Botanical Garden

Thank you for your good words for my yesterday post! It was a nice day.
Today I bring you another scene from Moscow Botanical garden where people come on weekend with their friends and families to take a bit of nature. This is a pleasant place both for kids and adults, everyone finds his own way to enjoy.

The Colour: violet

Today I'm turning ... Well, it doesn't matter how old I am but the thing is that I'm opening the next year of my life. I wonder why birthday is such a big deal in our world? And what do you do for your birthday? Do you have crazy party? Invite all your friends? Or is it a quiet family celebration?

As for me, I had a tea-party in the office and am going to the restaurant with my husband tonight.

Linden in bloom

I was so lucky as to catch the blooming linden. I like its honey-scented
blossom and always slow down my pace when passing a tree in bloom. Those blossoms mark Midsummer which means that hottest days are here even though the temperature could be but +20C. Nevertheless, it's a wonderful time.

P.S. More photos on my Extension site.

Pagoda

As I already told you, Moscow is bearable during warm season. However, had I started this blog back in January, it would have been monotonous black&white (or rather black&grey) for three months, at least. Abraham, your impression of Russia was not absolutely wrong but a bit limited.
But it's summertime so let's enjoy it!

Vorob'evy Hills

Major territory of Moscow University is located on the high bank of Moscow river. There is a view point across the Main Building, which provides a gorgeous prospect of the city below. This panorama was taken from there, you may spot in this picture most part of famous Moscow objects.

Photo on demand: Moscow University

I promissed to publish a better photograph of Moscow University, and here you go. University occupies a few dozens in various parts of Moscow, and this is but the main building. It was build in 1953, is nearly 300 meters high (36 stores + spire of 58m), contains everything required by students and teachers: classrooms, laboratories, hostel, apartments, eateries, shops, cultural center and so on.

Japanese Garden

Japanese Garden is my favourite spot within Moscow Botanical Garden, although I suddenly realized I never been here in autumn or winter. But in late spring and through the summer it's the most pleasant place to get away from city noise. I can spend hours in its peaceful athmosphere reading book or taking sunbath. And, of course, Japanese Garden provides an ever-living source of objects to photographer.

Falling sun

A short break before returning into the craziness of work - long enought just to take a breath. With thoughtless brain and open heart I'm going to spend these two days in laziness and chores, have a glass of rich wine with my lunch and watch clouds running through the sky. Linden blooming is almost gone, and I haven't managed to catch a single shot of it! Too bad, but may be I'd manage to get one before it's too late.

Undergrass world

Busy-busy-busy week is nearly over, and I anticipate a little bit of rest for the next two days. Have a nice weekend!

Calm

What is your perfect place for vacation like? Mine would be a peopleless seashore where the climat is hot and dry, waves are salty and insignificant, water is warm and clear. And a little comfortable cottage surrounded by palm-trees would be a fit addition to the peaceful landscape.

The pathways we choose...

Railroad always makes me feel a little sad. It's something deep inside your heart that yearns for distant places and hypothetic trips, something that make us believe that grass is greener behind the next curve in the road.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand... back to the Nature!

I'm extremely busy with work again so no wordy narration today, if you don't mind.

You might make an opinion that Moscow consisted of endless greenary, parks, ponds and so on. Well, this would be a mistake to think so. It's just that I take photos of what I like the best, and I like trees and flowers much better than boring buildings, overcrowded roads and tired people faces.
But to give you an idea of 'another Moscow' I decided to show this photo of so called Third Transport Ring. Moscow roads have radial&circular structure which means there are: 1) center from where all main streets begin, 2) road rings connecting radial ones. Nowadays Moscow had 3 most important ring roads, which are Sadovoe (Garden Ring), MKAD (Moscow Circular Automobile Road) and TTK (Third Transport Ring). The latter one is the latest build, located between the other two and is a significant help to Moscow drivers. Area withing Sadovoe is considered as a city center while MKAD actually marks city border.
The photo was taken at Begovaya St., which is the part of TTK. The traffic is not very bad since it's evening hour on weekend, but this road is heavily loaded during business days. The spire on the background is Ostankino TV tower.

Web

On my walk through Botanical Garden I noticed something semi-visible, flashing in the sunlight. As I looked closer, I realized it was a huge web high in tree branches. You'll be able to make out all the detailing if you enlarge the photo.

P.S. To see where I found this web go to my extension site

Toy-waterfall

I wonder why water is so attractive? Hypnotizing, bewitching, alluring? What makes us stop and watch its glassy surface or mighty current? Why people of all times and nations worshiped water? What is so relaxing in observing ocean waves or lazy lowland river? Do we hear an invitation from Mother Nature?...

One more virtual trip to the nature. Refreshing as they are, city parks and ponds provide wonderful chance of peaceful rest. Today is Friday which means we have, at least, one piece of good news for now.

Come with me into the trees...

Is it me only who's going crazy with work load? I'm afraid I don't have a second to spare. This shadowy alley is a dream place for now but - alas! - is as unreachable as a dream itself.

P.S. More firs on my extension site

Fellow-traveler

I went to country side on last weekend. I took a local train, and this big-eared gentlemen was accompanying the girl who sat next to me. He was extremely curious but too well-bred to satisfy his curiosity, so he looked attentively at everything I had in my hands but didn't step on my lap to watch closer. For sure, I couldn't miss a chance to take his photo!

P.S. More photos on my extension site

Wild violets

Today Russia celebrates Independence Day (of whom, I wonder?) so we have one more work-free day. I'm out of home most of the time, and this explains why I don't write more here or comment your blogs. I promisse to make it up tomorrow.

P.S. Another version on my extension site

Yellow spot

Another photo of "Bloom&Blossom" series. Frankly saying, I have no idea what plant it is because this shrubbery is not native to Moscow area. Do you know what is it?

Moscow Metro: Aeroport station

Another example of Moscow metro station. This one is as old as Dinamo and Sokol, but not so important so its achitecture is simplier and spaces are narrower. The station was named after Central Airport (Aeroport in Russian) that located nearby. Planes are not allowed within the city for a long time, but Central Airport was used as a check-in point from where people would be taken to the real airport by bus. I have no idea what is over there nowadays, the only thing I know is that runways were destroyed to give space for new houses.

Curls and shadows

Remember, I told you about 'black Saturdays'? Well, today is another case of it because we have a public holiday - Independence Day - on June, 12th. The weather promisses nothing exciting for the next three days but we'll have a long weekend, at least, for ourselves.
This photo doesn't reflect the current weather conditions but I think it's a good illustration for summertime. I love oaks, and its carved leaves are always wonderful to watch.
Have a nice weekend!

The lush green of June

Tell me, please, so you really think that word verification on commenting works fine? I'm afraid I need to make a confession: I get utterly confused when I have to type a weird sequence of letters which are not always recognizable. Don't know what about net-robots, but word verification is a great tool to discourage me from commenting on someone's post. Sorry if you were left without additional comment for that reason.

When the rain is over..

I love the smell of after-rain air: it's fresh, it's sweet with beaten blossom, it's sticky a little with summer leaves. And peculiar scent of wet asphalt - what a delightful thing!

P.S. More photos on my extension site.

Pollened

Remember I told you about pine and fir pollen that fills the air these days? Well, now it's the time to illustrate my story. This is not dust in the sunbeam, this is pollen (enlarge the photo to see details).

Birches

Birch groves are remarkably beautiful regarfless of the season, and what I like about Moscow climate is the presence of these trees. This photo was taken in Botanical Garden, where a number of ponds is framed with delicate grace of birches.

Moscow Metro: Sokol station

Another example of old metro station. This is Sokol, open in 1938 on the same line as Dinamo. Like most stations, it's rather dark but I like the architecture. Sokol was named after a village where artists used to live. Nowadays Sokol is a nice piece of rural life in the middle of modern city, I will try to capture those quiet blocks for you.
Sokol station is surrounded by a number of parks and Stalin-era houses, both entrances face Leningradsky highway - one of the busiest streets in Moscow. I used to live not far from here and I loved this area, although significant changes (unpleasant to me) touched it lately.

A trail which leads to ... summer?

It's quite easy to find a green spot in Moscow, especially in old blocks. Nevertheless, I have a number of my favourite place to go for a piece of nature. One of them is Botanical Garden. Found in 1945, vey soon it became extremely popular with people. From my point of view, it looks the best in late spring and early summer, when everything is in bloom and a colourful variety of blossoms is met by every glance.

P.S. Another version on my extension site

The stub

It's been a chilly day, although sun showed up by the evening. Anyway, it's summertime so enjoy your weekend!

Theme Day: A view from my bedroom

So today is the Theme Day, and my task was to show you the view from my bedroom. Here is it. As you see, it can hardly be called a 'fair prospect' but those houses are the only thing available to my sight. Well, if you come very close to the window and look down, you'd be able to see the playground, a metalic roof of the small store, a near-by road and a few more uninteresting details.

Other cities participating: Seattle (WA), USA - Manila, Philippines - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Singapore, Singapore - Toruń, Poland - Baton Rouge (LA), USA - Seoul, Korea - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Vantaa, Finland - Madison (WI), USA - Saarbrьcken, Germany - Cleveland (OH), USA - Chicago (IL), USA - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Omaha (NE), USA - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Melbourne, Australia - Stockholm, Sweden - Grenoble, France - Lubbock (TX), USA - Boston (MA), USA - Arradon, France - Hyde, UK - Joplin (MO), USA - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Kansas City (MO), USA - Naples (FL), USA - Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina - Manila, Philippines - Sydney, Australia - Stavanger, Norway - Bucaramanga (Santander), Colombia - London, UK - Chandler (AZ), USA - Nelson, New Zealand - Singapore, Singapore - Hamburg, Germany - Sydney, Australia - Tenerife, Spain - Moscow, Russia - Lyon, France - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Villigen, Switzerland - Anderson (SC), USA - Oslo, Norway - Evry, France - Hayle, UK - Mumbai, India - Kitakami, Japan - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Los Angeles (CA), USA - Cypress (TX), USA - La Antigua, Guatemala - Paderborn, Germany - San Diego (CA), USA - Ampang (Selangor), Malaysia - Madrid, Spain - Lyon, France - Selma (AL), USA - Shanghai, China - Baziиge, France - Cologne (NRW), Germany - North Bay (ON), Canada - Rotterdam, Netherlands - Stayton (OR), USA - Sharon (CT), USA - Austin (TX), USA - Hong Kong, China - Trier, Germany - Joensuu, Finland - Paris, France - Greenville (SC), USA - Wailea (HI), USA - Budapest, Hungary - Cork, Ireland - Bastia, France - Vancouver, Canada - Brookville (OH), USA - Jakarta, Indonesia - Mainz, Germany