Russia 2019 (19) MOSCOW - Moscow by Moonlight

Back at home base, we found our ship had changed docking positions, with a fancier entrance this time.

After dinner we took our third tour of this full and fun day. From 21:00 til midnight, we experienced a Moscow by Night tour. The city is a whole different landscape after dark. To ward away the long harsh winter atmosphere (luckily not when we were there), designers have illuminated buildings, streets, and parks in a fairyland of colorful lights and light beams.

First stop was Victory Park and Square of the Victors on Poklonnaya Hill. It is one of the highest spots in Moscow at 171 meters (562 feet) elevation. In the 1960s, this area was rededicated in remembrance of the Patriotic War of 1812 when Russia thwarted a French invasion led by Napoleon at this location.

This huge sign ("Moscow" in Russian) welcomed us at one end. The clock says 22:57.

Then we strolled down a long, wide promenade almost to the other end. The first Soviet victory parade was held here under President Boris Yeltsin in 1995. The obelisk at the other end is 141 meters (562 feet), measuring 10 centimeters for each day the 1812 war was waged. It incorporates a statue of Saint George slaying the dragon, a heraldic emblem of Moscow.

The white building under the obelisk is a monumental museum (added in 1995). It is dedicated to WWII or the Great Patriotic War, as it is known in Russia. Among other things it contains books listing the names of 26 million Soviet people killed during that conflict.

Along the promenade tanks and other WWII vehicles are displayed as well as statues and monuments noting historical events and persons.

Fountains were lit red and looked more like flames than water.

Nearby is the New Triumphal Arch. The original (1847) was built in wood and rebuilt later (1927) in marble. Once again reconstructed and moved to this area in 1968.

Also nearby is the Russian Orthodox Church of Saint George, a memorial mosque, and a holocaust memorial synagogue. By the way, there are 800+ Orthodox churches in Moscow.

Next we stopped again at Red Square. An entirely different look at night, but still busy as can be. Saint Basil's Cathedral.

Clock tower of the Kremlin with Soviet red star on top.

Even at this time of night they were building the stage for the upcoming Cyrillic Alphabet festival. See guys working on roof to the right. Pretty extravagant for a festival about letters.

A better view of Lenin's tomb.

Along side were graves of other notable Russians. Kremlin wall behind.

Kremlin wall and tower. Senate building with flag in back. Lenin's tomb in front.

Another tower. Some of the churches in Cathedral Square behind.

Kremlin Palace.
The GUM store was just outside the square. This is maybe two-thirds of its front facade. Yes, it is that big!

Then we took a boat ride down the Moscova River. So peaceful and beautiful.

Here are some of the buildings we saw going to and from our ship and along the river. Sorry some not focused or identified, but taken from the moving bus or boat.

This is the Kotelnicheskaya Embankment Building (one of Stalin's Seven Sister buildings). The highest tower has 32 stories and, at the time it was built (1952), it was the tallest building in all of Europe. A 9-story block was residences lived in by famous Russians. After WWII much of the rest of the complex was turned into housing.

The Church of Saint Barbara on Varvarka Street (one of Moscow's oldest streets). The original structure was built in 1514 by the Italian architect Aloisio the New. It was disassembled in 1796 because it was not thought to "match the style of the area." It was soon rebuilt as it is today, on its original foundation. In the War of 1812, Napoleon used it as a stable for his horses. The church was closed in 1920. It was utilized as a warehouse and such til 1991, when it was given back to the congregation.

Called the White House or the Russian White House. It is the primary office of the Russian government and the official workplace of their Prime Minister, Dmitry Medvedev.

I don't think this one is of any significance, but pretty changing colors.

Bolshoi Theatre, home of the Russian ballet and opera. This is their 244th season!!

Cathedral of Christ the Savior. More later.

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Skyline.
Towers and steeples.

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And the Floating Bridge near the Kremlin. You read about this and saw the daytime photo a couple of entries ago.

On the ride back we saw that even the expressways were lit in sunrise/sunset colors of pinks, purples, and blues. At midnight the traffic was still a mad rush for the 45-minute ride home!!

The Russian "white nights" refers to their short dark time hours. We experience this on our trip, when about 03:00 the sky was almost daylight bright. Thanks to the dark curtains in our room we were able to sleep through.

If you can identify any of the mystery buildings above or any others unknown in the blog, let me know. Thanks in advance.