The Kremlin

Today started as most days, at 3 a.m. the sun begins to rise. This after it only set a couple of hours earlier. The 'city crows' start making a ruckus a 4 a.m. and their sounds only become muted when the Moscow rush hour begins at 4:30 a.m.

We left for our metro station at 10:20 a.m. We were to meet Tim and Meg Metzler with their newly adopted son, Finnian (whose Russian name was Kyrill). Our plan seemed simple enough, to meet them at 11 a.m. by Trinity Tower which marks the entrance to the Kremlin. At Noon, we decided to walk around to Red Square for lunch where we spotted the happy family. Kyrill is the best little boy. He just sits in his stroller and hangs out. He's so laid back it's amazing. (Let me point out that this will certainly NOT be like Sasha. He has given us every indication that he will be a non-stop handful from the time we pick him up until his 21st birthday. Will this keep us young???) Meg was scolded a couple of times for Kyrill's inappropriate dress. She had him in shorts and a t-shirt which is the U.S. summer outfit of choice. The babushkas will stop you and yell at you if your child isn't in long sleeves, long pants, shoes, a coat and a hat. Yes, the child may pass out from heat exhaustion but they believe that any breeze on a child is bad for them. Poor Kyrill was sweating even in his 'scanty' outfit. Meg was an excellent sport, nodded, smiled and went on her way.

We had lunch at One Red Square, a restaurant in the State Historical Museum. They re-create historic Russian dishes. We had mushrooms that were stewed in a barrel in the bottom of a lake as well as beef stroganoff.

After lunch we toured the main Kremlin museum, the Armoury, on our own using audioguides. The Armoury contains all of the Imperial Russian treasures including Faberge eggs, crowns, thrones, arms and armor, state carriages, and gold and silver servingware. The Metzlers left us after the Armoury as Kyrill was getting tired (or was that Tim? Bless their hearts, they are staying with their coordinator who has three cats, no screens, no air con, thin curtains and the famous 1 inch mattress that seems to be all the rage in Russia. Tim hadn't slept in three days. You remember my description of being 'done'. Tim is beyond 'done' at this point. They return home on Friday, lucky them.) We then toured the Diamond Fund, a museum within the Armoury, where they have the Crown Jewels including the famous Orlov Diamond (190 carats). As you enter the diamond fund, the coldest air that I've ever felt (possibly because we've been sweating non-stop for two weeks) hit us. There is a dark corner that I'm sure that if Mom and I curled up for a nap, we'd never be seen. Nathan didn't approve of this plan so we continued on.

By this time (well actually way before this but Nathan is a die hard sightseer which is an inherited trait I am sure) we were very hot and thirsty and went to a cafe for a drink. Nathan continued on to tour the Kremlin. There are a number of famous cathedrals in the Kremlin including:
Cathedral of the Assumption - where the Tsars of Russia were crowned
Cathedral of the Archangel - where all of the early Princes and Tsars of Russia are buried
Also inside the Kremlin are the Senate and Presidential Adminstraion.
All very nice, but Mom and I thoroughly enjoyed and I'm sure got just as much cultural exposure by sitting at the shaded cafe, drinking piva (beer), sparkling water and watching people go by. This seems a good time to talk about the people and what you see here.

First, we've talked about the impossibly pointy-toed shoes that everyone wheres here - men and women alike. The women wear very high shoes, have the thinnest bone frames we've ever seen (no, not the stocky, 'babushka' types that you may have in your head) and wear sheer blouses with black bras - if they wear any bra at all. The garments are very tight which I'm sure is appreciated by men everywhere. They seem completely unaffected by the intense sun, heat and humidity. It's all very healthy I'm sure.

We move into a hotel on Wednesday (thank God!) so postings may be light for the next couple of days as the Marriot Grande charges for their internet access. Das vidanya for now.