Our Local Guide
After lunch on our boat, we set off again in the Moscow traffic to visit the Novodevichy Convent and Cemetery. This was an optional tour that we had to pay extra for. Our local guide was Lucy.
Our Local Guide
On the Way to the Novodevichy Convent
A church seen on the way to the Novodevichy Convent.
On the Way to the Novodevichy Convent
On the Way to the Novodevichy Convent
The Hotel Peking.
On the Way to the Novodevichy Convent
On the Way to the Novodevichy Convent
Close up of the bas–relief above the entrance to the Hotel Peking. We were told by one of our local guides that the Communist hammer and sickle will remain on buildings as it is part of their Russian history.
On the Way to the Novodevichy Convent
On the Way to the Novodevichy Convent
Pretty, old buildings.
On the Way to the Novodevichy Convent
The Novodevichy Convent and Cemetery
We first visited the Novodevichy Convent. On the left is the Church of Ambrose, to the right is the Belfry, and on the left is the Cathedral of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God. The Novodevichy Convent was founded by Prince Vasily III in 1524 to commemorate the 1514 victory of Russia over the Polish and Lithuanian forces in the battle for the borderlands and also for the return of the town of Smolensk. Some of the nuns of the convent were female members of the royal and other important families, being sent to the convent and virtually imprisoned in it, as it was the place where troublesome females were sent. Peter the Great sent his first wife here and also his half–sister Sofia after she attempted to take over the throne. It now part state museum and part a functioning church and convent. The convent is sometimes called the New Maiden Convent or the New Maiden’s Convent.
The Novodevichy Convent and Cemetery
The Cathedral of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God
We went inside the Cathedral of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God. It has a five–tiered Russian Iconostasis. The top tier depicts patriarchs and prophets of the Old Testament. The second tier is the Festival Tier and it depicts important feast days and holidays in the Russian Orthodox calendar. The third tier is the Deesis Tier and is the most important as it depicts saints, apostles, and archangels. Christ Enthroned is always shown in the center of the tier and is usually flanked by the Virgin Mary and John the Baptist. The tier below the Deesis Tier depicts the months of the year. The bottom tier is called the Local Tier and it contains icons of saints with a strong link to the church. The Royal Gate is in the center of the Local Tier and usually shows the four apostles and the Annunciation. The gate represents the entrance from the temporal to the spiritual world.
The Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, which this cathedral is named after, is located to the left of the Royal Gate.
The Cathedral of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God
The Cathedral of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God
The walls and ceiling of the cathedral were covered with beautiful frescoes.
The Cathedral of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God
The Novodevichy Cemetery
After visiting the convent, we next went to its cemetery. The cemetery is also called The New Maiden or Maiden’s Cemetery. Many famous Russians are buried here. The cemetery is a virtual work of art.
These graves are of, left, Galina Ulanova, a ballerina, and, on the right, Raisa Gorbachev.
The Novodevichy Cemetery
The Novodevichy Cemetery
The gravesite of Nikita Khrushev.
The Novodevichy Cemetery
The Novodevichy Cemetery
The gravesite of Boris Yeltsin. The colors are supposed to represent white, blue, and red––the colors of the new Russian flag.
I have put more photos of the Novodevichy Convent and Cemetery on a slide show. Go directly to
http://www.peggysphotos.com/moscow–novodevichy–convent–cemetery/
or to Slide Shows, Eastern Europe, Russia, Moscow: Novodevichy Convent & Cemetery
The Novodevichy Cemetery
On the Way Back to the Ship
We passed Gorky Park where a Russian space shuttle has “landed.” Only one Russian space shuttle ever flew and it flew but one time and unmanned. It was destroyed by having its hangar fall on top of it. Eight test space shuttles were made and this is one of them.
On the Way Back to the Ship
On the Way Back to the Ship
Close–up of the Russian space shuttle.
On the Way Back to the Ship
On the Way Back to the Ship
We passed the impressive Monument to Peter the Great. Peter the Great was the Tsar of Russia from 1682 to 1725. He is credited with bringing Russia out of medieval times.
On the Way Back to the Ship
On the Way Back to the Ship
Close–up of the Monument to Peter the Great.
On the Way Back to the Ship
On the Way Back to the Ship
A view of the Kremlin.
On the Way Back to the Ship
On the Way Back to the Ship
Closer–up view.
On the Way Back to the Ship
On the Way Back to the Ship
Passing the Kremlin Wall.
On the Way Back to the Ship
On the Way Back to the Ship
Passing Manege Square. Red Square is on the other side of it.
On the Way Back to the Ship
On the Way Back to the Ship
Close–up of Manege Square.
On the Way Back to the Ship
On the Way Back to the Ship
A statue that we passed.
On the Way Back to the Ship
On the Way Back to the Ship
Onion domes.
On the Way Back to the Ship
On the Way Back to the Ship
We saw many Chanel advertisements like this one in Moscow.
On the Way Back to the Ship
On the Way Back to the Ship
We also passed many ads of Pierce Brosnan promoting Lipton Yellow Label Tea.
On the Way Back to the Ship
On the Way Back to the Ship
Close–up of the ad. I kept thinking that this guy looked a lot like Pierce Brosnan but a much younger version. I thought it may be a Russian lookalike. But after checking the Internet, it is Pierce Brosnan. I didn’t think I would see him in Russia.
On the Way Back to the Ship
On the Way Back to the Ship
Russian women waiting at the Lipton Yellow Label Tea bus stop.
On the Way Back to the Ship
On the Way Back to the Ship
More from America: T.G.I. Friday’s.
On the Way Back to the Ship
On the Way Back to the Ship
Close–up. T.G.I. Friday’s in Russian.
On the Way Back to the Ship
On the Way Back to the Ship
Advertisement for Mi Piace. It is a chain of Italian restaurants in Moscow. Not the Mi Piace chain in So. California.
On the Way Back to the Ship
On the Way Back to the Ship
Fashion advertisement.
On the Way Back to the Ship
On the Way Back to the Ship
Russian street scene.
On the Way Back to the Ship
On the Way Back to the Ship
Many currency exchanges. The top rates are the U.S. dollars (100 rubles equals about 3 U.S. dollars); the bottom rates are for euros. I don’t know why there are two different rates for each currency. You need rubles or a credit card to buy things in Moscow. Few places will take other currency.
On the Way Back to the Ship
On the Way Back to the Ship
Fancy KFC.
On the Way Back to the Ship
On the Way Back to the Ship
This is cute.
On the Way Back to the Ship
On the Way Back to the Ship
Passing one of the old royal palaces.
On the Way Back to the Ship
On the Way Back to the Ship
Another view of the royal palace.
On the Way Back to the Ship
Moscow at Night
After eating dinner on the ship, it was time to go out on the town again––this time, on an optional Moscow at Night tour which included a ride on the Moscow Metro (subway). The Moscow Metro opened in 1935. Today, it has 186 stations and its route length is 191.8 miles (308.7 km). Stalin wanted the subways to be an architectural wonder and an art extravaganza. Each station has a separate theme and stations have marble walls and floors, huge chandeliers, and high ceilings. Dmitri, our local guide from this morning, was our guide tonight.
It was a long down via escalator at our first station. Our second station was a good distance from the first one and the train really sped up. I felt like I was on a high–speed train. We really flew––almost scary. The trains come into the stations with such speed that it is a wonder that they can even stop at the station. The stations are noisy from the sounds of the trains. My subway station photos may look like the stations are empty, but the passengers from the arriving trains came in waves and I took my photos between the waves.
There was another night option: a folkshow.
Moscow at Night
Moscow at Night
Our second station.
Moscow at Night
Moscow at Night
Our third station.
Moscow at Night
Moscow at Night
We left the subway in Manege Square and walked through the Triumphal Gate into Red Square. Photo: the Old Council Duma.
Moscow at Night
Moscow at Night
The Kremlin Wall.
Moscow at Night
Moscow at Night
The Kazan Cathedral.
Moscow at Night
Moscow at Night
The Gum Department Store.
Moscow at Night
Moscow at Night
St. Basil’s Cathedral.
Moscow at Night
Moscow at Night
We got back on our bus and went to the Novodevichy Convent to take photos of the reflection of the convent on the lake. We arrived back on our ship about 12 a.m.
I have put more photos of Moscow at Night on a slide show. Go directly to
http://www.peggysphotos.com/moscow–at–night/
or to Slide Shows, Eastern Europe, Russia, Moscow: At Night.
