Moscow, June 19-22, 2004

The expanse of Red Square at dusk, with familiar landmarks in silhouette.
St. Basils with city foundersTiny chapel in a gate leading out of Red Square
For the first time, we had the fun of staying in the Hotel Rossiya, which is located right in the center of old Moscow. We could walk easily to Red Square and to the Bolshoi Theater, the Tretyakov Gallery and could explore in scraps of free time. We don't begin to capture the changes here, but pictures of the interior of the old shopping arcade may show its prosperity a bit, likewise the city mall two blocks away, constructed underground with a city park and refreshment areas on street level.

Another major change was the prevalence of "working" churches in the Red Square area -- nestled into a city gate, built anew on the spot used for other purposes in earlier times, etc.

Some SANS members found wonderful music in the Kazan Church on Sunday morning.

A stretch of Kremlin wall with churches inside.

 

One of the Kremlin gates. Lenin Mausoleum-- along the Kremlin wall in Red Square -- not the "must do" attraction it was in earlier times, but still occupied and available for visitors.
The historic department store "GUM" lines one side of Red Square, opposite the Kremlin. At the far end, our Hotel Rossiya, is just visible.
Inside GUM are three aisles of multi-level shopping arcades. The fountain at the center is a favorite meeting place. Notice the cafe on the bridge of an upper level. Stores are a mix of Russian and international. In some areas cyrillic is hard to find on the signs.
The Rossiya Hotel, now a mix of government and private management, is mammoth -- some 2000 beds.
Our room overlooked the Moskva River and provided a wonderful view of the newly constructed "Church of the Saviour."
This church was demolished in Soviet times, but the planned monument did not get built and a swimming pool was installed instead. The rebuilding of this church, after the plans of the old, was a combination governmental, church and private project.
Just outside Red Square, this underground mall serves locals and tourists with a wide variety of shops, a sub-terranean food court and a string of canopied grills and beer halls at the street level.
Fountains and skylight domes form a park area above the mall -- in the background is the historic Menazh. A lovely river bank house with interesting decorative brickwork.

New memorial to Peter the Great
the design not universally popular.
New Maiden Convent, near the city center.


A contemporary sculpture installation in a city park,
illustrating harm of vice on young people.

SANS Concert in Moscow, June 2004
Main Hall in the Exhibit for Economic Achievement
Choristers approaching the concert hall. In the background, the exhibition gate from the Soviet era, the Cosmos Hotel, where many of us have stayed on earlier trips, and contemporary amusement concessions.
Rehearsal -- a small flat stage took some accomodating.
Pause during a rehearsal. Sharon Molden and Women of SANS
During the Concert, Marshall working for an effect.
(Note the additional choristers in the display case behind us.)
Continue to Rostov