely! Many Russians believe that it is not his real body or that it has been replaced by wax. The exeperience of seeing him is unique. You wait in line to go into this black marble, dimly lit building- black floors, walls, and ceiling. There are stern guards in unifrom everywhere. (Brady got yelled at for having his hands in his pockets and talking.) The body is surrounded by red lights to add extra spooky commi. effect. Stalin used to be on display too but once he was publicly denounced for crimes against the people, he was buried. In Soviet times, Russians used to come from everwhere to see him, now there is serious talk of finally burying him.
It is tradition that when couples are married in Moscow they come to this bridge and lock a padlock on these trees, symbolizing commitment.

The only time I will probably ever be able to buy flowers from a port-a-potty. Usually the first outhouse is kinda turned into a little outhouse cave/office. Not does it just suck to pay to pee, they for some reason remove the toilet seats. Maybe to prevent people from taking their time.
Here we are waiting to eat very delicious lamb Shashliki(skewered meat.) Probably our favorite thing we ate there (besides our aunt Shaura's curry). Most Americans would have a hard time stomaching much Russian food because it is bland and greasy but there were some foods we loved there. Our favorites include Russian ice cream (it's way better there,) blini(crepes,) cearok (cheesecake candy bars,) and kabob tacos. About 10 minutes after this picture was taken a rat was chewing on a broom right where this picture was taken.

In Moscow you can't get away from Lenin. His face is everywhere along with hammer and sickles, and depictions of robust field workers carrying weapons. Even though communism is gone its propaganda is still very much part of the Moscow scenery.

Russian women are overly trendy, kinda late 90s-ish. They wear tall spikey heels, and lots of bold, shiny, metalic colors. In the states these nails would be reserved for halloween, in Russia they are perfect for a night on the town.
This picture was taken at a fine Russian restaurant named "Pushkin." It's named after their most famous poet and has an 1800's Russia theme. Waiters wear traditional Russian clothing and the restaurant itself used to be the mansion of a wealthy aristocrat.

The Kremlin