The Kremlin and Red Square

The Moscow Kremlin is now both a museum AND the location of the president's (at this time Putin) office

The walls, dating to the 1500's are a scalene triangle and enclose the president's office, a number of Russian Orthodox cathedrals, the Grand Palace and the State Armory.

The Western Wall of the Kremlin

Because the Kremlin was a military fortress, there used to be a moat.  However, in modern times, the moat has been covered over and now we have the Alexander Garden.

The main visitor entrance (again on the Western wall) is the Troitskaya Tower.  Ahead you can see the walkway that goes over the former moat.

Once inside, this is the ONLY Soviet era building.

There are at least five Russian Orthodox Cathedrals in the Kremlin.

This one in particular is interesting because the porch on the left (through which we see the PTG memorial from the last post) was used by Ivan the Terrible.  He was not allowed back into the church after his third divorce, so he built himself this porch so he could worship from outside.

A visit to the Kremlin is not complete without a visit to the Russian Armory, which houses the jewels and major items of the Romanov family.  Me? Generally uninterested EXCEPT, I got to see the throne (which I learned about on the History Channel) for when two young boys were both seated as ruler of Russia.  And the secret door behind the seated boys from which their sister fed them answers.

The eternal flame, brought to Moscow from the Field of Mars in St. Petersburg.

Ahh, capitalism at its best.  Tourists drop coins over their shoulder (for some reason) and the women behind scamper for those coins.

So entering into Red Square, which I learned is NOT part of the Kremlin, but the square just to the Northeast of the Kremlin wall, one sees the famous St. Basil's Cathedral.  It is even more beautiful that you can imagine!

The rectangular Red Square is oriented NW-SE.  St. Basil's is located along the SE side.  The square is marked with lines, which I gather must have been used for all the military parades and marches that took place here in Red Square during Communist times.

Along the SW side, in front of the Kremlin wall is Lenin's tomb.

The NW side has the State Historical Museum

Along the NE side of the square is located the GUM Department store.  In Communist times, it was the largest State Department store in the country.  Now, it is like any other western mall, with all the major stores inside.  Think DKNY, Forever 21.....

We first got to Red Square around noon and I simply wasn't ready to process the place yet.  However, after visiting the Kremlin (which wasn't that interesting to me, especially as many of you know, I could have cared LESS about the jewelry and dresses that were displayed there), I returned to Red Square, just to take it all in.  The second time around, I got a chance to take my time, walk around and feel the place.  It's grand, and I would LOVE to visit in during the cold and gray winter days, when it probably feels even MORE Russian.