The Bolshoi Theatre. It is closed over the Summer, touring, no doubt earning valuable foreign currency. 

Alexander Gardens Tranquil gardens with the Kremlin walls on one side & fast food outlets on the other. Well others were doing this for a photo opportunity!

Luzhkov Bridge. It appears that August is the month to get married in Russia. The Luzhkov Bridge has artificial trees on which it is “traditional” (?) for newlyweds to attach locks. That way the practice doesn’t damage the railings.

One of Stalin’s Seven Sisters –  Moscow State University. Stalin built seven monumental buildings round Moscow (hence the nickname – The Seven Sisters) in this new heroic Communist style. Several are no longer used as government buildings. One is now the rather plush Radisson hotel. I don’t think Stalin would have approved.

Sparrow Hills. Some great views over Moscow from here. The building over Ann’s right shoulder is the Luzhniki stadium, centrepiece of the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

The Tretyakov Gallery shows just Russian Art, of which what we saw mostly 18th & 19th century works. In my opinion they were very dull and derivative.

Unfortunately for me (and I think most in our group) this was the most disappointing of the organised tours we had. I largely blame the tour company (Intourist – I would  not recommend them) for this. There were 18 in the group and our guide insisted on talking quietly in the galleries – hence no one could really hear her. Also after finishing the tour I was surprised that we were not shown any of the world famous collection of Icons. My guide disingenuously said that I will be able to see Icons elsewhere on the trip & that I would have to pay to go back in if I wanted to see them.

Moskva Embankment. I liked the fountains down the middle of the river. (Hint to the Mayor of London?)

The Old English Court – home of the Muscovy Company. This was effectively the British embassy in the Elizabethan era. Ivan the Terrible was most upset that Elizabeth I did not want to marry him & locked up the English merchants here for a while as a punishment. How the history of the two countries would have changed if our Virgin Queen would have married the Tsar!

Pashkov House. A particularly grand house close to the Kremlin.

The old KGB’s Lubyanka HQ & Prison. No tours available of the grim old KGB headquarters (one of whose luminaries was Putin).

The White House. The Russian Parliament building, it was heavily damaged in the 1993 “Troubles”