Springtime in Russia: My Remarkable Journey – Day 8: Moscow And then we got to know each other.

Today is the day we prepare for our visit to the palace. Yes, we are going to visit the Moscow Kremlin (Моско́вский Кремль). Since we don't have tickets yet, we need to buy them first. The closest metro station to the ticket office at Alexander Garden is Alexandrovsky Sad (Алекса́ндровский сад). This location serves as a point for pre-booking tickets, exchanging tickets, and selling tickets on the day of the visit. You can buy all types of tickets here, including tickets for the Diamond Fund (Алмазный фонд). During the summer season, it is open from 09:00 to 16:30. We arrived at 09:30.

Ticket Sales Locations for the Moscow Kremlin

Upon arrival, we dispersed to secure tickets, with the longest queue leading to none other than The Armoury Chamber (Оружейная палата). This was due to the limited entry slots, with only four per day (10:00 am, 12:00 pm, 2:30 pm, 4:30 pm) and a maximum of 100 people per slot. A display counter showed the remaining tickets for each slot, adding to the suspense as we waited in line, unsure if we would make it. Some individuals even purchased ten tickets at once, further increasing the pressure. Admission to The Armoury Chamber costs 700 RUB per person. By the time we arrived, it was already 2:30 pm.

Channels 9 and 10 are the most exciting channels to watch.

Another line for purchasing tickets to the Architectural complex of the Cathedral Square, which will allow you to visit the various churches within the Kremlin Palace, including:

• The Assumption Cathedral (Успенский Собор)
• The Archangel Cathedral (Архангельский собор)
• The Annunciation Cathedral (Благовещенский собор)
• The Church of Laying Our Lady's Holy Robe (Церковь Ризоположения)
• The Patriarch's Palace with the Church of the Twelve Apostles (церковь Двенадцати Апостолов)

Please note: Visiting hours are not specified for this group of churches. You only need to show your ticket to enter any of the churches. Therefore, the line at this point is usually short.

Ticket price: 500 RUB per person.

Important: Photography is strictly prohibited inside the churches.

The next line is for tickets to the Diamond Fund, a museum of precious objects and jewelry. Tickets cost 500 RUB per person and are available at specific times. You can inform the staff which time slot you prefer to avoid overlapping with the Armoury Chamber tour. Although the entrance is the same, the exhibits are located in different areas. Tickets for the Ivan the Great Bell-tower and the Museum of the History of Kremlin Architecture, which is located inside the tower, also have specific entry times. However, we were not interested in visiting these attractions, so we did not collect detailed information about them.

After dispersing to perform our duties, the final stop that had us on the edge of our seats was The Armoury Chamber. The two o'clock show we were queuing for, with only four people ahead of us, sold out right before our eyes. This meant that the next available show was at 4:30 PM. OMG!!! This meant that we had to spend the entire day here. If we wanted to go anywhere, we would have to come back. But what can we do? We don't get to visit Russia often. We flew here, so we have to make the most of it.

We managed to snag the last tickets of the day.

After collecting all the necessary entrance tickets, we headed outside to queue for the Grand Kremlin Palace. The entrance is located at the Troitskaya Tower (Троицкая башня). The queue was quite long, but it was mainly filled with tour groups. As we were a small group, we walked along the left side, which was reserved for individual visitors. We quickly reached the front of the queue and presented our tickets to the officer at the entrance of the stairs. However, we were stopped and told "Big Bag, Big Bag!!" We had completely forgotten to check our luggage. The officer spoke loudly and pointed to a room under the stairs, which was the luggage storage room. We were required to leave our large bags there, but we could keep our cameras and jackets with us. The service was free of charge. We then presented our tickets again and were allowed to go upstairs. There were several scanners for bags, luggage, and weapons, which made the process relatively quick. We had read that the entrance at Borovitskaya Tower (Боровицкая башня) had fewer scanners and longer queues. Soon, we were inside and ready to explore the Moscow Kremlin.

After you have your ticket, walk to the ticket check point and then go up the stairs to scan at this point. As for your luggage, you can leave it in the room under the stairs.

The Kremlin (Кремль) is not a palace, but rather a fortress in Russian. Within its walls, it houses palaces, religious buildings, and government offices. The Moscow Kremlin is the fortress of the city of Moscow. Before the capital was moved to Saint Petersburg during the reign of Peter the Great, the Moscow Kremlin served as the residence of the tsars for over 300 years. After the Russian Revolution, the capital was moved back to Moscow from Saint Petersburg. Today, the Moscow Kremlin serves as the office of the President and hosts heads of state. It covers an area of 28 hectares and has 19 towers and 2,235 meters of walls. This site is protected by UNESCO as it houses a wealth of Russian art and culture dating back centuries. The Moscow Kremlin is located on Borovitskaya Hill, which is bordered by the Moskva and Neglinnaya rivers. This hill is now simply known as Kremlin Hill.

The main entrance to the Moscow Kremlin is through the Troitskaya Tower, the tallest tower in the complex and the main stronghold of the palace. Previously, a clock adorned the tower's summit, but it was removed during the Swedish invasion and replaced with cannons. Glancing at my watch, I realize we have only ten minutes until our scheduled tour of the Diamond Fund. But where do we go? Despite my thorough preparation, the Kremlin's labyrinthine layout leaves me disoriented.

Troitskaya Tower

According to the map, there is a road that leads directly to the Armoury Chamber and Diamond Fund. However, when we started walking, a soldier of Putin blew a whistle at us and signaled us to go around. In conclusion, this path is forbidden and cannot be passed. This means that we have to walk and run to the Cathedral Square to reach the other side of the road that comes from the Borovitskaya Tower gate, and then go back to the forbidden road. There will be an officer standing there, checking the passes of people entering and exiting. The entrance to the Diamond Fund and Armoury Chamber without going through the ticket office can be accessed through this way. At this point, there are three or four people standing in line, and they have tickets for the 10:30 am show. This means that the people who are watching the same show as us have already entered. We can only wait for the next show.

Borovitskaya Tower Gate

After waiting for a while, the officers allowed us to enter. Upon entering, we were asked to leave our bulky winter coats in the cloakroom downstairs. Cameras were allowed inside, but photography was strictly prohibited. After leaving our belongings, we were asked to show our IDs and undergo a security scan. We were then led to a sealed door, which was opened for us to enter. An officer followed us closely throughout our visit. This room housed a collection of precious diamonds and gemstones. The first room displayed various diamonds and gemstones collected by Russia. The second room showcased historical and priceless diamond jewelry, seemingly beyond valuation. It was an incredibly opulent display, leaving us speechless and dazzled. The highlight was the three-sided Shah Diamond, a legendary diamond, and the Romanov dynasty's diamond crown, adorned with thousands of pearls, rubies, and diamonds. Throughout our visit, the officer remained close by, as if we could easily steal something. We were also not allowed to speak loudly, as another group was reprimanded by the officer for admiring the diamonds too loudly.

After enduring the awkwardness of being watched intently, we finally exited the exhibition. The staff seemed relieved to see each group leave, as they had to follow multiple groups at every step. If there were too many groups, they wouldn't be able to keep up. The staff opened another door for us to exit. The other path led to The Armoury Chamber, but we still had to wait until 4:30 PM for the last tour of the day. As it was only a little past eleven in the morning, we decided to go downstairs to the cloakroom to collect our belongings and visit the cathedral complex first. Then, we would decide what to do next.

As we descended the stairs, we stumbled upon an official checking the tickets of a Thai tour group about to enter the Armoury Chamber. Since they were a large group, she wasn't using the ticket scanner. As we stood there observing, she beckoned us to join them, assuming we were part of the tour group. We were all confused, but she suddenly asked for our tickets, ripped them, and told us to follow the group ahead. Consequently, instead of entering at our scheduled time of 4:30 PM, we were unexpectedly granted immediate access. OMG! Sometimes fate plays tricks on us without warning.

The Armoury Chamber (Оружейная палата) is the oldest museum in Russia, founded by Tsar Alexander I. It houses over 4,000 priceless treasures, including royal regalia, garments of tsars, tsarsinas, and other members of the royal family, precious jewelry, gifts from foreign countries, textiles with various patterns, royal household items, silverware and goldware of the high nobility, orders, military weapons, armor of soldiers and knights, as well as horse harnesses and carriages used in war. All exhibits are arranged in rooms by category, offering a dazzling display. Unfortunately, photography is prohibited inside due to the priceless nature of the exhibits. The memory of the exquisite and beautiful objects remains vivid.

Following a Thai tour group, I was able to glean some insights into the history of various artifacts. I also occasionally joined English-speaking tour groups, picking up knowledge as I understood. This provided me with valuable information.

The Armoury Chamber in the Moscow Kremlin is a must-see for any visitor to the city. It houses a vast collection of priceless treasures, each with its own fascinating history. A visit to the Armoury Chamber is an enriching experience that is well worth the 700 RUB (approximately 350 USD) entrance fee.

After completing our visit here, we exited the same way and walked back to the temple complex. With our tickets, we were granted access to all the temples in this area. However, photography was strictly prohibited inside all the temples.

Upon arriving at the Archangel's Cathedral, we found it closed to the public due to an ongoing ceremony. As entry was only permitted in the afternoon, we were limited to capturing photographs of the exterior. The cathedral serves as the burial place for 46 monarchs who ruled from the 14th century until Peter the Great relocated the capital to Saint Petersburg.

Archangel Cathedral

The Annunciation Cathedral (Благовещенский собор) is a private church for the Tsar and the royal family. It has nine golden domes, with the largest dome in the center. The dome is topped with a cross. The interior is decorated with numerous works of art by famous Russian artists, some of which are over five hundred years old. The central hall is paved with marble, a gift from the Persian king.

Annunciation Cathedral

The Assumption Cathedral (Успенский Собор) is the oldest and most important church in Russia. It has been used for important ceremonies, such as the coronation of tsars. It was built on the site of an older church and has also been used as a burial place for patriarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Another notable and unmentioned part is the Ivan the Great Bell Tower (Колокольня Ивана Великого), the tallest church in the Kremlin, standing at 81 meters. Built in 1508, it was the tallest structure of its time. It houses a total of 22 bells. If you wish to climb it, tickets are available, but they must be purchased at the same time as your general admission ticket.

After capturing the scene, we moved on to admire the Tsar Cannon (Царь-пушка), a monumental landmark that attracts countless visitors for photographs. This colossal bronze cannon, measuring an impressive 5.9 meters in length, was constructed in 1586 but never saw actual use.

Next to the Tsar Cannon stands the Tsar Bell (Царь–колокол), a colossal bell measuring 6.14 meters in height and 6.6 meters in diameter. Weighing an astonishing 100,000 kilograms, the bell is a testament to the grandeur and engineering prowess of its era.

From this angle, looking far into the distance across the vast courtyard, one can see a yellow building. That is the Presidential Palace, the workplace of Vladimir Putin, a prominent figure in today's world. All tourists can only look from afar and take pictures from a distance. Do not even think about venturing into that area, as loud whistles will blare, indicating a restricted zone. All tourists must remain within the designated area.

Presidential Office

Spasskaya Tower

The Spasskaya Tower is the most famous tower of the Moscow Kremlin, and one of the most recognizable landmarks in Russia. It is located above the main entrance to the Kremlin, known as the Spassky Gate. The tower was built in the late 15th century by Italian architect Pietro Antonio Solari, and has been rebuilt and renovated several times since then.

The Spasskaya Tower is 71 meters (233 feet) tall and has a distinctive red-brick facade. It is adorned with intricate carvings and sculptures, including a large clock face that was added in the 17th century. The tower is also home to the famous Spassky chimes, which play a traditional Russian melody every hour.

The Spasskaya Tower has played a significant role in Russian history. It was the site of many important events, including the coronation of tsars and the celebration of military victories. The tower was also used as a prison for political prisoners during the Soviet era.

Today, the Spasskaya Tower is a popular tourist destination and a symbol of Russian national pride. It is also the official residence of the President of Russia.

Our tour of the Moscow Kremlin ended abruptly at 12:45, much earlier than expected and desired. This left us with ample time to spare. All that remained was to retrieve our belongings left at the Troitskaya Tower, which seemed quite far from our current location, and we were not eager to carry our luggage around. Therefore, we decided to take a shortcut out of the Kremlin. We walked past the Presidential Administration Building towards the exit gate at the Spasskaya Tower (Спасская башня). Exiting through this gate would lead us to Red Square. It was a shortcut that brought us back to the real world after the walls of the Kremlin had transported us back centuries.

During our visit to Red Square, an event was being held, making the vast space seem noticeably smaller. We reminisced about the delicious flavors of GUM's ice cream, prompting us to head back inside the GUM department store.

The Allure of Free Ice Cream: A Day at GUM

The massive crowds that filled the GUM department store on June 1st were drawn by the allure of free ice cream. This annual Ice Cream Day, a tradition established by GUM, saw long lines of eager customers snaking through the store, all waiting for their complimentary ice cream cones.

The attraction wasn't limited to free cones. Ice cream sticks were also available at a 50% discount, making it an irresistible deal for many. Instead of paying the usual 50 RUB, customers could enjoy a refreshing treat for just 25 RUB.

This event highlights the power of freebies and discounts in attracting large crowds. The combination of a beloved treat and significant savings created a buzz that drew people in, making it a successful day for both GUM and ice cream lovers alike.

After enjoying the delicious ice cream, we walked back to retrieve our belongings. We passed through Alexander Garden on our way back to collect our luggage.

They then strolled along various streets, heading towards Arbat Street (Арба́т). Their aim was to soak up the atmosphere and find a Russian watch shop on that particular street.

Arbat Street is one of the oldest streets in Moscow, dating back to the 15th century. During the reign of Ivan the Terrible in the 16th century, it was home to the secret police. In the 17th century, it became a residential area for nobles and artists. However, in the 20th century, two- and three-story buildings began to be constructed.

Arbat Street

These buildings were once multi-family apartments for the working class. During the Soviet era, they became the residence of high-ranking members of the Communist Party. In 1985, Arbat Street became the longest pedestrian street in Moscow, stretching 1.8 kilometers. It gradually gained popularity as a hub for artists, painters, souvenir shops, restaurants, cafes, theaters, and cultural centers.

We strolled along the path until we reached our destination. Perhaps because we arrived a little early, the "chic" atmosphere of the street was not yet apparent. However, throughout our walk, we could sense the popularity of this place, where people often gather to sit in restaurants, stroll, and search for souvenirs and gifts.

After taking in the atmosphere for a while, we continued on to another place that we felt was not to be missed under any circumstances: The Cathedral of Christ the Savior (Храм Христа Спасителя). These places are not far from each other and can be reached on foot. We walked through a garden for just a short distance and arrived at our destination.

The park we walked through

In fact, if you plan to come by subway, it only takes a few minutes to get to Kropotkinskaya Station (Кропо́ткинская). From there, it's just a short walk to your destination.

Cathedral of Christ the Savior

Upon arrival, the sheer scale of the edifice before me was awe-inspiring. Stepping inside, the feeling intensified exponentially. The Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the tallest Orthodox cathedral in the world, boasts a towering height of 103 meters, creating an expansive and airy interior. The frescoes and icons resembled those I had encountered in other cathedrals, making it difficult to discern their relative aesthetic merit, given my lack of Christian faith.

The only rule for visitors is that photography inside is strictly prohibited. Visitors must be respectful and avoid making noise, as there are still worshippers who come to pray and chant. Many female tourists who visit often cover their heads in accordance with the customs of this Christian denomination.

Exiting the cathedral, we took a stroll to the rear, where a bridge spans the Moskva River. This bridge is considered one of the most beautiful in the city. Standing on the bridge, we were treated to a distant view of the Moscow Kremlin, which we had just departed that morning, on one side. On the other side, we could see the monument to Peter the Great by the water's edge.

Peter the Great

After capturing the grandeur and beauty of this place, many members began to feel exhausted as we had used our legs quite a lot today. The tour program for today will probably end here. It's time to head back to our accommodation. From here, we can take the metro from Kropotkinskaya station to return.

However, I still have enough energy to continue sightseeing today. Therefore, I would like to take a solo tour of the metro stations. It is said that many metro stations are beautiful, so I would like to take a train ride and admire them for an hour before checking into my accommodation. So, I jumped on and off the metro, stopping to take pictures of various stations. I focused on the Koltsevaya Line (Кольцева́я ли́ния), or the brown circle line, because it was built after the victory in World War II. This was a time when the people were happy that the war was over and peace had returned. As victors, they experienced a flourishing of the arts, including the metro stations, which were the heart of transportation. The Communist Party believed that its people could have good things, just like the people in the liberal world. In addition, it was built to facilitate travel. This line is one of the most important lines because it connects to all other metro lines in Moscow.

Komsomolskaya Station (Комсомо́льская) is arguably the most beautiful and crowded station in Moscow. The station features a yellow color scheme, adorned with mosaics and precious stones. The station's interior paintings depict historical events related to the struggle for freedom. The walls are constructed from marble, featuring high ceilings and large chandeliers, resembling a "Palace for the People."

Komsomolskaya Station

Prospekt Mira Station (Проспе́кт Ми́ра) is characterized by its white marble interior, which evokes the diverse agricultural landscape of Russia. The station walls are adorned with deep red marble from the Ural Mountains, while the floor features a striking checkered pattern of gray and black granite. Notably, the station's lighting fixtures consist of multiple cylindrical lamps.

Prospekt Mira Station

The next station is Novoslobodskaya (Новослобо́дская), where the architects aimed to incorporate stained glass, a technique often seen in churches, alongside mosaic decorations. This unique combination creates a vibrant and visually stunning station.

Novoslobodskaya Station

Belorusskaya Station (Белору́сская) symbolizes the close relationship between the sister cities of Russia and Belarus.

Belorusskaya Station

Two stations that appear superficially similar are Krasnopresnenskaya (Краснопре́сненская), which features historical events and the Russian Revolution of 1905 and the October Revolution of 1917, and Kiyevskaya (Ки́евская), which boasts 73 murals adorning its walls, selected from a competition in Ukraine. A large mosaic depicts the unity of Russia.

Krasnopresnenskaya Station

Kiyevskaya Station

Equally impressive is Park Kultury (Парк культу́ры) station, designed by the same architect responsible for Luzhniki Stadium. This station boasts a "Classic Sport" design inspired by ancient Greece. Its walls are adorned with 26 sculptures depicting sports and activities enjoyed by Russian children.

Park Kultury Station

Another station with a beautiful and sweet appearance is Taganskaya (Тага́нская), where the interior tells the historical stories of the Red Army, which played various roles in the military, such as pilots, tank drivers, and warship drivers.

Taganskaya Station

The small mouse scurried up and down the circular wire until its legs were tired. Just before returning, it remembered to stop at the station that was considered a must-see on another line: Ploshchad Revolyutssi (Пло́щадь Револю́ции). Decorated with 76 sculptures, it tells the story of travelers on the path of life, from children to athletes, from students to farmers, from workers to soldiers. The highlight is the statue of a soldier with his loyal dog, which most passersby rub on the nose and legs for good luck.

Ploshchad Revolyutssi Station

This is the reason why I, Nui Lek, had to come to this station. Perhaps this is also the reason why this station is always bustling with tourists.

Little Mouse has been exploring since early morning and is now completely exhausted. It's time to head back and rest. Tomorrow brings new adventures, so stay tuned for more exciting journeys. To be continued.

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