Springtime in Russia: My Unforgettable Journey – The Last Day... From Russia with Love

The day of departure has finally arrived. Although we have experienced much joy, wonder, and excitement, and gained new experiences from this unfamiliar land thousands of miles from home, all good things must come to an end. Just as every beginning has an end, so too must our travels, for without an end, the anticipation and excitement of the journey would be lost. Since today is our last day, let us make the most of it.

This morning, our travel plans are as loose as yesterday's, and we will likely only be sightseeing until the afternoon before returning to our accommodation to rest and prepare our belongings before checking out around 6:00 PM as agreed upon with our gracious host.

Since she has no other guests arriving and our flight is not until after 11:00 PM, our host has thoughtfully calculated that leaving our accommodation around 6:00 PM for the airport would be a comfortable and unhurried timeframe. Therefore, she has allowed us to stay at the accommodation until 6:00 PM, when she will come to collect the room key.

Having settled our affairs, we bid farewell to Moscow by visiting another significant Russian landmark: the Triumphal Arch. We departed from our accommodation and switched to the Belorusskaya (Белору́сская) metro station.

This station is named after the Belorussky Rail Terminal above it, which is a railway station for travel to the west towards Belarus.

The highlight is the octagonal mosaic depicting the way of life of the Belarusian people, who were once part of Russia.

We boarded the brown line and transferred to the dark blue line at Kiyevskaya station (Киевская). The station is named after the Kiyevsky Railway Station, which connects the two lines. The station's decor reflects the theme of friendship between Russia and Ukraine.

After taking some photos of the metro station as souvenirs, we took the dark blue metro line to our destination station, Park Pobedy (Парк Победы), which is actually Victory Park.

Park Pobedy station is remarkably plain, lacking the design flair seen in other stations throughout the city. This simplicity was somewhat disappointing.

From the station, we walked straight ahead following the signs for the Triumphal Arch. Along the way, there were images depicting the celebration of victory.

Emerging from the depths, we find ourselves in the heart of Kutuzovsky Prospekt, at Ploschad Pobedy, or Victory Square. This triumphal arch stands as a testament to the Russian army's victory over Napoleon's forces in defense of their homeland. Originally constructed from wood in 1814 at Tverskaya Zastava, it was transformed into the stone structure we see today 12 years later.

A short distance away, you can see the open space of Park Pobedy (Парк Победы). However, we need to go back underground to cross the road. When we emerge on the surface, we are at Victory Park, on a hill in Moscow called Poklonnaya Gora (Покло́нная гора́). On the left, you will find the world's largest floral clock, with a 10-meter-wide face that tells the local time. There are many structures here, each with a meaning related to World War II.

Erected to commemorate the heroism of Soviet soldiers on the 50th anniversary of World War II, the monument features a row of fountains in front of the Monument to Peter the Great (Victory Monument) and the Central Museum of the Great Patriotic War. At night, the fountains are illuminated with red lights, symbolizing the blood shed during the war.

A 141.8-meter-tall obelisk stands prominently, its height symbolizing the 1,418 days and nights of the protracted war.

At the base of the column is a statue of Saint George Slaying the Dragon, slaying the dragon on a granite pedestal, its neck severed into pieces. Above is the goddess Nike, the goddess of victory. The base of the column is a carved image telling the story of the war.

Situated on Poklonnaya Hill, the expansive plaza offers panoramic views stretching as far as the Moscow International Business Center.

This area also houses a religious site, St. George Church, the only Orthodox church on Poklonnaya Gora. The church blends elements of old and new Russian architecture and was built to commemorate the heroes and victims of the Patriotic War of 1941-1945.

After strolling around and enjoying the atmosphere for a while, we decided to head back. There were small gardens where we could relax and unwind, as well as snack vendors and bicycle rentals available. Since we had nothing else to do, we decided to call it a day.

Glancing at my watch, I saw that it was almost noon. From Park Pobedy station, I decided to stop at Smolenskaya station (Смоленская) to see what was available for lunch in the area.

Park Pobedy Station

Time to head back now

Upon arriving at Smolenskaya station, we couldn't resist taking a few final photos of this magnificent station. Adorned with white marble columns, Smolenskaya was once the deepest station on the dark blue line. However, with the opening of Park Pobedy station, it has lost its title. The station's depth of 50 meters (160 feet) is still quite impressive.

The Moscow Metro is a captivating destination, offering an unparalleled artistic experience. Each station boasts unique architectural features, exquisite materials, and stunning chandeliers, making it a visual feast for any visitor.

Smolenskaya Station

Smolenskaya Station Building

After taking pictures of the station, I noticed a My My self-service restaurant right outside. I couldn't resist, so I went in for a bite. The food was decent and the prices were reasonable. After filling my stomach, I took a leisurely stroll around the station.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs building is located near the station.

On the last day before leaving Moscow, an unforgettable memory was created for us, even more so than the past 10 days. One of our members felt like someone bumped into her, and when she turned to look at the person who bumped into her, he walked away quickly. The bag she was carrying felt lighter, so she opened it to check. It turned out that her mobile phone had disappeared. She immediately told us, and one of the members ran after the Chinese man who had entered a shop. When he found him, he searched him and patted his trouser pocket and found a phone. When he took it out, it was the phone that had been stolen. The Chinese man took advantage of the moment when we were distracted and ran away immediately. The whole incident happened so quickly that we didn't know what to do. Fortunately, we remembered the face of the person who had stolen the bag, so we got our belongings back. One of our friends in the group said that when he saw the face, he remembered seeing this person and his group of friends walking around in front of the My My shop when we walked out of the shop. He didn't think they were pickpockets waiting for us to be distracted so they could steal from us. We couldn't help but wonder if there had been a physical assault or an incident that required us to go to the police station, whether we would have been able to return on the same evening as scheduled. We don't want to think about it any further. This is a lesson for us that we should always be careful wherever we go, because every place has good and bad people. Pickpockets, snatchers, and thieves are everywhere, just waiting for the right moment. The warnings we have been given to be careful with our valuables are not an exaggeration. Our friend in the group was also careless to carry the bag on his back, which tempted these people. If we had met real professionals, they would have passed the stolen goods on to each other so that we wouldn't have been able to catch anyone. And if there had been a physical assault, the matter would certainly not have ended well.

The unexpected incident left us disheartened and unwilling to continue our stroll. It was an overly exciting end to our last day in Russia. We decided to return to our accommodation to rest and pack our belongings. On our way back, we stopped at a roadside store to buy some souvenirs, as it was likely our last chance to spend our rubles. I'm not sure what everyone else bought, but for me, there was nothing better than purchasing a memento of the upcoming World Cup to bring back home as a thrilling reminder of our trip.

The adorable wolf Zabivaka, the mascot of this year's FIFA World Cup.

Lay's crab flavor chips, perfect for snacking while watching the football broadcast, will make you feel like you're watching the game live in Russia.

We then returned to collect our belongings. At six o'clock in the evening, the host arrived as scheduled to collect the apartment key. Upon entering, she was surprised to find that everything in the room had been restored to its original state, ready for a new guest. She remarked that she had never encountered a guest who had left the room in such a condition before. It was a pleasant surprise. Meanwhile, we reflected on our role as representatives of Thailand. We realized that our actions reflected on the reputation of our country. We understood that traveling to any destination meant carrying our culture, customs, and proper Thai etiquette with us at all times. We were determined not to allow anyone to say that we, as Thais, lacked culture. Such behavior would be unbecoming.

After bidding farewell to our host, we embarked on a journey to the Belorusskaya (Белору́сская) metro station. We boarded the green line train and rode directly to Domodedovskaya (Домодедовская) station. From there, we transferred to a bus bound for Domodedovo Airport (Домоде́дово). The journey took approximately half an hour, as we traveled nearly to the end of the line.

Domodedovskaya station is a white marble station decorated with an aviation theme, as it serves as a gateway to the airport. It was constructed after the completion of Domodedovo Airport.

Domodedovskaya Station

Upon arrival, exit through the rear of the train. You will find an underground tunnel. Walk straight ahead until you reach the end, where you will find a ramp for easy luggage transport. This convenient service is specifically designed for airport travelers.

The bus stop was located on the side of the road, with people carrying their luggage and boarding the bus intermittently. If the bus number was 308, there was no need to hesitate; simply place your luggage under the bus. This time, I had done my homework well and avoided the mistakes I made on the way there. After boarding the bus, I paid the driver before finding a seat. The fare was incredibly cheap, only 85 RUB per person, compared to the 120 RUB for a van. Choose whichever option suits your preference and travel time. If you have ample time, traveling by bus is a decent alternative.

The journey offers scenic views and occasional stops for passengers. The destination is reached shortly, and upon arrival, retrace your steps to return to the airport and prepare for your journey home.

Barbecue Chicken - Seasonal Salad - Mango Cheesecake

Doha, Qatar

Mushroom and leek frittata - Seasonal fruit - Fruit yoghurt

Snacks

Despite the exhaustion from the journey and the time difference, I found it difficult to fall asleep. Memories flooded my mind amidst the silence as the passengers slumbered and the air hostess dimmed the lights. Although our trip did not end on a positive note, the experiences we gathered each day in this foreign land were invaluable. The negative experiences paled in comparison to the richness of our discoveries, serving as valuable lessons for future journeys. This trip exposed us to both the good and the bad, reminding us that no place on Earth is perfect. Every destination has its own unique blend of positive and negative aspects.

The journey of Big Brother and Little Mouse across the vast land of Russia has come to an end. Once again, we have gained so much from this trip. Thank you for all the memories and experiences you have given us.

"Russia"...My Remarkable Journey.....From Russia with Love

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