As usual, we have been cared for along the way – in Moscow at the train station, an elderly woman helped us grab seats in the waiting area as they became available. There was a sweet lady on the plane that talked to us in Russian and then saw how tired we were on our final flight from Amsterdam to Moscow so she let us sleep and then would get us food and drink to give us when we woke up. She wanted to be sure we knew how to get to the metro and into town. She was relieved to hear we had a minibus planned to pick us up.
Andre Maltsev (son of Sasha Maltsev) met us at the airport and arranged the transport. We arrived in Moscow on Friday night, went to the hotel and had buffet dinner and then went to our rooms to sleep (all except for Lauranne who went to Andre Maltsev’s home to visit his family and share dinner there – she got back to the hotel by midnight so she did not turn into a pumpkin.)
Saturday, we went to the Kremlin – saw the changing of the guard at the eternal flame, went to the Armoury and saw the wonderful treasures including Catherine the Great’s bridal gown with an impossibly tiny waist, the only double throne in existence used by 2 teen czars who ruled together as brothers and were assisted by a tutor who stood behind curtained window in the back of the throne to coach them and answer their questions. There were carriages, amazing creations of gold/silver and precious stones, a clock that was never used as Catherine died before it was finished but on it there are eagles who drop pearls into the mouths of their chicks at intervals to tell the time.
We toured 3 of the Kremlin cathedrals and enjoyed their amazing icons – the beauty of things painted in 14th and 15th century was breathtaking. We also had a truly whirlwind tour of the Tretyakovskaya Gallery so that we could see some of the work of famous Russian painters and view “Christ coming to the people” which is a room sized painting depicting Jesus approaching as John the Baptist and the future disciples wait at the river – onlookers include a slave, Saducees and Pharisees, Roman soldiers.
We only had an hour to look and everyone just got a taste so they will have to come back in the future for the full experience !!!
Thanks for all your prayers.
Written by: Lauranne Harris
