salutations
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alisonboagmunroe@yahoo.co.uk
Sunday, 31 January 2016
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Sunday, 26 July 2015
From: Alison Boag-Munroe
Hiya easternsiberia2013
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alisonboagmunroe@yahoo.co.uk
easternsiberia2013
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Monday, 19 August 2013
14.08.13 Last but not least...
Today was our final day in Russia. We got up early and tidied our room before moving our bags in to the living room and heading out for a final bit of shopping.
We went straight to the markets by Red Square but visited the Bolshoi Theatre on the way (they were on tour in London while we were in Russia so we hadn't been able to see them). Once we had spent all of our money we headed back to the hostel for a shower and some lunch before returning to Moscow airport for our return flight to the UK via Zurich.
In Zurich we enjoyed a Burger King before crashing out on the seats where we were rudely awakened by a loud snoring man very early in the morning. After arriving post-closing the evening before some of us sat outside the Lindt shop for opening at 6am in the morning (on the 15th). We enjoyed a very sickly hot chocolate before running to our flight back to Manchester.
We went straight to the markets by Red Square but visited the Bolshoi Theatre on the way (they were on tour in London while we were in Russia so we hadn't been able to see them). Once we had spent all of our money we headed back to the hostel for a shower and some lunch before returning to Moscow airport for our return flight to the UK via Zurich.
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| The Bolshoi Theatre |
In Zurich we enjoyed a Burger King before crashing out on the seats where we were rudely awakened by a loud snoring man very early in the morning. After arriving post-closing the evening before some of us sat outside the Lindt shop for opening at 6am in the morning (on the 15th). We enjoyed a very sickly hot chocolate before running to our flight back to Manchester.
13.08.13 Museum of the Great Patriotic War.
Today was our last full day in Moscow and we wanted to try and see as much as we could. We had narrowed down a long list of potential places to visit to three which we set of to find.
The first place we wanted to visit was the Museum of Matryoshka were we were hoping to see different painting patterns and a VERY large Matroyshka doll. However, after wandering the streets and consulting several maps (as well as a nice lady in Tony and Guy's) we found the entrance only to be told that the museum was "shut, for ever!"
Despite this initial setback we wandered on to our next stop which was the Muzeon Park of Arts which is a Sculpture park on the banks of the river. The park has over 700 sculptures including some of Lenin and Stalin. Some of the sculptures even featured in the opening of James Bond's Golden Eye! While in the park we had some lunch in a small café and lazed on bean bags under the massive trees.
After visiting the park we went back to the Metro to head towards the Museum of the Great Patriotic War. This was one of the most impressive things we had seen during our time in Moscow.
The outside has a giant obelisk that every 10cm represents a day that Russia was involved in the war - it's massive! It is really ornately decorated with the names of all the areas represented shown on the sides.
For dinner we returned to GUM and the Soviet style café that we had visited on the first day. We then packed our bags so that we could fit in some last minute shopping in the morning.
The first place we wanted to visit was the Museum of Matryoshka were we were hoping to see different painting patterns and a VERY large Matroyshka doll. However, after wandering the streets and consulting several maps (as well as a nice lady in Tony and Guy's) we found the entrance only to be told that the museum was "shut, for ever!"
Despite this initial setback we wandered on to our next stop which was the Muzeon Park of Arts which is a Sculpture park on the banks of the river. The park has over 700 sculptures including some of Lenin and Stalin. Some of the sculptures even featured in the opening of James Bond's Golden Eye! While in the park we had some lunch in a small café and lazed on bean bags under the massive trees.
After visiting the park we went back to the Metro to head towards the Museum of the Great Patriotic War. This was one of the most impressive things we had seen during our time in Moscow. 
The outside has a giant obelisk that every 10cm represents a day that Russia was involved in the war - it's massive! It is really ornately decorated with the names of all the areas represented shown on the sides.
Inside the museum there was lots to see but the most impressive was the Hall of Glory and the Hall of Remembrance and Sorrow. The Hall of Glory has the names of nearly 12,000 recipients of the Hero of the Soviet Union distinction on the walls with images of the main Russian cities around the top and a giant bronze sculpture called the "Soldier of Victory" stood in the middle. The Hall of Remembrance and Sorrow gives a very different feeling and honours the Soviet people who died in the war. The hall has little lighting and has metal chains with glass beads hanging from the end suspended from the ceiling - these represent the tears shed for the dead.
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| The Hall of Remembrance and Sorrow |
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| Inside the Hall of Glory |
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| The entrance to the Hall of Glory |
For dinner we returned to GUM and the Soviet style café that we had visited on the first day. We then packed our bags so that we could fit in some last minute shopping in the morning.
12.08.13 The Kremlin...
Today we had a slow start with the main aims of the day to be to visit the Kremlin and the small market we'd seen outside Red Square yesterday.
We headed into the centre at about 11am and stood in a very long queue for tickets to get in to the Kremlin. Once we got inside the Kremlin we were impressed by the size of the buildings and the size and number of canons. We spent quite a bit of time visiting the different churches including the Church of the Deposition of the Robe of the Holy Virgin and the Archangel Cathedral. After a wander around the Secret Gardens of the Kremlin where some of us got ice cream we moved on to visit the Market.
At the market we were overwhelmed at the selection of Russian dolls we had to choose from as well as lots of other gifts. Some of us tried our hand at haggling and were surprised when our efforts sometimes resulted in a free gift as well as a discounted price! Once we were all laden up with Russian dolls, Christmas decorations, spoons and more magnets we went back to GUM where we had Italian for our dinner before heading back to the hostel for bed.
We headed into the centre at about 11am and stood in a very long queue for tickets to get in to the Kremlin. Once we got inside the Kremlin we were impressed by the size of the buildings and the size and number of canons. We spent quite a bit of time visiting the different churches including the Church of the Deposition of the Robe of the Holy Virgin and the Archangel Cathedral. After a wander around the Secret Gardens of the Kremlin where some of us got ice cream we moved on to visit the Market.
At the market we were overwhelmed at the selection of Russian dolls we had to choose from as well as lots of other gifts. Some of us tried our hand at haggling and were surprised when our efforts sometimes resulted in a free gift as well as a discounted price! Once we were all laden up with Russian dolls, Christmas decorations, spoons and more magnets we went back to GUM where we had Italian for our dinner before heading back to the hostel for bed.
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| Watching the Changing of the Guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier |
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| Red Square |
11.08.13 IAAF World Championships!!!
Today we managed to totally change all of our plans! We were supposed to be visiting Red Square and the Kremlin but decided to postpone it for a day so that we could try and attend the World Championships which were being held at the Luzhniki Stadium.
We got up bright and early and had a fairly enjoyable breakfast including a version of pain au chocolat and honey covered cereal. After this we navigated our way on the metro to the stadium and wandered around for a while trying to find out how and where we could buy tickets. We managed to bump into a couple from Bolton at the information centre who thought we would be very lucky to get tickets to the evening's competitions as it included the 100m final with Usain Bolt in! However, we perceived and for a grand total of about £15 each managed to get tickets for the whole day, including the 100m final and a few medal ceremonies!!!
After securing our tickets we made our way to an underground shopping centre were we had some lunch and then visited the market at Red Square and GUM.
At about 5.30pm we made our way back to the Luzhniki Stadium and enjoyed almost five hours of top quality athletics where we saw Bolt race to victory and Christine Ohuruogu win her heat for the 400m which she went on to win the next day.
We made our way home after the 100m final when we were funnelled down an army/police lined street towards the metro.
We got up bright and early and had a fairly enjoyable breakfast including a version of pain au chocolat and honey covered cereal. After this we navigated our way on the metro to the stadium and wandered around for a while trying to find out how and where we could buy tickets. We managed to bump into a couple from Bolton at the information centre who thought we would be very lucky to get tickets to the evening's competitions as it included the 100m final with Usain Bolt in! However, we perceived and for a grand total of about £15 each managed to get tickets for the whole day, including the 100m final and a few medal ceremonies!!!
After securing our tickets we made our way to an underground shopping centre were we had some lunch and then visited the market at Red Square and GUM.
At about 5.30pm we made our way back to the Luzhniki Stadium and enjoyed almost five hours of top quality athletics where we saw Bolt race to victory and Christine Ohuruogu win her heat for the 400m which she went on to win the next day.
We made our way home after the 100m final when we were funnelled down an army/police lined street towards the metro.
10.08.13 Moscow here we come!!!
We arrived at the airport in Irkutsk for 6.30am and said goodbye to everyone. We were really pleased that Olga, Natasha and Irina had been able to join us. Boarding the plane at 8am we were crossing fingers, toes and everything else that our return flight would not include an impromptu stop at Ulan Ude although we were braced for it this time!
The flight involved lots of sleeping in preparation for the busy day we had ahead of us. We were met at the airport in Moscow by a lady holding a sign with Alison's name on, she then walked us to a very shiny and rather large minibus which was to take us to the hostel. After a bit of driving around the driver managed to find the hostel and once we'd dumped our bags and changed our shoes we went back to the minibus to begin our tour.
We were shown around on the minibus, stopping off at several places on the way. We visited a memorial park where there were lots of brides wandering around having photos taken. We also visited a Novodevichy Cemetery which is attached to a convent where all of the famous Muscovites are buried including Boris Yeltsin and many musicians, ballet dancers, poets, actors and politicians. We then went on to see Moscow University on Sparrow Hill and the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. We were able to go inside the Cathedral which was really impressive and we learnt about it's history including the fact that it is the tallest Orthodox Christian Church in the world and that it had to be rebuilt in the 1990s after being demolished in the 30s after being deemed as being an 'unnecessary luxury'.
We then went to GUM (a massive and very upmarket version of the Trafford Centre) for a traditional Soviet style meal which was really nice. After lunch we visited Red Square and saw St Basil's Cathedral before going on a boat ride down the river. After this we went on the Moscow Metro to see some of the amazing stations, our tour guide Dmitri was really good at telling us about the different images on the walls and ceilings. Once back at the hostel it was time for a much needed shower, dinner and bed!
The flight involved lots of sleeping in preparation for the busy day we had ahead of us. We were met at the airport in Moscow by a lady holding a sign with Alison's name on, she then walked us to a very shiny and rather large minibus which was to take us to the hostel. After a bit of driving around the driver managed to find the hostel and once we'd dumped our bags and changed our shoes we went back to the minibus to begin our tour.
We were shown around on the minibus, stopping off at several places on the way. We visited a memorial park where there were lots of brides wandering around having photos taken. We also visited a Novodevichy Cemetery which is attached to a convent where all of the famous Muscovites are buried including Boris Yeltsin and many musicians, ballet dancers, poets, actors and politicians. We then went on to see Moscow University on Sparrow Hill and the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. We were able to go inside the Cathedral which was really impressive and we learnt about it's history including the fact that it is the tallest Orthodox Christian Church in the world and that it had to be rebuilt in the 1990s after being demolished in the 30s after being deemed as being an 'unnecessary luxury'.
We then went to GUM (a massive and very upmarket version of the Trafford Centre) for a traditional Soviet style meal which was really nice. After lunch we visited Red Square and saw St Basil's Cathedral before going on a boat ride down the river. After this we went on the Moscow Metro to see some of the amazing stations, our tour guide Dmitri was really good at telling us about the different images on the walls and ceilings. Once back at the hostel it was time for a much needed shower, dinner and bed!
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| Lenin's Mausoleum |
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| St Basil's Cathedral |
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| The statue of Peter the Great |
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| One of the very impressive Metro stations! |
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