system here is beautifully designed, complete with marble floors and chandelier lighting. Each stop has a different look.Our stop was at Red Square. We walked and talked with Anna, she is very knowledgeable of the history of Moscow. We watched the changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier. Very cool. The Kremlin was closed to visitation for the day, so Anna said we could try again tomorrow or Saturday.
We stopped a St. Basil's Cathedral for a visit. The building is fascinating. The age of the 
structure itself is amazing. The artwork in each of the seven chapels are very old. The history of of our country, though old, can't hold a candle to the "centuries" of history here. Anna was very informative about the Russian Orthodox Religion as we walked through the different chapels and she spoke about the Icons (the pictures painted of the Saints, Holy Family, etc), as well as the Relics (St Basil's bones in a tomb).
structure itself is amazing. The artwork in each of the seven chapels are very old. The history of of our country, though old, can't hold a candle to the "centuries" of history here. Anna was very informative about the Russian Orthodox Religion as we walked through the different chapels and she spoke about the Icons (the pictures painted of the Saints, Holy Family, etc), as well as the Relics (St Basil's bones in a tomb).Outside St. Basil's, across Red square, we could see the clock tower entrance to the Kremlin and Lenin's tomb. We chose not to visit Lenin's tomb, kind of creepy, and a long line.
We then walked to Christ the Saviour Cathedral, once destroyed by Stalin in 1930 to make way 
for a skyscraper. When it was later discovered the soil was too soft to support such a structure, a swimming pool was built. In 1997, a new cathedral was opened. The inside of this building is beautiful with much painting and sculpting of marble, and an exact replica of the building that Stalin had demolished. We spent a lot of time inside just marveling at the design and dedication to detail. Services are held daily in the Lower level, and for special occasions- like Christmas, and the holiest of all days- Easter, upstairs.
for a skyscraper. When it was later discovered the soil was too soft to support such a structure, a swimming pool was built. In 1997, a new cathedral was opened. The inside of this building is beautiful with much painting and sculpting of marble, and an exact replica of the building that Stalin had demolished. We spent a lot of time inside just marveling at the design and dedication to detail. Services are held daily in the Lower level, and for special occasions- like Christmas, and the holiest of all days- Easter, upstairs. After a quick trip back on the Metro, we had dinner at Sabarro's Moscow style with Anna. She seemed as interested in us and what life is like for us in the states as we were in her and what life is like in Russia.
We are now sitting in our room, catching up on email and recording the days events, looking forward to what tomorrow may hold.
Did I mention that the bed is comfortable? Oh, and we have a towel warmer in the bathroom- helps in the drying of clothes when you wash them in the sink :)
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