Russia Question - Red Square June 10th, Russian Independence Day June 12th
Jun 20th, 2007, 02:32 AM
#41
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FauxSteMarie - I was in Russia when I was 18 and I did go to Tretyakov Gallery then (sorry, I couldn't type the name with little sleep). I may have done the update on Fodors sooner then I should have.
This was my 2nd time to Russia. I saw far more my first time then this time.
I have no regrets about skipping Tretyakov Gallery this time and spending time in Red Square. This is one of the reasons why I did a river cruise (to get to Moscow/Red Square) as opposed to a cruise that just stops in St. Petersburg. Being back in Red Square this time was one of my highlights of my trip. Everyone has different interests and there is no way I wanted to spend another afternoon in a museum that day.
The friends I went with felt the same way - they didn't want to come all this way and not walk through Red Square. This "IS" the main attraction in Moscow.
This was my 2nd time to Russia. I saw far more my first time then this time.
I have no regrets about skipping Tretyakov Gallery this time and spending time in Red Square. This is one of the reasons why I did a river cruise (to get to Moscow/Red Square) as opposed to a cruise that just stops in St. Petersburg. Being back in Red Square this time was one of my highlights of my trip. Everyone has different interests and there is no way I wanted to spend another afternoon in a museum that day.
The friends I went with felt the same way - they didn't want to come all this way and not walk through Red Square. This "IS" the main attraction in Moscow.
Jun 20th, 2007, 10:45 AM
#43
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Theresa, to each his own, but I would not have missed the Tretnyakov. It was much more interesting than the Pushkin, by the way, if you went there. The Pushkin has the items from Troy (some say stolen from Troy, but all museums have "stolen" items).
I am glad you enjoyed your trip.
I am glad you enjoyed your trip.
Jun 21st, 2007, 08:44 PM
#44
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<<Theresa, to each his own, but I would not have missed the Tretnyakov.>>
<<Red Square did not have the same significance for me.>>
Truly unfortunate for you that Red Square was closed and you were not able to visit/experience it when you were in Moscow.
Hopefully, you'll have another opportunity, perhaps when you return for your Siberian railroad trip.
For us, anyway, the "significance" of standing in and walking all over Red Square just cannot be compared to any museum, or any place else on the planet.
It just could not be more "significant" to all the "baby boomers" who remember diving under their desks for "air raid drills" in elementary school and watched all those newsreels...wondering...
While the Tretnyakov was a magnificent experience for us, we would have gladly opted for a visit to Red Square if we had to.
Red Square is one of those places where, when you see it on the news, on the Travel Channel, on the History Channel, in photos, positively takes your breath away, each and every time, when you recall actually being there yourself.
When we returned home, we had far fewer photos that we thought we had taken because we were too busy looking all around. It wasn't St. Basil's, or the side of the Kremlin adjacent, or GUM, or Lenin's Tomb... Thankfully, the videographer on our Viking tour did a magnificent job of capturing all.
Please note that the Kremlin is the WALL, on side of which borders Red (which translates as "beautiful"
Square, the Armory is within the Kremlin, there is only one "government building" (and it is within the Kremlin and used for concerts nowadays).
<<By the way I found nothing so overwhelming about the architecture in Red Square>>
So, you were unimpressed with the Kazan Cathedral, Resurrection Gate, Iberian Chapel, Lubnoe Mesto, Iverskaya Chapel...? Even though Red Square was closed when you were there?
You might want to visit Wikipedia.com re: the Nazis and Red Square.
<<Red Square did not have the same significance for me.>>
Truly unfortunate for you that Red Square was closed and you were not able to visit/experience it when you were in Moscow.
Hopefully, you'll have another opportunity, perhaps when you return for your Siberian railroad trip.
For us, anyway, the "significance" of standing in and walking all over Red Square just cannot be compared to any museum, or any place else on the planet.
It just could not be more "significant" to all the "baby boomers" who remember diving under their desks for "air raid drills" in elementary school and watched all those newsreels...wondering...
While the Tretnyakov was a magnificent experience for us, we would have gladly opted for a visit to Red Square if we had to.
Red Square is one of those places where, when you see it on the news, on the Travel Channel, on the History Channel, in photos, positively takes your breath away, each and every time, when you recall actually being there yourself.
When we returned home, we had far fewer photos that we thought we had taken because we were too busy looking all around. It wasn't St. Basil's, or the side of the Kremlin adjacent, or GUM, or Lenin's Tomb... Thankfully, the videographer on our Viking tour did a magnificent job of capturing all.
Please note that the Kremlin is the WALL, on side of which borders Red (which translates as "beautiful"
Square, the Armory is within the Kremlin, there is only one "government building" (and it is within the Kremlin and used for concerts nowadays).<<By the way I found nothing so overwhelming about the architecture in Red Square>>
So, you were unimpressed with the Kazan Cathedral, Resurrection Gate, Iberian Chapel, Lubnoe Mesto, Iverskaya Chapel...? Even though Red Square was closed when you were there?
You might want to visit Wikipedia.com re: the Nazis and Red Square.
Jun 21st, 2007, 09:21 PM
#45
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A 'kremlin' is a town's fortified stronghold and is surrounded by a wall. The first Kremlin in Moscow was constructed in the 1150s and was surrounded by a low wooden wall. In the 1320s the Kremlin became the headquarters of the Russian Church wich was moved from Vladimir.
There is more than one 'government building' within the kremlin besides the Palace of Congress. The office of the Russian president are located in the former Senate building, next to the Senate is the Supreme Soviet building, also the Poteshny Palace where Stalin lived.
Other government buildings are the Arsenal, not to be confused with the Armoury and the Great Kremlin Palace.
Most of the government buildings are located on the north side of the Kremlin, north of the Tsar Bell and Cannon.
You can find a Kremlin in most of the old Russian cities and towns.
There is more than one 'government building' within the kremlin besides the Palace of Congress. The office of the Russian president are located in the former Senate building, next to the Senate is the Supreme Soviet building, also the Poteshny Palace where Stalin lived.
Other government buildings are the Arsenal, not to be confused with the Armoury and the Great Kremlin Palace.
Most of the government buildings are located on the north side of the Kremlin, north of the Tsar Bell and Cannon.
You can find a Kremlin in most of the old Russian cities and towns.
Jun 21st, 2007, 09:36 PM
#46
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Yes, and the signs around the Kremlin are the only ones you will see in Russia (or at least that I saw) that were in both Cyrillic and English letters. When you buy a map in Russia, be sure you get one in Cyrillic. English language maps are totally useless. You cannot compare them to the street signs.
Anyone going to Russia, would be wise to get familiar with the Russian alphabet before going so he can decode the signs. You do not need to speak Russian. You just need to match up the letters.
Anyone going to Russia, would be wise to get familiar with the Russian alphabet before going so he can decode the signs. You do not need to speak Russian. You just need to match up the letters.
