travelswithalice

September 22, 2018

 

My Birthday Trip






Labels:


September 03, 2018

 

Saying goodbye to my Russian summer

The first two days of September, my last two days in Russia.

Photographing old Moscow...



...and new.




Favourite facades.



Shopping can be epic, extreme.



It’s a side of Moscow virtually unseen, almost unknown in our part of the world: youthful, optimistic, fun.



Yeliseev’s Food Hall. Possibly the world’s most opulent grocery store.



Sunday lunch at a quiet cafe across from the Tchaikovsky Conservatory. And a Citibank branch.



Sanduny Bathhouse. Photos courtesy of Stuart who was there. Too bad I wasn’t.

***

It’s not really goodbye, it’s do svidaniya! 😍
















Labels: ,


 

Into Russia’s Golden Ring


VLADIMIR 

I’m fascinated by two very different structures. One is a park, the other, a monastery.

Near our hotel on a quiet tree-lined street is a small, woodsy park. It has no lawns or flower beds, just rows of shady trees, a small children’s playground, and lots of benches to sit and chat or to quietly read a book. It’s a place of calm and beauty.


Vladimir was the powerful seat of the Grand Princes of Russia from the 11th to the 13th centuries. The wife of one of these princes founded the first monastery in Russia, the 13th century Princess’ Assumption Monastery.

The monastery’s main church is the Princess’ Assumption Cathedral, also called the Dormition Cathedral. 




The stark simplicity of its lines cuts a stunning profile against a clear blue sky. It has no sculptures of any kind. This monastic austerity makes even more remarkable the drama of the interiors where walls and ceilings are lushly decorated with exuberantly coloured and joyful 17th century frescoes. 


In the centre of the nave, on a bier festooned with lilies and white roses, lies an icon of the Dormition of the Mother of God. It depicts the death of the Virgin, a striking image I’m not used to seeing; a reminder of the subtle differences between faiths and world views.




In 1923, the Soviets closed down the monastery, later dismantling the bell tower and turning the church into a museum. It was reopened as a convent in 1992. 


SUZDAL 

The smallest town in the Golden Ring, Suzdal is also one of the oldest in Russia. It’s a showpiece fairytale landscape sprinkled with gingerbread houses and lofty churches.
























Labels: ,


Archives

July 2005   September 2005   October 2005   April 2006   July 2006   August 2006   January 2007   February 2007   September 2007   November 2007   February 2008   September 2008   September 2009   May 2010   May 2011   September 2011   July 2012   August 2012   September 2012   October 2012   November 2012   December 2012   January 2013   February 2013   March 2013   April 2013   May 2013   June 2013   July 2013   August 2013   September 2013   October 2013   November 2013   December 2013   January 2014   February 2014   March 2014   April 2014   May 2014   June 2014   August 2014   September 2014   November 2014   December 2014   January 2015   March 2015   April 2015   May 2015   July 2015   August 2015   September 2015   October 2015   March 2016   April 2016   May 2016   June 2016   July 2016   August 2016   September 2016   October 2016   January 2017   February 2017   May 2017   June 2017   July 2017   August 2017   September 2017   February 2018   March 2018   April 2018   May 2018   June 2018   July 2018   August 2018   September 2018   October 2018   December 2018   January 2019   February 2019   March 2019   June 2019   July 2019   August 2019   October 2019   December 2019   January 2020   July 2021   August 2021   September 2021   October 2021   November 2021   December 2021   April 2022   May 2022   June 2022   July 2022   August 2022   April 2023   May 2023   June 2023   July 2023   August 2023   September 2023   October 2023   November 2023   December 2023  

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?

Subscribe to Posts [Atom]