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Day 15 July 14: - Novodevichy Cemetery - Moscow Metro
Today our journey took us to the expansive view of Moscow from the vantage of <Sparrow Hills>, formerly called the Lenin Hills. These hills overlook the city from a steep bank on the south side of the river and provide a view of the famed Moscow State University, one of the scientific centers of Russia.
Novodevichy Cemetery
Our next stop was a visit to be place where people are dying to get in. Novodevichy (New Maiden) Cemetery is the final resting place for Russian luminaries: politicians (Yeltsin, Khrushchev, Gromyko,, Gorbachev) writers (Chekhov, Gogol) actors (Yuri Nikulin [clown], Galina Ulanova [dance], composers (Shostakovich) and military officers. <Novodevichy Cemetery 1> <Novodevichy Cemetery 2>
After visiting with the famous people at the we did sightseeing on the Moscow Metro (subway to us New Yorkers.) The stations were designed with its ability to provide mass propaganda to its riders.
Moscow Metro
The opened in 1935 with one 6.8 mile line and 13 stations. As of 2013, the <Moscow Metro> has 190 stations and a route of 197.3 miles. The system is mostly underground, with the deepest section 243 feet below grade (Park Pobedy station.) In 2012 the Moscow Metro was the world's second most heavily used rapid transit system after the Seoul Korea Metropolitan Subway. The Metro operates from 5:30am to 1:00am and carries 7 – 9 million riders per day.
The Moscow Metro was one of the USSR’s most extravagant architectural projects. Stalin ordered the metro’s artists and architects to design a structure that embodied radiance or brilliance and a radiant future. With their reflective marble walls, high ceilings and grandiose chandeliers, many Moscow Metro stations have been likened to an “artificial underground sun”. This underground communist paradise reminded its riders that Stalin and his party had delivered something substantial to the people in return for their sacrifices. Most importantly, proletarian labor produced this radiant future.
Day 16 July 15: -Moscow Moscow Arbat Street
Today is our final day in Moscow and an end to our Russian river/canal trip from St Petersburg to Moscow. Because the ship’s crew needs to get it ready for the next group of travelers we spent the morning on Arbat Street. This is our second time exploring Arbat Street. This time we had more time to explore the shops and buildings on the street.
Arbat Street
<Arbat Street> or commonly referred to as the Arbat, is a pedestrian street about one kilometer long in the historical centre of Moscow. The Arbat has existed since at least the 15th century, thus laying claim to being one of the oldest surviving streets of the Russian capital.
In the 18th century, the Arbat came to be regarded by the Russian nobility as the most prestigious living area in Moscow. The street was almost completely destroyed by the great fire during Napoleon's occupation of Moscow in 1812 and had to be rebuilt. In the 19th and early 20th centuries it became known as the place where petty nobility, artists, and academics lived. In the Soviet period, it was the home of many high-ranking government officials.
O nce again Arbat Street is considered a desirable place to live. Because of the many historic buildings, and the numerous artists who have lived and worked in the street, the Arbat is also an important tourist attraction.
After a few hours on Arbat Street (and lunch at Hard Rock Café) we transfer to the Moscow airport for our flight to Kiev Ukraine. The capital of Ukraine, Kiev is a fascinating ancient city with some remarkable buildings that date to the eleventh century. Built along the Dnieper River, Kiev is both a modern gateway city to Ukraine and a historic town that blends commercial streets with narrow byways in its Old Town. ---------------END OF RUSSIA RIVER CRUISE DESCRIPTIONS --------------