Moscow

9-10 August- not much happened on the 9th as both of us suffered an attack of food poisoning from the afternoon before. Fortunately had a spare day up our sleeve so travel company rearranged schedule to allow us time to recuperate. Back on track on the 9th with car and driver- Masha and Vladimir our driver. Masha reminds me of a long gone Hungarian great aunt. Met her in the foyer- she looked us up and down and told us to change. Shorts on SA and above knee dress for me not good enough for cathedral visit. Returned 5 minutes later with changed clothing. Great tour of the city by car- with frequent stops to get and see various sites. Will try and remember- cathedral of Christ the Redeemer or Saviour was first up. Tallest Orthodox Church in the world apparently. Originally built in 19th century, dynamited by Stalin, site used as large swimming pool during Kruschev and rebuilt by 2000. Official services held here including 2 riyal chairs set aside fir royalty in an alcove. (???) Guide was not sure who if anyone sat there these days. Also saw many buildings in the 'Stalinist style'. They look like Gotham city- actually very impressive. Funny enough reminded me a bit of New York City's Empire State Building. We're also shown this apartment building that was built during the 'commune era'- in this version, families did not live together. Traditional marriage was not encouraged- men and women lived separately. Not quite sure how that worked but anyway this particular block was also built in the shape of a tractor- promoting industrialisation etc. now the apartments which are close to the Kremlin are very expensive individually owned. Previously all apartments were supplied by the Govt. and very low rent was paid. Now it is all privately owned or presumably rented . Also saw Moscow University- again very old- founded in 1700's. Went to Sparrow Hills- tallest point and got a good look over Moscow centre. Some pretty modern offices and apartment buildings- all built from the 1990,s onwards. What else? Novodevichly Convent- where many Russian noblewomen went or were sent. The building where the 1991(?) peoples uprising I guess occurred where Boris Yeltsen emerged. The protest etc lasted a few days. Our guide told us it was somewhat annoying as she had a lunch to get to nearby and had no idea what was going on. The day to day mingled with these types of occurrences seems normal to them. Went to Red Square- huge and briefly saw St Basils and GUM store- back there tomorrow. Lastly went to the Kremlin. Now that is impressive. Incredible churches there full of 1500's and earlier Russian icons and the tombs of various tsars pre- Romonovs including 'Ivan the Terrible' and 2 of his sons. The walls were just covered in old icons- the churches were- Patriarch's Palace , Annunciation Cathedral of the Kremlin and Archangel Cathedral of Kremlin. The Kremlin with its towers and walls is on its own very impressive. Do we like Moscow? I'd say yes. Very interesting.  I'd say the place has changed substantially since the early 1990's. Lots of police around as well so feels pretty safe in the tourist places. This guide more forthcoming as to recent changes- Appears the Romonovs are back in fashion- all quiet strange she believes. They can now travel freely apparently . She told us there is even a village looking at establishing some memorial to Ivan the Terrible.oh yes and were taken to a war memorial commemorating baically the defeat of Napoleon and of Hitler. Lots of monuments around regarding Napoleons defeat and Hitlers defeat. And we're told same story as in St Petersburg about Hitker booking a victory banquet in some hotel here- which he had to cancel.