Moscow- Day Eight - Thursday - May 9th Victory Day

Today is Victory Day, a very big holiday in Russia..  We woke up and watched the parade on TV.  The parade is actually a military inspection for dignitaries in Red Square. 

We were very excited that we had a view of Tverskaya St from our apartment for the parade which turned out to be the tanks driving on their way to the parade in Red Square.  That did lessen the blow when they put up the façade over the scaffolding across the alleyway between our building and the one next to ours that is under "remont"(remodel) blocking our view of the street. 

The parade started with troops, followed by the tanks, then aircraft flying over.  We were able to see the aircraft pass over our apartment then from the TV we watched them go over Red Square. 



We were turned away from Tverskaya St before the parade (in the background)

Beginning remarks

Very impressive display in Red Square

Our view

Aircraft flying over us on their way to Red Square



 

After the parade we got ready and took the Metro to the Church's Central Bldg.  It is the biggest church building in Moscow and Barrett gave us a tour.

Stopping for a snack

Funny sign

 K met us there and walked back to the center of Moscow with us, showing us some of the history and sights.  We started on a small street and saw buildings from the 1400's then we walked us a staircase and landed on a street with building from the 1800's.  It was very cool. 

Smirnoff made vodka here

St. Basil's from the other side of Red Square

One of the Seven Sisters

Greg, K, Barrett and Owen

15th Century Russian Orthodox Church

Then we went into the GUM (goom) which is a beautiful shopping center (next to the Kremlin).  It was very fun and festive with everyone celebrating Victory Day. 

We could not enter the square, they were checking passports and admitting Russian passport holders only, so we walked around the square and it was beautiful.

Kremlin Wall

St. Basil's Cathedral

Red Square from a distance

Turret in Kremlin Wall  

Church in the Kremlin

Temple of Christ the Savior church (we toured the first day)



Kremlin and the Moscow River

 They have a tradition, which actually originates from another country that I can't remember at the moment, when they marry to put a lock on a bridge and then throw the key over the bridge.  This bridge in Moscow has metal trees placed on it to allow for more locks on the bridge. The sloped bench is a Russian tradition for newlyweds which brings the couple together. 

A city park

A tree loaded with locks

Once the trees are full, they move them off the bridge an on to this walkway along the river

The new trees on the bridge

Far from newlyweds but on the sloping bench



We continued walking through the festive Victory Day streets of Moscow until it was time to say goodbye :(

In front of a small museum

Fun little street on a perfect day

Barrett and the goat he saw when he first got to Moscow

After two years, we paid to pose with the goat

Pretty good shot I think

At the Metro, friends always

Then back to the apartment to do the bulk of our packing.  We were able to observe some of the Victory Day festivities in the square across from our apartment building.