Our last full day in Moscow we planned to spend time indoors in the afternoon because rain was in the forecast. We began the day with breakfast at KFC. Then we got on the Metro and traveled to the Bolshoi Theater. The theater was built in the late 18th century and is very beautiful. Yulia and I once attended an opera there. This time we just looked at the exterior. The opera house in Astana seems to be patterned after it in many ways. There was a fountain outside, and that attracted the kids immediately.
After visiting the fountain, we went to Red Square and paid to go through St. Basil's cathedral. The church is very interesting inside - and quite different. The highlight of the visit was a group that was singing old Russian hymns on the top floor. The acoustics were amazing, and they sang very well. The group was selling cds, so we bought one.
Men's group singing old church song.
After visiting the cathedral, we walked through the GUM store to take a look at how lovely and elaborate it was. Then we walked up to Old Arbat street. The street used to be the area that was full of art. It was very different from when we were there last time - it was much more commercialized and had much less art. We wondered if the weather played a factor in that too. After walking for awhile, the storm that had been threatening really started looking wet. We saw a shake shack and went in and sat down for lunch. We missed a huge rainstorm while we were eating. It cleared up after we ate, and we walked from there to the Dom Knigi (House of Books) and spent a few hours browsing there - missing a big rainstorm while we were there.
After we waited out the worst of the storm, we walked to the metro and took a train back to our hotel. We spent a few hours just relaxing and then went over to the same restaurant we'd been to the night before and enjoyed another great meal. It was a nice calm day in Moscow.
 |
| Bolshoi Theater |
 |
| The kids were immediately glued to this fountain by the Bolshoi. |
 |
| Another fountain we saw nearby. |
 |
| Inside of St. Basil Cathedral |
After visiting the cathedral, we walked through the GUM store to take a look at how lovely and elaborate it was. Then we walked up to Old Arbat street. The street used to be the area that was full of art. It was very different from when we were there last time - it was much more commercialized and had much less art. We wondered if the weather played a factor in that too. After walking for awhile, the storm that had been threatening really started looking wet. We saw a shake shack and went in and sat down for lunch. We missed a huge rainstorm while we were eating. It cleared up after we ate, and we walked from there to the Dom Knigi (House of Books) and spent a few hours browsing there - missing a big rainstorm while we were there.
 |
| Arbat Street |
 |
| Arbat Street |
 |
| Arbat Street |
 |
| This was probably the biggest bookstore we've seen, especially in Europe. The kids were in heaven! |
 |
| Waiting out a storm in the reading corner. |
No comments:
Post a Comment