Tuesday, 18 August 2026

 

Start: Azimut Hotel Moscow (RU) 13:00

Arrival: Azimut Hotel Moscow (RU) 21:00

 

Total: way too many km on foot

 

 

The second day in Moscow, on which ...

 

 

... we visited the Tretyakovskaya Gallery. I really wanted to see this collection of famous paintings. And it was well worth it! More than 60 halls filled with artworks from the Middle Ages to the early 20th century. The main focus was on the 19th century, which is exactly the period I am most interested in. Seeing Repin's paintings was of course a highlight for me, but I enjoyed discovering new artworks even more. The discussion on faith was very impressive, and we eagerly discussed its possible meanings.

 

 

The portraits were impressive too, I was especially taken in by the portrait of tsar Nicolas II, but the daguerrotype-like works from the late 19th century were interesting too. Art reflecting the new invention of photography? Were they inspired or did they feel threatened by it? Maybe a bit of both.

 

 

There were a lot of young visitors at the museum too. I was impressed with how patiently they listened to their parents' whispered explanations. A schoolclass (in August? maybe some holiday activity) sat on the floor and seemed equally a lot more interested than I would have thought possible from a group of under ten year olds.

 

... we did not see Gorky Park. I had hoped to visit this famous park, conveniently located in the same area as the Tretyakovskaya, if only to sing in my head: "I follow the Moskva, down to Gorky Park", but after Tretyakovskaya it was clear that the park would have to make do without me. I'm sure the Scorpions had not traipsed through an entire gallery before taking their iconic stroll along the river. So instead we headed for a nearby restaurant and had a long and relaxing meal.

 

 

... we flew over the whole of Russia. For the evening, we had bought tickets for the Flight over Russia show in Zaryadye. So we braved yet another Moscow rush hour metro ride back to Kitai Gorod. The park was much more pleasant after nightfall than in yesterday's afternoon heat. When the sun set, a lightshow describing the beauty of Russian culture and its people came on, and the landmarks all around us were brightly illuminated.

 

 

To pass the time until the start of the show, we explored the parts of the park that we had not seen the day before, like the "Northern landscapes" hill that one could scramble up onto.

 

At 8 pm, we were ready for the Flight over Russia. It was a simulation similar to the one in Europapark, so I thought I could handle the imaginary heights. But, bozhe moy, it was sooo realistic. We soared high over the volcanoes of Kamchatka and the Siberian Stolby rock formations, dived into the waters at a huge hydroelectric dam, only nearly avoided a plane collision in the Northern Caucasus and marveled at the huge Motherland statue below us in Volgograd.

 

... I only barely avoided a heart attack. "For someone who couldn't look at Dwayne Johnson hanging from the Pearl, you are holding up great", Sonia screamed into my ear when our plane soared over Moskva City, seconds after I'd closed my eyes and told myself for the umpteenth time that we were barely a metre above the ground. Why did my pounding heart believe my eyes more than my mind? What primitive creatures we really are, with our irrational fears and phobias. Count to five. I tentatively opened my eyes. Fireworks over Moscow. Almost back down on the ground. What a great show!

 

Back on solid ground, we strolled past the open air stage where a "Summer in Moscow" dance festival was on. We watched the show for a few minutes, then headed back to the subway station. We bought a basket of dark black cherries from a nice Azerbaijani guy at one of the subway booths, I dragged myself back from Prospect Mira to the hotel, and we put our feet up. At last! No more walking. At least for this trip, we'd seen enough of Moscow.