Cityscape - Moscow

Short update:

I'm sorry that the story about my  recent trip to Moscow comes gradually and with long pauses. I'm busy with my two jobs (I didn't quit my first one which is now managed by a new owner. We're not being friends but we can work together for the sake of work, so I kept it. Besides, the new job does not require my time on a regular basis so I'd better be productive with both).  Another thing that keeps me busy is my Russian language classes. I've taken up private classes 2 years ago but it was very irregular. I had classes as I pleased. (bad student :) I have achieved some level but I guess it isn't enough. I'm taking it seriously this time. (new year's resolution *wink :)

Some photos from the downtown of Moscow. Those red towers are the towers of Moscow Kremlin. Now speaking of "Kremlin", please do not be confused because there is not only one Kremlin in Russia. For example, here where I live is also  Kremlin where the president of the Republic works and lives. You might have seen from my previous posts - it is white. While Moscow Kremlin is red. It is where the president if the Russian Federation lives and works at. It's more like "the Whitehouse" in the US. 

That's the river Moskva and beside it one of the main streets

I was standing on a bridge looking at those views.

On the other side is the continuation the river and the other side of the city away from the cith center.

Afar is the huge statue of Peter the Great- the great tsar who founded the city St.Petersburg. 

Peter the Great

He's my favorite guy in Russian history. 

Here's a closer look. That was all my zoom can do. I didn't bring any extra lens so...that's what I can share.

The pictures were all taken from the bridge. We didn't go neither to the Kremlin area (I've visited it in 2010) nor to where the statue was standing. It was cold & humid. As you can see from the pictures, there wasn't even sun. 

Next I'll show you what was on that bridge and why were we there exactly.

Thank you for being patient.

Subway/Underground/Metro

Moscow subway was built in 1935. It has 197 station. It is pretty deep with  74 meters (243 ft) underground, one of the worlds deepest.

Of course it's got several ornaments which are related the tge soviet past.

But also the interior design is very impressive. It's full of mosaics, statues and soaring arches.

 

These are just some pictures I was able to make from the station we had to go through. 

But below are some pictures I've taken from the internet. I wish I could just go round every station and make pictures ... well it's a subway not exactly a tourist spot so I guess it won't be that easy. Anyway, here are some gorgeous spots where I want to check next time I go.

And here's if you want to see more:

Moscow Subway

(please scroll down below the first picture from the site  you opened, there is more)

Trip to Moscow 2015

It's been 3 years since the last time I was in Moscow. I was excited about this trip, I've mentioned about it in my previous post. But my excitement swooped down on the day we were leaving.

It was Saturday... a day after Paris incident happened. And before that, there were text messages circulating about some warnings of such terr-act. I've heard the same from our friend in Moscow. Although later it was said in the news that those are just coming from fear-mongers, I couldn't not think about it. My excitement was replaced with worry. It wasn't the best time to be the country's capital, to be in the subway where there is always a big concentration of people. Nevertheless, we proceeded with our plan. Life goes on.

I was very much looking forward to take the double-decker train. It was my first time in it.

It was really nice. It was pretty exciting on the upper deck. There's a better view of the outside scenery. I love trains, especially newer and better ones. They've always got better restrooms. I can't complain about the beds, they're all good...even the ones from older trains. Oh, one thing about the double decker train is that the upper bed is a bit more cramped than usual ones. But if you're not planning to sit and do things there, then there shouldn't be any problem. To be honest, I like trains much more than planes. I sleep way better in the trains. It feels like a rocking chair or a cradle to me. Only if I could take train from Russia to Philippines, I think I would :)

Our journey was 10 hours. We arrived in Moscow very early in the morning and it felt like midnight. Agh dark and snowy...but beautiful.

To be continued ...