Finally we arrived in Moscow. Since we have a connecting flight from here to Elena’s home city of Chelyabinsk we thought we would spend a few hours on the Historic Red Square in the heart of Moscow.
As our flight from Berlin landed at 3am we had to bunk down at the airport for a couple of hours before the first city bound train at 6am.
Finding a seat to get some sleep took some doing as everyone else had the same idea. The only seats that gave us enough room were next to an old bag lady who appeared to be homeless. By the smell coming from her food bag it’s a wonder she wasn’t thrown out by security. But I guess everyone need shelter and she seemed harmless. We settled in next to her and shared the bench seat for the hours that followed.
Not that I was uncomfortable with our bag lady friend, I just couldn’t get comfortable on the bench. While Elena slept, I just watched through the window at the first specks of grey blossom into colour and through to dawn.
Morning was here and with my stomach empty due to the fact I slept through the dinner served on the plane, I needed breakfast. Waking Elena and stressing I was really hungry we set off for an airport cafe. Of which there seemed to be two. Service was lousy, the waitress was more interested in folding napkins and when she moved every step seemed to be an effort.
Soon we were full of pancakes and making our way to the first departing train and bound for Moscow CBD.
Working out which metro station to get disembark the train we realized we had arrived into the city center during rush hour and the jostling of people hurriedly catching trains for work.
there is an advantage of being on Red Square so early in the morning, you pretty much get the square to yourself. From a photographers point of view this is a blessing if you want a nice clean shot without people. I just clicked away for a couple of hours as we walked around the square and down towards the river.
There are many famous landmarks here, St Basil’s Cathedral is the most beautiful, The Kremlin flanked by Lenin’s Tomb. On the opposite side is Gum the old state department store and the Moscow Museum of history. All of which are well worth a visit. Just remember all attractions opens at 10am and if you want to see Lenin, don’t stand by the entrance gate on Red Square, head around behind the History Museum, but be prepared for a long wait.
There is talk that Lenin will be taken from this place and given a grave somewhere in the city as the costs to the city is huge to keep the tomb open.
As we only had a few hours and time wad a commodity that we didn’t want to waste we skipped the cue and wandered into Gum.
This place is huge, Gum has everything including a marble lined historical toilet that will pull 3eu out of your arse. All the leading brands are here for those that want them. Not for me. I can’t see the point in putting on a piece of cloth that is made in some poor country and paying top dollar for the privilege.
Sitting down to bread rolls stuffed with cabbage and washed down with Pepsi it soon dawned on us that we had to make tracks back to the Airport.
Our plane departed at 5pm and it was now going 2pm.
Stopping quickly to look at the marquees and little kiosk’s laden full of souvenirs I spied a cap and forked over the 6eu needed. By the way in Russia it’s Rubles for currency, just using Euros for reference.
With photos done and souvenirs in hand we were soon back were we started. The bag lady had moved on and we briskly raced on board our Siberian Air flight bound for Chelyabinsk.
Home to Elena’s family at last.
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