Day 13: Moscow, Russia

The night train from Kiev to Moscow was not as scary as expected. As I had read on the internet, many people said theft was very common on Russian's train. And my bed was the upper one, I could not place my bag underneath my seat. Fortunately, my train ride was very safe and smooth, no thief was caught in our cabin. Perhaps my 3 strong cabin-mates did look intimidating enough to scare them off. But one thing I found very disturbing, which was many people smoking on the train, while our cart was non-smoking. *cough, cough*

The grand Arbat station

The metro scene in Moscow

Moscow is an extremely big city. Besides 3 airports, there are 9 train stations in Moscow. The train I took from Kiev arrived at Kiyevsky railway station in the early morning today. Next to the train station, I could conveniently find the metro station to go to Arbat station. As expected, the metro ran very deeply in the underground. I already got used to taking the long escalator while traveling in Ukraine and Georgia. However, the only thing that caused trouble for me was the staircase. Every time when I transferred to another line, I needed to climb up and down the staircases with my suitcase. It was annoying big time. Yet the Russian people were so nice that they voluntarily offered help for me even I didn't ask, I was pretty impressed that Moscow seemed to be better than last time I came here.

Arbat street

Arbat street

I remember I did take a photo of it at the first time

The hostel Trip and Sleep I am staying is located near the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is one of the seven sisters' building, also known as Stalin's cake. After I settled down my stuff, I couldn't resist the brightly sunshine and went out at once, though it was painfully cold outside.

The first and the last stop of today was the Red Square, one my favorite places in Moscow. Walking from the entrance next to the Moscow Historical Museum, I could see the magnificent and magical St. Basil's Cathedral from afar. I still remember the first time I came here, I stood in front of the cathedral in awe and my aunt needed to drag me afterwards, so that I would move from it and leave. This time, no one could stop me from appreciating my favorite cathedral. Nevertheless, only the weather could do that and I finally surrendered. I had to go into the GUM department store to get some warmth, otherwise I could have been frozen to death on the Red Square.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The plaza next to the entrance of the Red Square

One of the entrances of the Red Square

Nikolskaya Tower

Lenin Mausoleum

Moscow Historical Museum

My favorite St. Basil's Cathedral

St. Basil's and Spasskaya Tower

The inside of GUM department store

Afterwards, I walked along the outside of Kremlin and went to the other side of Moscow Canal. The canal was not completely frozen, there were many floating ice sheets on the water. I stayed there for not more than 15 minutes, and my body felt the invading coldness again. As well as the sun was setting, I decided I would just go back to the Red Square to take some night photos.

Minsk, where I didn't go in the end

Kutafya Tower, the entrance of Kremlin

Aleksandrovskly Sad

Moscow canal

Overlooking Kremlin

Another Seven Sisters' building

Cathedral of Christ the Savior

Kremlin and Moscow Canal at night, it was only 4 in the afternoon

Vodovzvodnnaya Tower and the busy traffic

In the end, I spent some hours in the mall and then back to Arbat street for dinner. Later at night, I didn't go back to the hostel but did some window shopping at a local supermarket. It was time to search some souvenirs for myself and my friends in Hong Kong!