Jam

There was a food show in Moscow this past weekend, so I decided to check it out. I found this stand selling jam and honey, and a few candies as well. All the jam was homemade, and it was quite good. There seemed to be every flavor of jam imaginable - and two from berries I've never even heard of (калина and облепиха)! 

posted by Ashira

Brass Band in Aleksandrovsky Garden

Every week-end in May the military brass bands were holding 2-hour concerts near Kremlin and on Poklonnaya Gora, celebrating the Victory day and continuing the tradition of the previous years.
I was in time for the last show of May 2010.

Do you know how live brass music is useful for your head and soul? I attach Youtube video-therapy :-)))

Posted by Irina
 

Snow?

There's white stuff falling from the sky! Nope, it's not snow... it's pukh! Pukh is what the Russians call the seeds of a poplar tree after they've turned into fluffy white puffs. Annoying is what I call them :) I feel like I'm living inside of a snowglobe right now! The pukh is EVERYWHERE, and it's quite a curious sight, as you can see by this boy's expression. It really does look like it's snowing. Everywhere you go, inside or outside, you're greeted with pukh in your eyes, mouth, nose, and/or drink. I'm very glad my windows have screens - at least I'm safe in my aparment!

posted by Ashira

Now and Then

The painting of famous Russian artist Ap.Vasnetsov (Short info in English and site about him in Russian with most of his paintings - if you click the column with numbers 1-6 at the right of the site page) .
And my early spring photo of the same place, the pond near Novodevichy. Behind the pond is Moskva-river, well seen in the painting and hidden in my photo.

It is very interesting how the surroundings changed since 1926. I will keep on posting the Moscow this way, I hope you will enjoy Russian art and changes in the city.



Posted by Irina

Under construction

I found this church a few days ago - it's fun to see it being built. I'm trying to imagine what it will look like when it's finished... What color will it be? How many domes will it have? Will they be gold or painted? One can only wonder!

Troitsa

Last Sunday there was the Christian holiday, Pentecost, when all churches were decorated with birch branches. I did these photos inside the church of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Old Simonov.
Google map.
Photos from the church's site (RUS).

Posted by Irina

Following my post about the chess players in the park: no, I am not a chess fan, I am more a Tetris person :-)) . By the way, I have just realised that tetris was born in Moscow.

Missing something?

This is the Church of Simeon Stolpnik, and it's missing something. Can you see what it is? If you need a hint,  click here to see the picture I posted here in January.

posted by Ashira

Chess Fans

Chess was very popular in the Soviet Union. So the fans of the game still gather in parks and play this challenging logical game.
They are so beautiful, these serious and absorbed in the game people.

Posted by Irina

Moscow City

This collection of modern highrise buildings is called Moscow City. As far as I know they're all office buildings, or it will be when they're finished!  Funding seems to be a major issue (although really, where is it not an issue?) so work keeps being postponed. Maybe in the next 5 years all of the buildings will be complete?

posted by Ashira

Tournament

The idea of today's post was suggested by Ineke, Rotterdam Daily Photo (great photoblog about Netherlands!). Her son is a member of water-polo junior team, arrived to Moscow for few days to participate in the water polo tournament. The tournament was dedicated to the 80-th anniversary of the "Torpedo" pool.

Ineke wrote to me and asked to take a photograph of the boys. This opportunity is a great proof of how the Internet, and especially the City Daily Photo community give us new friends and make far countries closer.

And few facts about this place in Moscow:
This gray monster was built in 1920, 3 years after the revolution. In Soviet times it belonged to the ZIL plant, trucks maker and was built for employees of the plant. The outside and inside of the building is a typical example of Soviet architecture. I recommend to visit it for those who want to feel the spirit of the USSR.



Google map.


Posted by Irina

Inside St. Basil's again

Here's another snapshot of the inside of Saint Basil's. May 15 was the "Night of the Museums" here in Moscow, so I got to go inside again for free!

posted by Ashira

Across the Bridge

I have climbed up the bridge across the Moscow-River, hoping to make interesting photos of city's panorama. On the way back I photographed a passing stranger, and, after returning home, I realized that this picture is more interesting for me than the Moskva-River. 

I also enclose the river, please choose which subject is more interesting for you.

And the bridge. If someone had told me six month ago that I would turn into curious photo-hunter climbing the bridges, I would consider him a great joker. It is all Moscow photoblog's fault!... 


Posted by Irina.


I've almost forgot:
Google map

Going up

This is an escalator in the Rimskaya metro station. It's a bit more modern looking than some of the other stations, but that's because it opened in 1995. Many of the stations have these strange lights in them, maybe they had them left over from earlier years?

And to answer everyone's questions about Fisheria - It looked like it was a restaurant. I wasn't hungry, and I'm not really a fish person, so I didn't go inside. I'll make another trip to find out for sure, and I'll let you all know when I do!

posted by Ashira

Under the Sun

I made this photo in Moscow State Academy of Industrial and Applied Arts named after S.Stroganov ( who founded it in 1825). I am sure this girl is famous artist or designer to be. Or both.
The circle in the upper part of the window holds the "1920-1927 VHUTEMAS" inscription, the name of the school in first years after revolution.

The second photo is the decoration around the side stairs inside the building. Very artistic.

Google map.
Site of the Academy.

Posted by Irina

Fisheria

This place is called 'Fisheria'. Now, I'm familiar with the word pizzeria, but fisheria - that's a new one for me! It was a funny place to come across on my walk two days ago! Even the building is different - it's a small stand alone single story building - something I haven't seen much of in Moscow yet, other than some grocery stores.

posted by Ashira

Dom Mosselproma

This "Dom Mosselproma" is one of the first after-revolution constructed multystoried buildings, in 1923. Mosselprom was state organisation aiming to supervise the processing of the agricultural products and the signes on the building were aiming to advertise the venture (Mosselprom, yeast, cigarettes, beer and drinks, cookies, candy, chocolate).

Now it is the monument to Russian architactural constructivism and avant-garde styles.
Actually, the construction was started before revolution, in 1912, but one year later the corner wall of 5 storey building collapsed. Unfinished building was given to Mosselprom in 1923, then it got its modern appearance.

I want to add to its special look the painting of the place by Soviet artist Varvara Stepanova (more paintings of Moscow attractions here).

Google map.
Wiki (in Rus).

Posted by Irina

Happy 75th, Moscow Metro!

On May 15, 1935 the first metro stations were opened for daily use. The station pictured here, Chisitie Prudiy, was one of the original stations. The big white letters on top of the building (МЕТРО) spell metro in Russian. That's the original sign, from 75 years ago!

In the picture on the left, you see the metro doors, with stickers on them. These stickers are everywhere! I love them. It's a cartoon of the metro map. The sticker with 65 written on it was for Victory Day on May 9th.

In the picture on the right, you see the special retro metro card they were selling today. It was good for one ride. 

posted by Ashira

Bridge of Sighs

Sometimes ugly things attract even more attention then the beautiful ones.

This passage between two buildings is located on an island in the center of Moscow. It is the confectionery plant founded in 1867 (the red bricks belong to that time). The island smelled of vanilla, but now the smell slowly disappears, because the factory is slowly carried away and replaced by art galleries, art shops and restaurants.
The place is so unique, we will post more of it for sure.

The factory was completed in Soviet times and the passage is one of the proofs. Maybe its author was inspired by the Bridge of Sighs in Venice. Anyway, I thought about Venice when did the photo :-)
I will try to get inside, promise.

Google map.

Posted by Irina.

Church of Saint Nicholas the Miracle Worker

This church was built between 1741-1759, and had some reconstruction done in 1890. In the early 1930s the church was closed for worship, and didn't reopen until 1992. The original icon was transferred to the Tretyakov Gallery in 1933, and I'm not sure if it's still there now, or if it was returned to the church when it reopened?

posted by Ashira

Vorontsovsky Park

Today I drove along the Vorontsovsky park and decided to stop, take a walk and do some shots for my dear blog.
This place is known as the manorial estate of Vorontsov family. The estate flowering falls on the 18th -19th century. During the Soviet era mansion was destroyed and what we see today - the result of restoration work, completed in 2007.

The church was restored a little earlier, in the early 90's of 20th century.

Nice place in the south-west of Moscow with cascade of ponds.

Google map

 

Posted by Irina

Church of Martyr George

This is the Church of Martyr George. It's part of the Victory Park complex, which is a large and sprawling park. It was built to honor the people who died fighting to defend Russia, and was opened on May 6, 1995.

Posted by Ashira.

The Victory Day 2

Yesterday, Russia very widely celebrated the 65th anniversary of the victory in the World War 2. It is the  photo of the part of the scenery on the Vorobievy (Sparrow) Hills. This Soviet flag - a copy of one of the victorious banners of the Red Army in 1945.

And I want to add to my previous post about the red (picturesque) bridge. You asked me what is this thing, looking like an ellipsein the top of the bridge. It is the would be restaurant. I shall be very afraid of the height, but for sure will go there when the restaurant opens :-)

Posted by Irina

Victory Day

Today was Victory Day, the day that Russia celebrates the victory over Nazi Germany in 1945. Here in Moscow, it's celebrated with a parade of a very impressive caravan of military weapons. Since this was the 65th anniversary of the victory, the parade included even more vehicles than ever before. I don't know for sure what this one is, but it was HUGE. It was really awesome to be able to see it up close!
p.s. - the banner says 'Happy Victory Day'. Translated directly from Russian it's actually "With Victory Day" - in Russian "with" is typically used the way that "happy" is used in English.
posted by Ashira.

Zhivopisny Most

The bridge over the Moscow River was opened in December 2007. And soon became one of the city's attractions. Its name translates as picturesque bridge. And it is located in very fragile place, Serebrany Bor, forest reserve, full of lakes and pine trees.

Wiki.

Map.

Posted by Irina

Embassy of Belarus

This isn't your typical building - it's decorated with statues! Please click on the image to make it larger so that you can get a closer look at all of the statues.

posted by Ashira

Photographers All Around Us

The lady is making photos during the biannual Photo exhibition in Manezh.

The tourists are making photos of Moscow attractions in outdoor sculpture museum.

The young journalist makes her reporting about the cardboard exhibition.

Posted by Irina





PS following the other day post: Jan from Greensboro Daily Photo asked me to post photos from cemetery of Novodevichy. I have been there, but the place depressed me, so I left without photos. That is why I put detailed link to the wiki page of Novodevichy cemetery with many links to further photos. Sorry, Jan.

Kremlin

Part of the Kremlin and its' churches, as seen from the riverbank on the other side of the the Moskva River. 

No explanation needed :)

posted by Ashira

Novodevichy

The visit to the Novodevichy Convent brings peace and quiet to the heart.

The convent was founded in 1524 to celebrate the capture of town Smolensk over Principality of Lithuania. The place was the cloister for the most noble Russian women, the members of tzar  and boyar families. The most known among them is Princess Sophia (the address of my previous post photo's inscriptions), the mastermind of the rebellion to dispute the tzar title in 1689.
In 1812 French army had plans to blow up the convent, but failed (the fate wanted Novodevichy to see Soviets, I think).
In 1922 the Convent was closed and became the part of the History Museum. In 1994 the Convent reopened.

Wiki and Google map for more info.

Posted by Irina.