Goodbye, summer!

Let's face the fact: the summer is over. I'm back from my vacation in South Russia just on time to catch last warmth of fading sunlight. Trees began to turn, and days are surprisingly short. Well, autumn can be beautiful in its way, too.

Railways

There is not much of railways going through the Moscow center so when you find a piece it's always interesting. Well, not the very heart of the city but close enough.
This photograph was taken in the neighbourhood of Belorusskiy railroad terminal. As you can see, some apartment building are within a stone throw of railways! I always wondered how residents could bear such noise and shake.

Moscow metro

It's been a while since I took you to Moscow underground. Well, now it's time to fix it. Please meet Aeroport station as it is.

Hotel The Soviet

The Soviet hotel was built around famous restaurant 'Yar' in 1952. Luxurious apartments were used as goverment residence, and nowadays this grand building receives most prominent guests. As you can see, the hotel still keeps to Soviet symbolics.

Junction

This is the junction of two very busy highways of Moscow: the Third Ring Road and Leningradskiy Prospect. I was always fascinated by the curves such junction make. How do they build such thing?!

Looking upward

This brand-new concrete-and-glass building is a business center. It's only partly occupied so far though I expect more companied to move is soon. In fact, that's where my office is.

Bell-tower

This is the same church as yesterday but now I focused on the bell-tower. The roof replacement is nearly done, as you can see.

Church: view from the other side

Remember all those cupolas and towers I showed you from my office? Well, that's how this church looks from the ground level. There is a lot of constuction works going around and they block the view, but still you may be able to get an idea.

Gone with the wind

Well, not really. I thought of escaping the forthcoming autumn as long as possible so I'm going for vacation down South. I mean to get one week delay in dealing with cold and rains so wish me luck!

P.S. The posting will be continued automatically.

Green Corner

The term 'green corner' is generally used to indicate a section within the office where a number of pot plants are organised to provide some kind of the rest area. At least, it was so during Soviet Era. Or am I mistaken in my memory?
Anyway, I liked that green bench among the green (yet!) foliage of bushes and trees. This is not a park but a boulevard that goes along one of the busiest streets of Moscow - Leningradskiy Prospect.

Leningradskiy Prospect

Today is the coldest day since I don't remember when! The only good thing about it (about today, I mean) is that it's Friday :)

Enjoy your week-end! Hope the weather in your place is better than here.

Clear sign of autumn

Although August is not quite over yet, leaves are turning yellow. Added cold and rainy weather, you get full illusion of autumn being already here...

Did I tell you about national Russian entertainment called 'Cut off hot-water supply'? Well, I'll tell you now.
So every summer hot-water supply in apartment buildings is turned off for about 3 week. The exact period varies from district to district: for example, in my home it began last Tuesday and will last for 14 days only. Most households, however, don't keep a boiler of their own so whenever you need any amount of hot water you need to warm (or boil) it, then mix in some kind of tank and then use it. Forget about shower! You'll have to use a bath, that is if you've got one and had enough patience to boil necessary amount of water. Most amusing experience, I should admit.
Well, probably I should be thankful for not having to carry buckets of water from far-away well...

Construction works

While city officials try to make it more comfortable (in who's opinion, I wonder?) nearby residents suffer of permanent noise, broken paths and other inconvenience.

By the house entrance...

Gossips

On fine days the benches by apartment buildings are usually occupied by elderly ladies. Who make their best of local talks, of course.

Rainy day

It's been raining since yesterday morning. As I already told you, the summer is clearly gone...

Riping

Well, talking of summer: it seems to be gone. What left is just a bunch of photograph...

On the subject of leaving summer: late afternoon in a courtyard framed by apartment blocks of Moscow outskirts.

Black chokeberry

Although days please us with warmth and sunlight, you already can smell the autumn in every gesture of the nature. Riping chokeberry is one of them...

Last warm days of leaving summer are quiet and peaceful in Moscow outskirts.

St. Simeon Stylites Church

I believe I already posted a photo of this church before but it will do no harm if I show one more.

So this is Simeon Stylites church located in the intersection of Povarskaya and New Arbat streets, in Moscow downtown. First, wooden, building was created in 1625 to celebrate Boris Godunov's wedding. Modern, stone, version was built over 50 years later, in 1679. After Revolution of 1917 it was neglected and nearly destroyed. But in 1966, when making the new street of Kalinin Prospect (now New Arbat), the church was restored though it wasn't returned to Orthodoxs until early 1990s.

Nowadays it's one of the beautiful specimen of old Russian architecture among modern skyscraping masses of glass and concrete.

Pink Sunday

And more of pink roses for you today! And another picture on my extension site.

Pink Saturday

This weekend on Moscow Daily Photos is going to be a Pink one!
I hope, a bee on roses will colourise your day while I'm on my visit to country.

That orange poppy is exactly what's needed to cheer one up on a dull a cold day like today. Oh yes, summer remains but a dream in Moscow. Hope it's better in your place.

And have a good weekend!

Dmitry Prilustkiy's Church

This church was built for teaching hospitals in 1880. The neighbourhood belongs to the oldest medical school in Russia, now called Sechenov Medical Academy of Moscow. The temple was created in Byzantine style and its appearance is quite different to other Russian churches.

Novodevichiy

Yet another photo of Novodevichiy Convent. As I told you earlier, it's one of the oldest monasteries not only in Moscow (and in Russia). It miraculously survived Napoleon's army intrusion in 1812, October Revolution a century later and even 70 years of Soviet Era.

The cemetery at Novodevichiy is also a point of interest: till our days it remains a place where most distiguished people find their final abode.

Novodevichiy

As anonymous visitor justly noted yesterday, the correct word for Novodevichiy would be not 'monastery' but 'convent'. Thank you!

So today I present one more photo of Novodevichiy convent. Like Sharon said, the whole structure looks more like a fortress. That's because, I believe, most medieval monasteries in most countries were built as citadels, in the first place; hence those mighty walls and heavy gates. And today's photo shows both gates and the church above.

Novodevichiy Monastery

I'm sure, most of you heard about Novodevichiy Monastery in Moscow. Found in early XVI century, it was the richest and most privileged monastery not only in Moscow area, but in the whole Russia. All nuns were of distinguished birth, and a number of tsar's unwanted relatives (including wives) found their 'accomodation' here. Apart from its noble history, Novodevichiy is famous for its beautiful churches, towers and other buildings of significant age.

I'm back

Well, I'm back from London. The city is fabulous! I was absolutely fascinated, in spite of terrible weather (looks like London summer is as bad as Moscow one) and other pieces of bad luck (nothing serious, though). By the way, I didn't find British that wild as you warned me. May be that's because I had my husband to protect me at all times :)

To put it in a few word, I loved my London vacation. Too bad it was so short!

Theme day: Night

For August Theme day, dedicated to Night, I have chosen that photo of a crescent taken some while back. I beleive this is the best night photograph I've taken so far.

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