Moscow: Mystery solved.

Moscow is mysterious, iconic, vast, sunny and a dream come true.

inside the Kremlin.

During this trip, and on a few others, I have been lucky enough to see some of the great cities of the world. Places that are famous for being the biggest, grandest cities in the world. Paris, Rome and even others that I won’t make it to on this trip like London and New York are burned onto the pubic consciousness as places to be held up as great examples of the best cities in the world. Hovering just off this list is Moscow. Perhaps because of it’s decades behind the Iron Curtain it remains a mystery or simply off the radar for many travellers and lovers of big cities. I could have stayed weeks in Moscow, discovering its sights and learning more about what makes the city tick. My 3 hot days in Moscow were an exciting mix of culture, entertainment and iconic sights.

Memorial park.

There are few moments I can compare to how I felt upon entering the famous Red Square. Like seeing the Eiffel tower a few weeks ago, or seeing Christ the Redeemer in Rio a few years ago. This was a truly special travel moment for me. St Basil’s coloured domes were just as luxe and fabulous as I imagined, building was intricate and grand, Gum was the ritzy mall I’ve imagined it to be and the Kremlin walls hover high above your head. It was simply beautiful. Also in the square is Lenin’s Mausoleum. Where we lined up, walked past the graves of many of his comrades and walked down into a cold and dark room. here we moved quickly around a glass case that houses the former Soviet leader. This was one of the stranger experiences I have had. The waxy figure has been dead for close to 90 years but it disturbingly well-preserved. Conspiracy maybe? in any case, the government is looking to actually grant his wish of burial very soon and this might be one of the last chances to see him. In any case it made me feel awkward and fascinated all at the same time. We also toured the Kremlin and its many churches, squares and palaces. It was amazing to think I was inside the Kremlin stronghold. Something I never dreamed possible.

St Basil’s.

Exploring the city we came across many great sights in our time in the city. Everything from the lake where Tchaikovsky is said to have written Swan Lake to the church that Pussy Riot ‘defiled’, as our guide called it. It is amazing to me that a place so hidden away from the world for so long could still be so iconic and influential. Also in my travels I went to a sculpture park that featured many old Soviet statues and monuments that once littered the city. busts of leaders like Lenin, Stalin and Krushev and now nestled in a garden alongside modern art works and tributes to those who suffered under their regimes. I spent a good chunk of time in this park, admiring, relaxing and watching the Moscovites bike ride and rolled blade past. It was a warm day so I parked myself under a tree next to a piece called ‘an argument’ and watched the world go by.

Old icons in the sculpture park.

However, these soviet artworks are not confined to this park. I was amazed by the intricate detail and simply stunning art that lives below everyone’s feet. The Moscow underground. We toured the underground with our regular guide and another guide. I went with the newer one, a sweet older lady with a gentle voice and manner who spoke to us with kindness and answered all of our questions about the Soviet era and her Grandmother’s experience in WWII. In the metro system there is a number of stations that were built before and after WWII. Most of them have sculptures, stained glass, mosaics, ceiling roses and chandeliers. Most of them are shining examples of soviet propaganda; with common motifs of workers and farmers united and, of course, the hammer and sickle. It’s certainly not the drab 70s styled tiles and grime of my city’s 4 station underground network. This feels fit for a king, or maybe even a Tsar.

In the metro.

I was also lucky enough to see some internationally renowned performances in Moscow. One was the Bolshoi Ballet, the other was the Moscow circus. When I was a little girl my mother, knowing I would end up being quite tall, put me into ballet classes, which I attended for about 5 years until my abilities did not keep up with the skills. Despite never being the best dancer in the class I always wanted to be a ballerina. So when I was about 8 the Bolshoi came and did a performance in Melbourne, I was so thrilled. I felt just like that little girl when I walked into the stunning Bolshoi theatre. gold, red and grand beyond belief. Chandeliers, gold leaf and red velvet chairs. It felt much fancier than anything I should have been allowed to attend. The ballet itself was an amazing spectacle. We saw Le Corsaire, about some swashbuckling pirates and their crafty girlfriends. It was some of the finest dancing I have ever seen. The circus on the other hand was not something I would recommend. I found it to be old fashioned and cruel. As we walked in to my left was a muzzled bear with a ruffled collar, two dalmations and a small monkey. To the right was a heavily sedated tiger whose handler was tugging on its chin to wake it up. In front was a variety of small animals like arctic foxes, cotis, more monkeys and cats wearing bow ties. 25 Euros for a photo with each. I found it cruel and exploitative. The show continued the theme with a starving baby bear being lead around by a clown, a seal show and one of the cruelest big cat shows I’ve ever seen. Luckily this was only a small part of the show and amazing acrobats, jugglers, quick change artists and clowns lightened the mood. Hopefully the circus will realise soon that it doesn’t need animals for its show and it is actually a better performance without them; but considering the packed house we were a part of, probably not.

The circus.

As we left the city we stopped overnight in a small town called Veire Luki. Luckily for us, that night also coincided with a massive hot air balloon festival and we sat in the car park at sunset (about 10pm) and watched 30 or so baloons float around above our heads. It was beautiful and an amazing way to end my Russian revelations.