September
9
 |
| Red Square as it is supposed to look |
Our
visit to Moscow coincided (in one of those unexpected twists of fate)
with a big party. Not a political party or the communist party but a
birthday party. It was a festival in honor of Moscow's 870th Anniversary. Moscow, as the name of a settlement, was first mentioned in historical records in 1147 A.D. But the festival was a
double-edged sword.
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RED SQUARE
 |
| Red Square as it actually looked on September 9, 2017 |
 |
Senate Building
behind Lenin's Mausoleum
behind tents |
 |
| St. Basil's Cathedral |
The atmosphere outside and inside Red Square was animated and festive,
but I was dismayed as soon as we entered the Square. It's iconic
expanse, as often seen in old newsreels and photos of endless military parades during the Soviet era, was partially obscured by the temporary structures and paraphernalia of festivals: tents, a
sports stadium, media equipment, fences, detours, no go areas, etc.
The impressive vastness of the Square was effectively diminished and
photo ops were severely limited. In particular St. Basil's Cathedral
could not be seen whole in its majestic splendor at the southeastern
end of Red Square. Only its colorful onion domes could be seen
peeping from behind tents and the temporary stadium.
 |
| old couple |
 |
| Chinese tour groups were very visible . . . |
 |
| . . . everywhere |
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| The Kremlin Wall |
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| St. Basil's Cathedral |
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| alley ooop! |
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| young couple |
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| "My protectors?" |
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| MOCKBA 870 |
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GUM DEPARTMENT STORE
Nevertheless, after walking around the area for hours, observing the life around us and visiting St. Basil's, we stopped for lunch at the huge GUM [гум] department store (a mall actually) that lines
the entire northeastern side of Red Square.
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GUM Department Store
Универмаг гум Москвы |
 |
Entrance Fountain
GUM [гум] Department Store |
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LENIN'S MAUSOLEUM
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| monuments of noted Soviet and Russian leaders |
 |
| Josef Stalin |
Of course no visit to Red Square would be complete without a visit to Lenin's Mausoleum. It sits on the edge of the square in the shadow of the Kremlin Wall and the Senate Building. The Russian flag was flying atop the Senate indicating that President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin was in. Old Vladimir Ilyich Lenin was in, too, looking a little waxy if not as fresh as a daisy (considering he's been dead for 94 years) in his not quite chthonian resting place.
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Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin
(that Mona Lisa smile) |
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| Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov (a.k.a. Lenin) |
Lenin's Mausloeum
|
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THE CAROUSEL
The highlight of my day, however, as we were returning to the hotel, was stopping off at a carousel for a free horsey ride on a merry-go-round. The carousal was in place for the Moscow Festival as were all kinds of events all over town and, in the spirit of birthday parties, they were all free of charge.
|
Nevertheless, after walking around the area for hours, observing the life around us and visiting St. Basil's, we stopped for lunch at the huge GUM [гум] department store (a mall actually) that lines
the entire northeastern side of Red Square.
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