Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

The Cathedral  in front of Kropotkinskaya is Russian main orthodox church.
It is placed on the bank of Moskva-river so that its grand golden dome may be seen from everywhere.

The history of the cathedral deserves special mention.
In 1832 its first project was confirmed by architect Konstantin Ton. It took about 40 years to build this church, which was to honour the war of 1812 between Russia and France.
Unfortunately, it was detonated in 1931. Soon a new swimming-pool appeared at that place.
Only in the 80s the government decided to restore the temple. Five years later the construction was over. Only in 2000 it was hallowed.

The height of the cathedral is 102m, the width - 85 m. It can seat 10,000 people at a time.
What is interesting, is that that the gold cupolas resemble an onion which in their turn look like helmets of great Russian epic heroes - Bogatir.

Tourist may visit the cathedral, order excursions, enjoy a marvellous sight of Moscow from the cathedral's observation deck.

Address: Volkhonka St, 15
It works daily 10.00-17.00. On Fridays 13.00-17.00
Official website: http://www.xxc.ru/english/index.htm

"Bogatiri" by V. Vasnetsov, 1898

Taxi in Moscow

Sometimes it happens that you catch a taxi driver, but he, unfortunately, doesn't speak any language you understand..and there are no people around to explain him where to drive..
In this case try any of the following taxi companies with operators who understand English. It would be of great help to you in any tricky situation.

Here is the list of taxi companies from the journal "Moscow Expat Life" which we've found by chance in the American Center in Moscow.

Bee Car  +7495-579-48-10 - here you can also rent a car

Taxi 956 +7 495-956-8-956 

New Moscow Taxi + 7 495-780-67-80

Moscow Taxi +7 499-995-0652

Formula Taxi +7-495-777-8-777

But, to tell the truth, we prefer metro, buses etc. or simple walking than using taxi...just because it's cheaper)

Gogolevskiy Boulevard

Kropotkinskaya station resembles the sun with its rays which can lead you to beautiful and exciting places of interest. Directly in front of it is the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. If we go to the left we'll see the famous Pushkin museum... and if we walk behind the station we'll find ourselves in Gogolevsky Boulevard.

Gogolevsky Boulevard is one of the tenth Boulevards of Moscow which form the famous Garden Ring (Sadovoe Koltso), or Boulevard Ring.
Gogolevsky Boulevard is one of the most beautiful historical places of Moscow. The Boulevard was opened in 1909, but had another name "Prechistinskiy". The name originated from the word "Chistiy" meaning "clean". But in 1924 it was renamed into Gogolevskiy in honour of the famous  Russian writer Nikolay Gogol. At the end of the Boulevard there is a grand monument in his honour.

Another monument is devoted to another Russian writer , Mikhail Sholokhov, and his novel "Tihiy Don" (Still Don).

The Boulevard has a so called three-level structure as once there used to be a river with the banks of different level. That is why the eminence of the boulevard varies.

The architecture of this place is worth seeing. It presents buildings which survived the Great Fire of 1812. More to it, different merchants and famous people like Pushkin or Turgenev of the 19th century.

Nowadays you can be lucky to find there exhibited photos. Sometimes even artists exhibit and sell their works of art there. You can buy anything you like, or just enjoy.

It's especially good there in summer. When it's warm and you can enjoy a beautiful day and trees around you    sitting on a bench...with an ice-cream... )

Blini, samovar, Maslenitsa in Moscow

Maslenitsa (Масленица) or Pancake Week is an ancient Slavic holiday which symbolises the end of the long winter and meeting of the long-awaited spring. It is one of the few ancient traditions which is celebrated nowadays in Russia. This year winter does not seem to give way to spring as it is still snowing here.

The celebration got its name due to the butter (maslo) which was allowed to eat during the festive week. After this week Lent follows which lasts till Easter.

Each day of the week has its name and its traditions, for example, a day of meeting, flirting, revelry, companies. The most important day is Sunday: people ask each other to forgive them. Moreover, Sunday is a farewell of winter: a scarecrow is to be burnt. The scarecrow is associated with Miss Winter who does not want to leave the country. While she is burning everyone is shouting something like "Blaze,blaze, don't go out!" or "Winter, go away!"..

Other attributions of the holiday are pancakes (blini) with jams or caviar, outdoor festivals which include singing songs or chastooshka (a very short, but funny verse accompanied by accordion) and sport games of all kinds (e.g. pulling the rope).

This year, 2013, main festivals take place in all the parks of Moscow. People can buy blini - the minimal cost   is 70 rub. - and take part in different competitions or even workshops.

The attached video in Russian shows the festival in Gorkiy  Park (metro station Park Kultury, Oktyabrskaya).

Current Exhibitions in Moscow. March'13

Recently we have found some recommendations on which exhibitions to visit during the March, 2013 in Moscow.

Here is the list of the so called best exhibitions of March.

1) What: Dior Couture. The exhibition of photos by a French photographer Patrick Demarshelje, who in his works presents the history of Dior. 
  When: 7 March - 3 April
  Where: Exhibiting Center "Manezh" (Манеж.) . Address: Manezhnaya Square, 1. Metro stations: Ohotniy Ryad, Biblioteka imeni Lenina, Aleksandrovskiy Sad.
  Admission fee: 200-300r.

2) What: Best of Russia'12. Annual photo exhibition devoted to the most relevant events of 2012.
    When: 14 February – 24 March
    Where: Winzavod Center for Contemporary Art. Address: 4th Syromyatnicheskiy Lane, 1, bld 6. Metro station: Kurskaya.
    Admission fee: 200.
    Website: http://www.winzavod.ru/eng/

3) What:  It's Paris! the photo exhibition of the French photographers of the 20-50th. 
    When: 21 February - 19 May.
    Where: Multimedia Art Museum. Address: Ostozhenka,16. Metro Stations: Park Kultury, Kropotkinskaya.
    Admission fee: 50-300r. the 3d Sunday is free!

4) What: Design Territory. The exhibition is devoted to urbanisation and the cities' improvement. 
     When: 25 February - 24 March
     Where: Winzavod Center for Contemporary Art. Address: 4th Syromyatnicheskiy Lane, 1, bld 6. Metro station: Kurskaya.
    Admission fee: free
    Website: http://www.winzavod.ru/eng/

Moscow Explorer is sure to visit at least one of the exhibitions. Follow us!

Moscow Metro. Park Kultury VS Kropotkinskaya

To reach Ostozhenka you may choose any metro station either Park Kultury or Kropotkinskaya.
We've chosen Park Kultury.

Park Kultury was opened in 1935 as a station of the first metro line (Sokolnicheskaya). It was named after the park which is situated near this metro station and has the same name. To find that park you should cross the bridge over Moskva-river. (about that Park we'll speak later))
The metro station has, so to say, two stations - the 1st one is on the red line, the 2nd - on the brown ring (was opened in 1950). (Circle line, or Koltsevaya).

Park Kultury.Circle line.

Red line

Kropotkinskaya station was also opened in 1935 as one of the 1st metro stations, it is next to Park Kultury.
There is also much to explore around it : Gogolevsky Boulevard which goes to Arbat, in front of the metro is the famous Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, near it the Pushkin Museum. 

Kropotkinskaya station. Entrance.

Kropotkinskaya station. Hall.

Ostozhenka Architecture. Part 2.

Behind the office of the military attache we can see the top of the nunnery, founded in 1584. Though it is sad to say, but once it also used to be a prison and a colony.
Use Korobeynikov lane (Коробейников переулок) or 1st Zachatjevskiy lane (Зачатьевский переулок) to reach it.

This house built in 1907-1909 is famous as a "house with a wine glass". Once belonged to merchant Filatov who used to be addicted to alcohol. When he suddenly gave up drinking and became successful, he decided to build a house with a turned wine glass on its roof as a sign of the protest against drinking.

Ostozhenka is a marvellous place to walk on a sunny day and enjoy different styles of architecture. Turn to its side streets and you'll see yet another world. 

Ostozhenka Architecture. Part 1.

This street is very famous among tourists for its unusual architecture. As is known merchants who lived here tried to make their houses as unique as possible. Fortunately, all these buildings (or most of them) have "survived" and now people of the XXI century have a possibility to see the result of the architects' grand imagination.

1) Moscow State Linguistic University has a long history: was built in the 60-70th of the XVIII for D.Eropkin, one of the famous activists of that time.

2) This house belonged to S. Turgenev's mother. He was one of the greatest Russian writers.
People believe that it was in this house that he wrote his famous novel "Mumu" (the name of the dog which destiny is described there).Now it is a museum.

3) This building  which is now the office of the military attache of Egypt used to be a house for architect Kekushev's wife, was built in 1902-1903.

Merilyn Monroe.Exhibition in Moscow.

Recently we have visited Multimedia Art Museum (see the post below) which is on Ostozhenka St.
That time it presented an exhibition of 25 unpublished photographs of Marilyn Monroe made by her close friend photographer Milton N. Green. These 25 photos reveals the great Hollywood star's grace, mystery and vulnerability. They break all the stereotypes which were imposed on her by Hollywood.
Once she said: "You made me interesting". She really trusted Milton and it was he who saw her real soul.

The exhibition was overcrowded. In front of each photo there were too many people to make the photo of her photo. Moscow loves Merilyn.

so many visitors