Almost a Play-by-Play, Moscow Edition

Past two days + some pretty rad iPhone pics. 

After taking a bus from Klaipeda, Lithuania to Riga, Latvia, we hopped on a night train to Moscow. We talked, we ate, we slept, we made it through the border check and before we knew it woke up to snow covered Russian countryside. Twenty-four hours in total.

We took a minute to drop off our bags, but quickly got right to seeing the city. It began with taking the Metro (a post in itself, the metro system) to the RED SQUARE. What. 

There, we saw the Museum of Russian History, the Kremlin, St. Basil's Cathedral, a huge mall (I forget the name - there have been so many things to remember!). We've been back there since, and every time I get this feeling of awe and amazement. 

From there we made our way around to the main entrance of the Kremlin to tour the Armory and a couple churches within the walls. Everything, incredible. The riches that are in that place...and we were told we only saw 4%. The rest is hidden away. 

Anyways, to today. The first stop on our list was a string of many stops. We explored the underground, the spidery system of trains that traverse the city. They're beautiful, covered almost entirely with white, black, red, or green marble. One even looked like it had gold in the mosaic tiles. These undergrounds also served as shelter durning the Cold War - when you go down the escalator, you go dowwwnnnnnn. Far. 

After exploring we came back up to the Red Square where we toured St. Basil's. If you saw the picture I posted on IG/Facebook, that's the place. Walking in, I imagined it to open up to a huge all-encompassing view to the tops of the domes. Not the case. It's actually broken up into rooms and hallways, most of which are intricately painted of saints, church fathers and other designs. At the highest point we could go, three men stood and chanted. Amazing experience.

The next church was just as incredible. Words can't describe, and pictures weren't allowed. Dangit. But it was so meticulously created, with each piece and painting done in a way that reflected the glory and power of God. That's my take, anyways.

Arabat Street was next. In its day, it was the place to live. Rich, influential, movers and shakers of the day lived here. What day? I forget, exactly, but maybe in a future post you'll get more details.

Quick trip to Gorky Park to see the biggest ice rink I've ever seen (feet were just too tired at this point to do anything but hold me upright). This was then followed by seeing the Red Square at night, all lit up. After being those Americans we came back to the hostel. Day two, done & done. 

Tomorrow afternoon we go by train to St. Petersburg, where we walk walk walk and see all the things.

I'm so doggone tired. But cannot believe this experience. When we have little breaks, I find myself wondering how the heck I ended up here. I am in RUSSIA. Also - all of the stories that surround us - how events twisted and turned and shaped the lives of those who lived then and now. Are we products of our culture, or is our culture a product of us? How are we defined by the events and decisions happening around us?

McDonald's burger. We'll call it a cultural experience.