Grey Day's Beauties

The view from Gorky Street Tverskaya at Historical museum.
Red Square and Kremlin are behind the historical museum building. 

My posts are scheduled, not much activity in the blog.
I am so glad that people are at the streets at last.
Links to the photos of the Saturday in Moscow are here:
http://raskalov-vit.livejournal.com/122111.html
http://www.ridus.ru/news/14365/
http://zyalt.livejournal.com/492713.html

Oxygen!

The sky is cleared, it is blue and so beautiful. The only good point of the passed disaster is that I could compare the life with oxygen and without it, very sobering experience I must say, helps to see the main :-)))
I just wonder where these clouds are now.

I did this photo of the entrance to Red Square at the sunset, my and my camera's most favorite time of the day. You have seen this place million times, I am sure. But it was such a pleasure to look at people walking and enjoying fresh air and summer and making tours to the Red Square.

Thank you again for all the concern and support and warmth we received here, in Moscow blog.

Posted by Irina

It's a Giant!

This larger than lifesize doll stands in front of Red Square. She isn't quite as big as she looks in this picture, but she is still a giant! I think that she was part of the Maslenitsa celebrations - but she's still standing today, and the festivities ended yesterday - so I might be wrong. Someone please correct me if I am! Anyway, here's another picture taken from across the street to give you a more accurate idea of her size.

Souvenirs

Gift traders around Kremlin and Red Square are waiting for their customers. Their major take are foreign tourists, of course.

Red Square

Just another photo of Red Square taken on a fine spring day.

Past and Present

There is a fancy restaurant in the building of Historical Museum (I believe you can guess what prices are in fine dining at Red Square). The entrance is 'guarded' by a couple of dressed-up men representing guards of XVth-XVIth century. A bit of historical touch, you know.

On guard: taking photo

As you can see, it's not only tourists who get photographed in Red Square but even those who happened to be there in the call of duty.

Actors by Red Suare

Apart from monkeys and eagles, in the neighbourhood of Red Square you can find people pretending to look like historical characters. "Lenin", "Stalin", "Tsar Nicolai II" and other figures can be seen by Historical Museum offering their "services" for photographing. And quite often I see that services being in demand - like this time.

Tourist attractions

In many public places in Moscow you can meet vendors offering to get photographed with an animal. Most popular ones are monkey and piton, and sometimes eagle.
This monkey-'actor' is a habitant of Red Square surrounding and doesn't lack tourists' attention. Owners dress it in real clothes to make it look baby-like. It looks rather funny but I always feel desperately sorry for this little thing.

Today most Christians celebrate Easter and some contries even provide their people with extended week-end. Well, Russian Orthodox church will have Easter next Sunday, and there is no extra holiday on this occasion in Russia.
But today was a beautiful day in Moscow, warm and sunny. Temperature reached 10C for the first time this year, and I enjoyed watching cloudless sky and busy birds.

The photo represent Kazan Cathederal located in Red Square, next to Historical Museum. First mention of it is dated by 1625. Later the cathederal survived fire and numerous reconstruction, it became one of the most important churches in Moscow (and in Russia) until it was destroyed in 1936. In 1990-1993 the Cathederal (or, rather, exact copy) was rebuilt at its original location.

Historical Museum

If on a nice sunny day you look south-est from the top of Manege Square, you'll see something similar to this picture: Red Square ahead with Historical Museum on your left, Kremlin on your right and St.Basil's on the background.

My 500th post

Time definitely flies! Just started my blog, I suddenly found myself at 500th post. Five. Hundred. Posts.
I can't believe it.

Thank you for staying with me all along! I wouldn't make it without your support.

GUM

Once I already told you about 'main mall of Russia' - GUM, and now I present another photo of it. In fact, it's only now that I realized its resemblance to French architecture. Don't you think it looks slightly like a bit of Paris? :)

Moscow Kremlin: Spasskaya Tower

Today I'm going to present you another iconic photo of my city: Moscow Kremlin and one of its towers - Spasskaya. The clock on this tower is the main clock of the country. It is like 'Russian Big Ben'. This is the clock we see on every TV channel when New Year comes with a strike.

Abother picture on my extension site.

Theme Day: When People Think of My City They Think of...

Today is the 1st, and that means a Theme Day! February theme is a symbol of one's city. As you might remember, I ran a poll some time back and learned that people associate Moscow with St.Basil's in the first place. Well, here you go!

Enjoy another view on my extension site.

And don't forget to check out other participating cities:Portland (OR), USA - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Memphis (Tennessee), USA - Manila, Philippines - San Diego (CA), USA - Anderson (SC), USA - New York City (NY), USA - San Diego (CA), USA - Mexico City, Mexico - San Francisco (CA), USA - Mumbai (Maharashtra), India - Mainz, Germany - Weston (FL), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Turin, Italy - Las Vegas (NV), USA - Hobart (Tasmania), Australia - Bicheno, Australia - Durban, South Africa - Joplin (MO), USA - Nashville (TN), USA - Stockholm, Sweden - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Brussels, Belgium - Chicago (IL), USA - Montpellier, France - Seattle (WA), USA - Mazatlan, Mexico - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Sharon (CT), USA - Sesimbra, Portugal - Toulouse, France - Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina - Susanville (CA), USA - Maple Ridge (BC), Canada - Saint Louis (MO), USA - Prague, Czech Republic - Helsinki, Finland - Pilisvörösvár, Hungary - Lisbon, Portugal - Mexico (DF), Mexico - Trujillo, Peru - Dunedin (FL), USA - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Port Angeles (WA), USA - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - London, UK - Baziège, France - Jefferson City (MO), USA - Greenville (SC), USA - Selma (AL), USA - Mumbai, India - Naples (FL), USA - Norwich (Norfolk), UK - Silver Spring (MD), USA - Setúbal, Portugal - Stayton (OR), USA - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Sofia, Bulgaria - Arradon, France - Montego Bay, Jamaica - Athens, Greece - Austin (TX), USA - Singapore, Singapore - West Sacramento (CA), USA - Jackson (MS), USA - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Budapest, Hungary - Rotterdam, Netherlands - St Malo, France - Chandler (AZ), USA - Melbourne, Australia - Port Vila, Vanuatu - Cleveland (OH), USA - Nottingham, UK - Kansas City (MO), USA - The Hague, Netherlands - Crystal Lake (IL), USA - Wrocław, Poland - Chateaubriant, France - Cheltenham, UK - Moscow, Russia - Monrovia (CA), USA - Saigon, Vietnam - Toruń, Poland - Grenoble, France - Lisbon, Portugal - New Orleans (LA), USA - Sydney, Australia - Boston (MA), USA - American Fork (UT), USA - Boston (MA), USA - Montréal (QC), Canada - Wichita (KS), USA - Radonvilliers, France - Buenos Aires, Argentina - Christchurch, New Zealand - Rabaul, Papua New Guinea - Wailea (HI), USA - Aliso Viejo (CA), USA - St Francis, South Africa - Port Elizabeth, South Africa - Seattle (WA), USA - Pasadena (CA), USA - Vienna, Austria - Orlando (FL), USA - Torun, Poland - Delta (CO), USA - Santa Fe (NM), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Haninge, Sweden - Paris, France - Stavanger, Norway - Niamey, Niger - Le Guilvinec, France - Bogor, Indonesia - Saarbrücken, Germany - Auckland, New Zealand - Wellington, New Zealand - Budapest, Hungary - Juneau (AK), USA - Bucaramanga (Santander), Colombia - Glasgow, Scotland - Chicago (IL), USA - Jakarta, Indonesia - Adelaide (SA), Australia - Sydney, Australia - Riga, Latvia - Subang Jaya (Selangor), Malaysia - Terrell (TX), USA - Terrell (TX), USA - Inverness (IL), USA

Hystorical Museum

Main ice-arena of Russian Country

An ice-arena in Red Square is rather new inventment of Moscow authorities - this is but second or third winter when a public skating place was organized in the very heart of Russia. It's rather expensive entertainment, though, but as you can see there quite a few people wishing to skate by Kremlin walls.

GUM

GUM is an abbreviation for State Department Store. Located in Red Square, it can be called a main mall of Russian County. This place was a trade center since XVth century but the moderm building was built in 1893. Nowadays this mall presents a number of boutiques and expensive restaurants, there are only a few departments affordable for ordinary people. Anyway, its architecture is beautiful, and I like the way it was decorated for holidays.

Vasilevsky spusk

More postcard photos today: this place is also liked by tourists and, in fact, is a kind of 'backyard' of Red Square. The square between St.Basil's and Moscow-river is called Vasilevsky Spusk (The Basil's Downhill), and in the left part of the photo is Kremlin itself.

Also, today I present you my new blog where I will publish photos taken beyond the Moscow area. I started with my Cyprus trip (which would last for few dozen posts, I'm afraid) but I hope it wouldn't be limited with that trip only. So welcome, my friends!