Riches Beyond Imagination

Friday, May 17 . . . our final day in Moscow with the long plane ride facing us tomorrow.   Our guide for today's excursion to the Kremlin and its spectacular Armoury said that the 3 best sites in Moscow were 1) Red Square, 2) the Metro, and 3) the Kremlin Armoury.  So, perhaps we saved the best for last.

Again battling traffic (a 1 hour 15 minute trip to the city center that should've taken 15 minutes), we managed to get a street or so away from the Kremlin and disembarked.   Hiking up a moderate hill we stood outside facing the gigantic walls of the fortress . .  something that cried out for a photo to illustrate how invaders wouldn't have had an easy pathway into the fortress.

The walls of the Kremlin

Reaching for my camera I came up with nothing but air, having left it on the bus.  Smooth move, huh?  Turned out to be not such a big problem because there are no photos allowed in the Armoury, and the walking tour of the Kremlin didn't cry out for a huge number of shots.  So, the photos you see on this posting are taken straight out of Google Images but are worthwhile to illustrate points.

The Kremlin Armoury showing display cases
full of Russian treasures of the past.

The Armoury is really room after room showing the collection of wealth from the various centuries and czars ruling Russia.  Room after room features artifacts often swimming in precious stones (diamonds, rubies, emeralds).  These stones cover objects as simple as a drinking goblet or as elaborate as a book cover is simply indescribable.  

And, that was just a start.  There were crowns, coronation dresses, carriages that defy description, armor for adults and childrens, and the list goes on and on.  There was so much opulence it was overwhelming.

Of course they had Faberge eggs, as well.  Apparently these were made for the Czars as Easter gifts, with there being about 50 of them originally.   Gathered up by the Bolsheviks during the revolution, most were sold off for a pittance and the Armoury has about 10 of them left.

I've never seen anything like this wealth, and it compares more than favorably with anything from England, France, Italy.   The Russians had it all and lost it through their revolution but seem to be finding it again.   I have great optimism for their continued success and growth in the world community.

We completed our Kremlin tour walking around to see the outdoor attractions, including the several remaining cathedrals.  There were 3 very large ones in a small square  - one for praying, one (Affirmation) for coronation, and one for dying.  When you've got more money than you know what to do with, hey, build another church!

Back to the boat for lunch and a long nap . . . .why?   Although our flight leaves at 6:35 a.m. on Saturday, we have to go to the furthest Moscow airport of their three, so our wakeup call will ring loudly at 1 a.m.   Bags in the hallway by 1:30 a.m., and bus leaving for the airport at 2 a.m.   That's why a nap made some sense, and because Cheryl is capping off her trip with Mary Lee and going to the Boshoi Ballet.  It started at 7 p.m. so I expect, with the agonizing traffic, their return about 11 p.m. or so.

I'll have one final posting once back in Ohio and we get our old friend, Montgomery Scott Mace, back in our clutches.  So, watch in a couple days (before the weekend is out) for my final thoughts.   In the meantime, thanks so much for following our adventure.