Posted Jan 5, 2012, 9:17 pm
Posted Jan 6, 2012, 9:35 pm
Posted Jan 7, 2012, 10:11 pm
Posted Jan 7, 2012, 10:13 pm
Posted Jan 9, 2012, 4:00 pm
Today I arrived at my new hosts in Austria and I already met interesting people and expecially the TV of my hosts Herb. Tomorrow I'm going to visit Vienna and do some sight seeing.
Posted Jan 24, 2012, 8:11 am
I have been in Austria now for a short time and the weather wasn't fine but my hosts took the sunny time to the forelock and we made a lots of funny things.
Next week the weather will be better and I will hopefully see Vienna.
Yours Bapab-Blu
Posted Feb 1, 2012, 3:05 pm
Today I visited the famous Ring-Straße in Vienna. I saw the Hofburg, the museum of natural history and the museum of art. It's so great here!
Next time we will go to the Prater and see the Riesenrad!
Posted Feb 4, 2012, 10:37 am
Today I visited the city hall of vienna and there I saw a theater play called "Batman live". It was so great.
Yours, Bapab-blu
Posted Feb 11, 2012, 10:09 am
For my last days in Austria my hostmum said it would be nice to have a photo with a typical Vienna sight.
Love you, Blu
Posted Feb 15, 2012, 11:51 am
Today it's my last day in Austria and I'm a little bit sad about it, but on the other hand hostmum told me that Russia is great country.
The day started very early because I wanted to see the Karl's church bevor I'm going to leave. But on my trip a can sleep for a while.
Love you mum!
Posted Mar 8, 2012, 3:48 pm
Now Erika Themouse is staying Trissa. I'm with it immediately became friends.
Trissa specifically for our baked cake with raisins. I ate cake and Erika Themouse and write out the hot chocolate maker.
And still today, a great holiday - International Women's Day!
In this regard, Trissa prepared salad "Tsezat" and a salad "Oliver", snacks, and meat in the oven. Me and Erika Themouse are also invited to the table. Cheers!
Posted Mar 14, 2012, 5:12 pm
A few days ago was very good weather in Moscow. I, Erika and Trissa went for a walk in the center of Moscow, and now I have a few photos.
We were vzole Tretyakoskoy art gallery, building to the European Union and a bridge the newlyweds. On the bridge, newlyweds are iron trees and the couple on their wedding day they hang on the locks. Keys to the locks they throw into the Moscow River. Triss has shown us his castle, which she hung up with her husband on their wedding day.
Posted Mar 19, 2012, 5:21 pm
Reference
Moscow Metro - Metro in Moscow, partly in the Moscow region. Is public transport rail vneulichnym on electricity. This is the second usage metro system in the world after the Tokyo subway. The Moscow Metro is known as a rich decoration of many stations with samples of art of socialist realism.
The first line opened on May 15, 1935 and went to the station "Sokolniki" station "Park of Culture", an offshoot of the "Smolensk". Metropolitan originally bore the name of LM Kaganovich. Since 1955, Metro is the name of Lenin. Operation of subway carries GUP "Moscow Metro".
The system consists of 12 lines (including the light-rail line), the total length of 305.7 km (two-way scale). In the Moscow metro stations 185 (end 2011), 44 of which are recognized as objects of cultural heritage. Until 2020 the plans designer "Metrogiprotrans" will be built 43 more stations, and subway extension will increase by 90.4 km.
Posted Mar 27, 2012, 6:43 pm
Posted Mar 27, 2012, 6:56 pm
We looked, and climbed on tankam.Zdes is a German tank "Tiger" and the Soviet T-34-85.
Нistory
November 30th, 1941 at the 42-kilometer highway Volokolamsk defense held the 78 th Infantry Division Col. Athanasius Beloborodov. The enemy put in the area hit by the 10th Panzer and motorized divisions of the SS "Das Reich", 252 th and 87th infantry divisions along the Volokolamsk highway. For his bravery in battle, stamina and courage of the 78th Infantry Division, November 26, 1941 was awarded the title of the 9th Guards.
I really enjoyed the museum, although it was a little cold for March, but not for nothing that we've been traveling.
Have a nice day!
Posted Apr 1, 2012, 5:01 pm
Posted Apr 9, 2012, 6:28 pm
Trissa and we went for a walk to the estate Kolomenskoye. In Kolomenskoye, we went to church, bought a willow, and then a long walk in the park. In okntse walk we looked at the Moscow River from the steep bank.
Posted May 14, 2012, 5:19 pm
Today I am going to a new host.
I hope we have a good time.
Posted May 27, 2012, 9:30 pm
Today is my first day in Moscow, so my host wants to prepare a great lunch in my honor. She suggested me to learn to kook small pies. They are vegetarian and very easy to make. And absolutely delicious! May be, we will kook them home?
At first we will take all components - sugar, salt, water, oil, a flour and yeast.
Then we take... basin. Yes, in the Soviet Russia food prepare in basins! I'm joking. Simply my host has no big pan, and dough grows very strongly.
We mix warm water (but not hot), sugar, yeast and stir, till yeast are dissolved.
Then we add oil and salt. We stir and add flour gradually. Knead well. Dough should be very soft, a little stick to hands.
We cover "pan" with dough and we put in the refrigerator on all night long.
Oh how dough grew! If we don't put a cover - it would get out in the refrigerator.
Let's roll balls about Ø 4 cm and display them on the oiled table at distance from each other. We cover them with a pure towel and leave for 15 minutes.
We unroll dough on a table with a rolling pin, put in the center a stuffing and form a beautiful pie
Let's put in an oven and bake at temperature 190 ºС 15 minutes to golden color.
Bon appetit!
Posted May 29, 2012, 10:11 am
Today we visited one of my host’s the most favorite places in Moscow - the Novodevichy Convent! Its name, sometimes translated as the New Maidens' Monastery, was devised to differ from an ancient maidens' convent within the Moscow Kremlin. Unlike other Moscow cloisters, it has remained virtually intact since the 17th century. In 2004, it was proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Novodevichy Convent was founded in 1524 by Grand Prince Vasili III in commemoration of the conquest of Smolensk in 1514. It was built as a fortress at a curve of the Moskva River and became an important part of the southern defensive belt of the capital, which had already included a number of other monasteries. The Novodevichy Convent was known to have sheltered many ladies from the Russian royal families and boyar clans, who had been forced to become nuns.
The Preobrazhenskiy church is constructed over a northern entrance of the monastery. It is well visible from the neighboring area.
We can get a bird's eye view of a monastery at the beginning of excursion.
The oldest structure in the convent is the six-pillared five-domed cathedral, dedicated to the icon Our Lady of Smolensk. Extant documents date its construction to 1524–1525; yet its lofty ground floor, magisterial proportions, and projecting central gable are typical of monastery cathedrals built at the behest of Ivan the Terrible. Most scholars agree that the cathedral was rebuilt in the 1550s or 1560s; it was formerly ringed by four smaller chapels, in an arrangement reminiscent of the Annunciation Cathedral in the Kremlin. Its frescos are among the finest in Moscow.
The cathedral may be a focal point of the convent, but there are many other churches. Most date from the 1680s, when the convent was thoroughly renovated at the behest of the regent Sophia Alexeyevna (who, ironically, would be incarcerated there later). The blood-red walls and crown-towers, two lofty over-the-gates churches, a refectory, and residential quarters were all designed in the Muscovite Baroque style, supposedly by a certain Peter Potapov. In the old cathedral, a new bowl for holy water and gilded carved iconostasis were installed in 1685.
An arresting slender belltower, also commissioned by Sophia, was built in six tiers to a height of 72 metres (236 ft), making it the tallest structure in 18th-century Moscow (after the Ivan the Great Bell Tower in the Kremlin). This light octagonal column seems to unite all major elements of the ensemble into one harmonious whole.
Especially interesting story is connected with this tower. After Peter I dethroned his elder sister, tsarevna Sofia, and forced her to the nun in 1689, she lived in this Naprudna tower. The kind brother decided to entertain his sister, and hanged out dead soldiers and her guards on trees under windows of her cell.
But you cannot hang everybody. Even having become nun, Sofia found possibility to leave a wall of the dungeon for the purpose of love adventures. Today it is considered that the tower (or spirit of tsarevna Sofia) can grant the desires connected with love! It is enough to write it on a wall, to enclose a note between bricks or simply ask very strongly. Do you believe in it?
Like other Moscow monasteries (notably the Danilov and the Donskoy) the New Maidens' Monastery was coveted by the Russian nobility as a place of burial. The Napoleonic hero Denis Davydov is also buried in the grounds. In 1898, the so-called Novodevichy Cemetery was opened without monastery walls. Anton Chekhov was one of the first notables to be interred at the new necropolis, and Nikolai Gogol was later reburied there too. During the Soviet epoch, it was turned into the most high-profile cemetery in the Soviet Union, with the likes of Peter Kropotkin, Nikita Khrushchev, Sergei Prokofiev, Dmitri Shostakovich, Konstantin Stanislavski, Boris Yeltsin, and Mstislav Rostropovich being interred there.
Especially I like figures of angels - often it is female graves, the inconsolable spouse gave them a statue
Now we left the monastery constructed 500 years ago. At once behind a local pond the modern city begins - skyscrapers are seen on the horizon. Two different worlds incorporate here. Hey! Can you see a duck?
Let's take a farewell look at monastery walls - how beautiful it is!
Monument "Let pass to ducklings" was established in Moscow, on the square avenue opposite to the Novodevichy Convent in 1991. It is an exact copy of a monument in Boston, in the USA. The sculptural composition was created by the architect, the sculptor and the restorer Nancey Shen. The plot is taken from the old fairy tale written for the American kids by writer Robert Makkloski many years ago. In it it is told about mother duck looking for a convenient and safe place for the family. On the way they meet many people. Someone treats them with a peanut, and policemen block off traffic to help ducklings quietly cross the road. In Moscow the monument appeared as a sign of friendship between the USA and the USSR. It was Barbara Bush a's gift to Raisa Maksimovna Gorbacheva.
Now the monument is adored by children - I hardly found second for a good photo!
Posted Jun 10, 2012, 10:36 pm
Today we decided to visit one of the most well-known church of Russia - Cathedral of Christ the Saviour! With an overall height of 105 metres (344 ft), it is the tallest Orthodox church in the world.
When Napoleon Bonaparte retreated from Moscow, Emperor Alexander I signed a manifest, 25 December 1812, declaring his intention to build a cathedral in honor of Christ the Saviour "to signify Our gratitude to Divine Providence for saving Russia from the doom that overshadowed Her" and as a memorial to the sacrifices of the Russian people.
The cathedral took many years to build and did not emerge from its scaffolding until 1860. The painting were overseen by Evgraf Sorokin and thereafter some of the best Russian painters continued to embellish the interior for another twenty years. The cathedral was consecrated on the very day Alexander III was crowned, 26 May 1883.
After the Revolution and, more specifically, the death of Lenin, the prominent site of the cathedral was chosen by the Soviets as the site for a monument to socialism known as the Palace of the Soviets. This monument was to rise in modernistic, buttressed tiers to support a gigantic statue of Lenin perched on top of a dome with his arm raised in the air.
On December 5th 1931, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour was dynamited and reduced to rubble. It took more than a year to clear the debris from the site. Some of the marble from the walls and marble benches from the cathedral were used in nearby Moscow Metro stations. For a long time, these were the only reminders of the largest Orthodox church ever built.
The construction of the Palace of Soviets was interrupted owing to a lack of funds, problems with flooding from the nearby Moskva River, and the outbreak of war. The flooded foundation hole remained on the site until, under Nikita Khrushchev, it was transformed into the world's largest open air swimming pool, named Moskva Pool.
Finally, in February 1990, the Russian Orthodox Church received permission from the Soviet Government to rebuild the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. The restorer Aleksey Denisov was called upon to design a replica of extraordinary accuracy.
A construction fund was initiated in 1992 and funds began to pour in from ordinary citizens in the autumn of 1994. In this year the pool was demolished and the cathedral reconstruction commenced. About one million Muscovites donated money for the project.
The Spaso-Preobrazhensky belltower located in the lower part of Cathedral is constructed in 1998. The white limestone brought from Bethlehem was used at construction.
The Cathedral has 4 belltowers, and each is used according to its own destination. The Spaso-Preobrazhensky belltower is used at a meeting of the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia and at commission of religious processions.
The monument is located in the city center therefore you can enjoy such beautiful views of the old, not reconstructed quarters of Moscow around!
Especially I like this bridge - very popular place for wedding ceremonies and simply walks.
On the right you can see one of the chocolate factories oldest in Moscow, and also Peter the Great notorious statue on a ship. So many people consider that it is ugly, but it can't be demolished. The designer Zurab Tsereteli is known as a friend and favorite of Moscow's former Mayor, Yury Luzhkov, and the artist has received many municipal art commissions in recent years, such as the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.
The Peter the Great Statue in Moscow was designed by the Georgian designer Zurab Tsereteli to commemorate 300 years of the Russian Navy, which was started by Peter I of Russia. At 94 metres, it is the eighth tallest statue in the world.
And at the left - a view which is often printed on postcards - the Kremlin ashore. Do I need to say anything else? Fantastic!
And the monument to emperor Alexander II the Liberator of Russia from a serfdom, in fact, from slavery, is located near the temple. Alexander is represented in a military uniform and with an imperial cloak.
The five-meter bronze figure is placed on a stone pedestal with a graceful colonnade. Behind the back of the emperor two bronze lions sit. They, as a plan of author Alexander Rukavishnikov, symbolize old traditional Russia.
Posted Jun 18, 2012, 4:16 am
Today we decided to visit an exhibition of cats with my host’s father - he works as the seller of any goods for animals and never will miss such an important action! These exhibitions often pass in Moscow and fans of cats from all over the world come here to learn something new, to get something necessary or simply to show their pretty pets. On this poster you can see a variety of cats... their evolution... or degradation...
Perhaps, and me it is necessary to buy something? I very much like here this bed... So soft and convenient...
And here is host’s father! Left his buyers for a second to make a good photo.
Generally cats sit in this transparent plastic "aquariums" at an exhibition. So they can be examined quietly and they won't escape! There are not only adult cats on sale, but also kittens, probably, hundred breeds!
Many owners care of their pets and put for them beautiful sofas for comfort. And what about the TV? I wouldn't refuse to sit in such aquarium!
This little kitty looks so serious.
Other owners are richer (for example, nurseries), they bought a place not only for one table, but for the whole showroom! Yes, it is much cozier...
Here the Scottish cats are presented – if you have the huge stone castle with beautiful windows and candles, such cat is your best friend!
Oh, pretty kittens!
And it is a cat for real Vikings! Can float with you on drakkars and battle in fight shoulder to shoulder (the helmet doesn't enter into a set - buy separately)
So beautyful!
Here the most necessary for cats is on sale. You knew, that fillers for cat's toilets have so many different types? *cough*Could you turn away for a second - I have some things to do here...
And certainly, beautiful jewelry for owners of cats. It is possible to buy a collar for a cat and a coulomb for yourself in one style!
And here competitions pass for choosing the best cat - separately for breeds and all together! They are head by the best world judges, this woman, for example, is American. Though it is not so pleasant for cats, probably.
Posted Jul 3, 2012, 9:01 pm
Today we decided not to limit ourselves by beautiful photos, but also to have spiritual development! A host invited me to a concert of organ music in Lutheran the Peter and Paul Cathedral. This cathedral is one of two operating official Lutheran churches in Moscow. Parish of the church is one of the oldest Lutheran parishes in Russia.
But at first we should stop and look at this fantastic building - Embassies of Republic of Belarus in the Russian Federation. It is an ancient palace of count N. P. Rumyantsev. It was constructed in 1782, can you believe? It was reconstructed several times, belonged to various people and firms, but remained a beautiful memorial of Russian architecture.
I turn my head and... What does it stand beyond the trees?
A few more steps. And here we stand near a fine stone cathedral!
The cathedral always played important role not only in religious, but also in cultural life of Moscow — in it outstanding Russian and foreign musicians acted. Now the body accompanies church services every Sunday and holidays, and also concerts of an organ music are passed.
The first Lutherans appeared in Moscow in 1530s, among the handicraftsmen doctors and merchants invited from Northwest Europe. The church community was created a bit later, between 1560 and 1565, and in 1576 on the bank of Yauza, in the German settlement the small wooden church consecrated for the sake of sacred Saint Michael the Archangel was constructed. In 1626 the community was divided after the scandal caused by quarrel between wives of military and merchants. The officers as a majority of new community built church in the center of Moscow, in the White city. But the new building, as well as a building of church of a merchant community, by order of tsar Mikhail Fedorovich in 1643 was broken down - because of discontent of the orthodox priests arguing that foreigners not only put "grumbles" near “God's churches”, but also bought up much land.
Only in 1817 the parish could buy the land and begin construction of the new temple. It was several times destroyed, was restored on community money. Only in 2004 money were sufficed to construct such remarkable belltower.
From within the cathedral is even more beautiful, than outside. I was especially amazed by stained-glass windows - there are represented sacred people, and in the center - Peter and Pavel.
And the most important, for what we are here - organ! The historical organ of firm "Wilhelm Zauer" the Evangelic and Lutheran Cathedral in Moscow is one of the 4th church organs in Moscow, the 5th by number of registers in Moscow, and also one of the oldest organs in Russia. It’s small, but its sound is fantastic!
Sacred Peter and Pavel's cathedral begins its concert history since May 4, 1843 when Franc Liszt's organ concert was held in it. As you can see, the organ is behind us on gallery. In order that we could see the masterly musician, the screen goes down and there is an online translation of performance. So unusual!
Posted Jul 10, 2012, 10:02 pm
Today the weather is so fantastic and warm that we decided to go to park. Do you remember that Moscow isn’t just megalopolis but also a green and pretty place? I do now!
We chose a park called “Park of Friendship”
In the 1957th year in Moscow passed the VI World Festival of Friendship between nations. Planting of trees by participants was an every year tradition of such festivals. In Prague, at the V Festival Avenue of Friendship was open. In Moscow the whole park was decided to open. Now park very well-groomed, avenues are laid out by gravel or asphalt, trees and bushes are beautifully cut, there are playgrounds, cafe.
There are endless amount of flowers here. I don’t know its names, but look fantastic!.
Also there are a hundred of monuments and sculptures. As it’s the Park of Friendship, all monuments are devoted to one subject.
Opening of this monument took place in 1981 within the cultural program "Days of Madrid in Moscow". During the same time "Days of Moscow" in Madrid took place. Twin-cities exchanged gifts - copies of sculptures from monuments of well-known national writers. Thus in Madrid the monument to A.Pushkin, and in Moscow - a monument to Miguel de Cervantes were constructed. This bronze statue - an exact copy of a statue in Madrid (1835).
Two-figured decorative sculptural groups "Fertility " - two female figures, in difficult spiral movement the holding over the heads basket of fruits.
The Kirghiz national hero Manas the Magnanimous, according to the legend, united all Kirghiz many years ago. And now his task - to connect the people of two friendly countries, the Kirghiz Republic and the Russian Federation.
In April, 1975, in 30 anniversary commemoration from the date of liberation of Hungary from fascist aggressors armies by Red Army, Budapest Park of Friendship and the monument of the vengero-Soviet friendship was open. In day of solemn opening of the monument citizens of Budapest decided to transfer a copy in gift to Moscow; and exactly in one and a half years, on September 15, 1976, in the Moscow Park of Friendship there was constructed a "twin" of the Hungarian monument.
The friendship between Russia and Hungary is displayed in a material choice for a monument also. It is revetted with tiles of pirogranit. This ceramic material, is made only in the Hungarian city “Pech”.
As we are walking nearby, it is necessary to visit the river station!
The North River Terminal or Rechnoy Vokzal (River Station) is one of two passenger terminals of river transport in Moscow. It is also the main hub for long-range and intercity routes. It was built in 1937.
This station is an example of communistic constructions. The stateliness of new communistic religion is emphasized with the sculpture "Waterway" meeting us at the entrance in park. There are no more places in Moscow where are such strong and exciting snow-white girls holding in a hand model of the yacht moreover with a wave.
The park near the River station is full of children attractions. Aaaaah, who is it?
This Spiderman is the cutest Spiderman I’ve ever seen!
And again, flowers, flowers, flowers!! I feel spring in the air!
The building is costructed in the form of the huge ship. The most characteristic architectural elements of the building — a high spike and a wide central ladder. The spike is topped with a star which in 1935 — 1937 was on the Spassky tower of the Moscow Kremlin. The sickle and a hammer are inlaid with the Ural semi-precious stones.
The entrance is decorated with maiolicas representing «Moscow of the future».
What a fine view of the dormitory areas of Moscow! If I live nearby, I would walk in this park every day!
Huge cruising motor ships constantly depart from the mooring to St. Petersburg, Astrakhan, Rostov-on-Don. My host told me that she floated by such motor ship several times - for a week and more - to the different cities of Russia. Ah, I hope, I can travel thus too!
We are leaving this fine park. I am lucky that I was in Moscow in the spring and could visit such peace and cozy place.
Posted Jul 17, 2012, 10:35 pm
Today my host took me into bowling! Oh, I’ve never visit it before, I hope, it would be fun!
First of all, look, what an amazing building it is! Everybody can understand that there is something exciting inside
Which ball should I choose? Mmmm... I will take the pink one!
Let's aim…
Come on, little ball!!
I can't understand, am I winning or not?
I am sure that I won!
And therefore it is necessary to celebrate! Traditional Russian food... oh, no, it isn’t cooked here. Well, sushi then? How can I pick them up...
And let’s drink a cranberry mojito. Looks great.
In this building there is an excellent desktop hockey. I will beat you, Goronyan!
And while we are here, I can ride in a car. Turn right, turn right!!
Posted Jul 24, 2012, 7:39 pm
This weekend we’ve visited Kremlin!
Wow, I think, I should come to Moscow again, because it is such a wonderful place and has such an interesting history! My host thought that I should know everything about it, but of course, now I can remember only a small part.
This is the Troitskaya Tower - the tallest tower of the Moscow Kremlin. Its current height on the side of the Alexander Garden together with the star is 80 m. Today, the gate of the tower is the main visitors' entrance into the Kremlin. And the view is so beautiful!
Here you can see the Kremlin Senate, a building within the grounds of the Kremlin. Initially constructed from 1776–1787, it originally housed the Moscow branch of the Governing Senate, the highest judiciary and legislative office of Imperial Russia. Currently, it houses the Russian presidential administration and is a highly secured and restricted area closed to the public. At present, only the southern corner façade, opposite the Tsar Cannon can be viewed.
Then we saw the most interesting exhibits of this museum – the Tsar-Bell and the Tsar-Cannon.
The Tsar-Bell was made of bronze and it is currently the largest bell in the world, weighing 201,924 kilograms, with a height of 6.14 metres and diameter of 6.6 metres, and thickness of up to 61 centimetres. The bell is decorated with relief images of baroque angels, plants, oval medallions with saints, and nearly life-size images of Empress Anna and Tsar Alexey. Unfortunately, before the last ornamentation was completed, a major fire broke out at the Kremlin in May 1737. The fire spread to the temporary wooden support structure for the bell, and fearing damage, guards threw cold water on it, causing eleven cracks, and a huge (11.5 tons) slab to crack off. The broken piece weighs 11,500 kilograms, you can compare it with the crowd around – it’s as tall as a man! Some people believe that on Judgement Day, it will be miraculously repaired and lifted up to heaven, where it will ring the blagovest (call to prayer).
The Tsar-Cannon was cast in 1586 in Moscow, by the Russian master bronze caster Andrey Chokhov. Mostly of symbolic impact, it was never fired in war. Per the Guinness Book of Records it is the largest bombard by caliber in the world. The very low ratio between its calibre and the length of its barrel makes it technically not a cannon, but a stylized mortar. The Tsar Cannon weighs 39.312 tones and has a length of 5.34 m. Its bronze-cast barrel has a diameter of 890 mm, and an external diameter of 1,200 mm. The spherical cast-iron projectiles located in front of the cannon - each of which weighs 1.97 tons, were produced in 1834 as a decoration.
Of course, there are many other cannons in Kremlin, but they don’t look so impressive, do they?
Then you can see The Ivan the Great Bell Tower - the tallest of the towers in the Moscow Kremlin complex, with a total height of 81 metres. It was built in 1508 for the Russian Orthodox cathedrals in Cathedral Square, which do not have their own belfries, and is said to mark Moscow's precise geographic centre. The Ivan the Great Bell Tower today contains 22. Of these, 18 small bells hang in the base and in the middle of the bell tower. Of the four large bells, one is named the Upsenskij Bell, and weighs 65.5 tons. It rings traditionally among the largest religious festivals such as Easter, and was made in the early 16th century.
Next building with great triangle golden roof and domes is The Cathedral of the Annunciation (Blagoveschensky sobor). It was originally the personal chapel for the Muscovite tsars, and its abbot remained a personal confessor of the Russian royal family until the early 20th century. Compared with the other major Kremlin cathedrals, the Annunciation Cathedral has slightly smaller dimensions. It is also built in a more traditional style, as it was created by local architects from Pskov, rather than Italian expatriate architects. The most characteristic feature of the building is its nine golden domes, and roof with rich kokoshnik ornamentation in an ogive form.
This beautiful cathedral with frescos is The Cathedral of the Dormition (Uspensky sobor). The Cathedral is regarded as the mother church of Muscovite Russia. In its present form it was 1475-79 at the behest of the Moscow Grand Duke Ivan III by the Italian architect Aristotele Fioravanti. From 1547 to 1896 it is where the Coronation of the Russian monarch was held. In addition, it is the burial place for most of the Moscow Metropolitans and Patriarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church. However, one of the most important cult images of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Theotokos of Vladimir kept at the Cathedral from 1395-1919 is now at the Tretyakov Gallery. Near the south entrance to the Cathedral is the Monomach Throne of Ivan IV (1551).
Verkhospassky Cathedral with eleven small golden domes was constructed by tsar Michael Fedorovichem in 1635-1636. From this temple the ladder conducted to a seigniorial platform where decrees, orders of the tsar were read to boyars, and the tsar presented boyars and near people birthday pies. Divine services in it aren't made.
The Cathedral of the Archangel is a Russian Orthodox church dedicated to the Archangel Michael. It was the main necropolis for members of the Tsars of Russia until the relocation of the capital to St. Petersburg. It was constructed between 1505 and 1508 under the supervision of an Italian architect Aleviz Fryazin Noviy on the spot of an older cathedral, built in 1333.
The Grand Kremlin Palace was built from 1837 to 1849 on the site of the estate of the Grand Princes, which had been established in the 14th century on Borovitsky Hill. Designed by a team of architects under the management of Konstantin Thon, it was intended to emphasize the greatness of Russian autocracy. The Grand Kremlin Palace was formerly the tsar's Moscow residence. Thon's palace is 125 meters long, 47 meters high, and has a total area of about 25,000 square meters. It includes the earlier Terem Palace, nine churches from the 14th, 16th, and 17th centuries, the Holy Vestibule, and over 700 rooms. Now it carries out a role of smart president residence of Russia. Important nation-wide ceremonials pass in its halls, such as delivery of the state awards or credentials. You can see that big national flag is lowered on the spike. It means that Russian president is out now, but he could come back every minute!
Posted Jul 24, 2012, 8:27 pm
Today we are visiting one of the most famous place in Russia – the Red Square. It separates the Kremlin, the former royal citadel and currently the official residence of the President of Russia, from a historic merchant quarter known as Kitai-gorod. As major streets of Moscow radiate from here in all directions, being promoted to major highways outside the city, Red Square is often considered the central square of Moscow and all of Russia.
At first we will pass an entrance. Resurrection Gate is the only existing gate of the Kitai-gorod in Moscow. It connects the north-western end of Red Square with Manege Square and gives its name to nearby Voskresenskaya Square (Resurrection Square). The gate adjoins the ornate building of the Moscow City Hall to the east and the State Historical Museum to the west.
Great view, isn’t it? A real ensemble of different ages and symbols!
The State Historical Museum of Russia is a museum of Russian history, opened in 1872. Its exhibitions range from relics of the prehistoric tribes inhabiting present-day Russia, through priceless artworks acquired by members of the Romanov dynasty. The total number of objects in the museum's collection numbers in the millions. But my host tells me that she doesn’t like its color – pink or red… It cannot be compared with Kremlin.
Kazan Cathedral Russian, also known as the "Cathedral of Our Lady of Kazan", is a Russian Orthodox church located on the northeast corner of Red Square. The current building is a reconstruction of the original church, which was destroyed at the direction of then General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin, in 1936.
It is well known and extremely disputable place - Lenin's Mausoleum also known as Lenin's Tomb. It is the mausoleum that serves as the current resting place of Vladimir Lenin. His embalmed body has been on public display there since shortly after his death in 1924 (with rare exceptions in wartime). Aleksey Shchusev's diminutive but monumental granite structure incorporates some elements from ancient mausoleums, such as the Step Pyramid and the Tomb of Cyrus the Great.
GUM (Glavnyi Universalnyi Magazin, meaning "main universal store") is the name of the main department store in many cities of the former Soviet Union, known as State Department Store. This is the most famous GUM - a shopping mall. With the façade extending for 794 ft (242 m) it was built between 1890 and 1893 by Alexander Pomerantsev. The trapezoidal building features an interesting combination of elements of Russian medieval architecture and a steel framework and glass roof, a similar style to the great 19th century train stations of London.
By the time of the Russian Revolution of 1917, the building contained some 1,200 stores. After the Revolution, the GUM was nationalised and continued to be used as a department store until Joseph Stalin converted it into office space in 1928 for the committee in charge of his first Five Year Plan. After the suicide of Stalin's wife Nadezhda during 1932, the GUM was used briefly to display her body.
It is still open nowadays, and is a popular tourist destination for those visiting Moscow. Many of the stores feature fashionable brand names familiar in the West; locals refer to these as the "exhibitions of prices", the joke being that no one could afford actually to buy any of the items displayed. As of 2005, there were approximately 200 stores.
The Cathedral of the Protection of Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat also known as Saint Basil's Cathedral, is a Russian Orthodox church erected on Red Square in Moscow in 1555–61 on orders from Ivan the Terrible. It commemorates the capture of Kazan and Astrakhan.
St. Basil's marks the geometric center of Moscow. It has been the hub of the city's growth since the 14th century and was the city's tallest building until the completion of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower in 1600.
There is a well-known statue, it commemorates Prince Dmitry Pozharsky and Kuzma Minin, who gathered an all-Russian volunteer army and expelled the forces of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth from Moscow, thus putting an end to the Time of Troubles in 1612.
The Spasskaya Tower is the main tower with a through-passage on the eastern wall of the Moscow Kremlin, which overlooks the Red Square.
The Spasskaya Tower was built in 1491. The tower's modern name comes from the icon of Spas Nerukotvorny (The Saviour Not Made by Hands), which was placed above the gates on the inside wall in 1658 (it was removed in 1917) and the wall-painted icon of Spas Smolensky (Smolensky Saviour), which was created in the 16th century on the outside wall of tower (plastered over in 1937, reopened and restored in 2010). The Spasskaya Tower was the first one to be crowned with the hipped roof in 1624–1625. According to a number of historical accounts, the clock on the Spasskaya Tower appeared between 1491 and 1585. It is usually referred to as the Kremlin clock
The 'Nikolskaya Tower' is a tower with a through-passage on the eastern wall of the Moscow Kremlin, which overlooks the Red Square not far from the State Historical Museum.
The Nikolskaya Tower was built in 1491 by an Italian architect Pietro Antonio Solari. It was named after Nikolaevsky (Nikolsky) Greek Monastery, which is no longer there. In 1806, the tower was rebuilt in the neo-Gothic style by an architect Luigi Rusca. In 1812, the top of the tower was blown up by the retreating French army. It was restored in 1816 by an architect Osip Bove. The Nikolskaya Tower was once again severely damaged by the artillery fire in October 1917 and was later restored by an architect Nikolai Markovnikov. In 1935, the Soviets installed a red star on top of the tower. Its current height with the star is 70.4 m. The original icon of St. Nicholas, the bishop of Myra, placed above the entrance on Red Square had been plastered over by Soviet authorities and was uncovered and restored in 2010 - similar to what took place on the Spasskaya Tower.
Near Kremlin there is "Zoo" of fairy-tale creatures. You can see "Princess-swan". Its' fairy-tales that every child in Russia knows - their famous poet Pushkin recreated it in poetry and made so excellent and funny!
2rd sculpture’s name is "Ivan-prince and frog-princess". It's a funny story about one king, who wanted 3 his sons to marry. They took a bow and arrows and each made 1 shot. 2 first arrows went into houses of princesses. But the 3rd son's arrow flow far far away and fall into a bog and a frog found it. So, he has to marry her (it was a rule of his father). But of course, it was a bewitched princess, and after some adventures they were happy
This beautiful fountain is main in sculpture complex on Manezhnaya Square. The group of a fountain includes sculptural composition "Four seasons" Z.Tseretelli where each horse symbolizes spring, summer, autumn and winter.
And flowers! Summer isn’t a real summer without flowerbeds!
Posted Jul 24, 2012, 8:44 pm
Posted Sep 28, 2012, 6:46 pm
Big Hello from Japan
This is my first meal in Japan. Udon noodles is a special food of Kagawa prefecture. There are many ways to cook of Udon.
Today we eat Kitsune Udon - It literally means fox noodles.
Abura-age is thin sliced and deep fried tofu.
In Japanese mythology abura-age is the favorite food of Kitsune (foxes).
Posted Oct 10, 2012, 1:45 pm
Shodo-shima is located north of Takamatsu, the capital city of Kagawa prefecture.
We stand on the highest place in the island. This area is called Kankakei, if it's November we can see the beautiful autumn color.
On the way to the rest house from the peak of the mountain, we came across a group of wild Japanese monkeys!!!
I was surprised
Posted Nov 13, 2012, 10:52 pm
This castle is also called Tamamo Castle. Exactly Takamatsu (Tamamo) Castle Ruins. Main tower doesn't exist today. A few buildings still remain in the Japanese Garden.
There is the Sea over the road. The sea water is brought into the castle-moats.
Takamatsu Castle (Sanuki)
Posted Dec 8, 2012, 10:18 am
Legend has it that the guardian of this pond is a large snake.
In Japan dragons and snakes are often worshiped as a deity of water.
They call clouds and shower benefits upon fields. Japanese folklore.
See the map. The shape of Japan looks like the dragon climbing the sky.
Posted Dec 8, 2012, 10:52 am
Posted Dec 8, 2012, 11:35 am
In Japan Christmas is just a commercial event for most people. However, they enjoy it, decorating trees, preparing presents for families and friends.
Today in the center of the shopping mall, the big tree appears.
Posted Dec 8, 2012, 11:41 am
hanachan bought 'take-out' sushi and arranged them on a cute plate
Itadakimasu!
Posted Jan 14, 2013, 4:36 pm
The world's first collection of Ceramic-Board Reproduction of Masterpaintings.
Now I'm not in the Sistine Chapel, Rome. It's not real. The room is an authentic-looking reproductions of the Sistine Chapel's art works. This is one of the exhibits in this museum. These are not original paintings. They are ceramic works using a special manufacturing technique. Visitors can see over 1000 full-size ceramic reproductions of major works of art. The works are transfer-printed from photographs before being fired and retouched.
Of course I enjoyed reproductions of great paintings in the modern ages.
Posted Jan 26, 2013, 7:11 am
Osechi Ryouri & Ozouni
Hi, mom
The new year day in Japan is very calm. Family people meet together at their parents' house to celebrate the New Year, wishing for the future health of everyone.
The first meal in the new day is Osechi Ryouri and Ozouni. The New Year's food arranged in the lacquer boxes and special soup with rice cakes, vegetables, etc.
Posted Jan 26, 2013, 7:52 am
In Japan, our western food is often developed and changed in its own way by fusing with Japanese original culture.
It's interesting. What do you think?
Posted Jan 26, 2013, 9:32 am
This shrine was built in 1651 by Matsudaira Yorishige, the first Feudal Load of Takamatsu. It is the place where to worship his great ancestor Tokugawa Ieyasu.
I'm leaving Japan soon, some day I will come back here again.
Posted Aug 12, 2013, 7:41 am
I´m in Frankfurt am Main now. And I´m really excited to explore the city.
Today I got my first little trip. We started at the train stop "Frankfurt-South".
Here I saw a very strange train. It´s called "Ebbelwei-Express" (apple wine express). You can go with it on a little sightseeing tour and drink some apple wine.
We went to a bridge where you get a fantastic view of the skyline in Frankfurt.
On the other side you can see this building:
That´s the "Main Plaza".
With love, yours Bapab-Blu.
Posted Oct 5, 2013, 11:53 am
Yesterday we had a very lazy day. My host-family and I watched TV. My two new friends, Pauline and Ui, were there, too.
At the evening we had some food and we looked for the next movie.
There was a preview for a movie this evening. MY MOVIE!
They showed "Rio" at TV.
With love, yours Bapab-Blu
Posted Oct 5, 2013, 12:36 pm
You know what?? I saw two dinosaurs today!
But first I want to tell you everything from the beginning.
My host-mom had a appointment at the Frankfurter district called "Bockenheim". After that, she wanted to show me the "Senckenberg Museum". Sadly, we didn't have enough time to visit the museum.
And here I saw the first dinosaur next to the museum.
In the "Senckenberg Museum" it's all about animals, fossils and dinosaurs.
I was very excited to see this dinosaur. But then I saw a giant T-Rex at the other side of the street.
But I think that's a friendly one, because he wears a shirt from the local soccer club "Eintracht Frankfurt".
I wish you a nice day, Mommy!
Hugs and kisses, yours Bapab-Blu