Day 20 - 10/8/11 -Wednesday

I find our chosen mode of travel for this portion of the trip (i.e. The trans siberian) an interesting contrast to flying, as you get to experience arriving through the suburbs. For most international cities you don't get to see the character of the region 20 kilometre from the central area, and it not generally the glossy part of the city. Imagine if you will, a Japanese or Sweedish tourist having their initial Melbourne perspective shaped on the Dandenong, or Broadmeadows region, and not the somewhat more scenic CBD. moscow isn't that much different, with some ugly looking factories, poor housing and Soviet style flats,and grafitti on walls.

After a quick transfer from the Moscow station to our accomodation, the first this we noticed is that our accommodation was set up like a casino, flashy lights, games room, retail all around. We are not in sleepy Lysvanka shalet anymore.......conversely this is a 2000 room megahotel.

Although the quite little hotel feel had gone, our room did possess a level 23 view over a Russian park, which was nice. After a mid morning nana nap we decided to head out and tick off a few activities, and started our travels with Moscow Metro. Firstly, we managed to find Gorky Park. The entrance monument itself is worth the price of admission (it is free).  It was midweek, and wet, and Gorky Park was quiet, with perhaps 20 other people strolling through, and 50 park attendants. It is a lovely park, with beautiful floral arrangements and water fountain.

Next stop, some culture, so we went through the New State Tretyakov gallery, which housed a religous artifacts area, Russian 20th century paintings, and a modern art exhibition. The paintings were the most impressive part, and particularly interesting was the quick change to industrial style painting in the 1920s, when Russia Russia moved sharply away from any Impressionist or Post Impretionist style painting. Hard lines, and powerful messages, wuch as the glorification of Industrialisation, the Military, the Railroads, and later, Space Exploration. In the whole museum, only 1 painting of Lenin, and 1 of Stalin, which I found particularly interesting.


Given our midday journey took us through the central Moscow precinct, we could not help but get off and visit St. Basils and the Kremlin area. It was wet, dreary, however it it still amazing the first time one lays their eyes on the lollipop looking church roof. We would learn more about the history of both tomorrow.