Sunday Moscow... A surprising  city

We have now had our first 24 hours in Moscow and it has been a journey from one astonishing thing to the next.

From the gigantic Stalin's 7 Sister in the dark, to the magnificent churches in the Kremlin, to the giant Teddy sitting next to me at dinner, Moscow is not what I expected.

There are the predictable things, like the soldiers in big caps in Red Square, the scary Lubyanka,  lots of vodka, and snow, but really Moscow is now a bustling cosmopolitan city that proudly displays its long and rich imperial history like London, Paris, Vienna , or Rome.

And the fascinating thing is that both the communists and current government have added to the grandeur of the city with immense buildings that enhance the whole impression of classical beauty.

Stalin's Sister

Red Square

Cathedral of Christ the saviour (built this century!)

St Basil's Cathedral

So tomorrow we  are off to explore the subways, get some exercise in Gorky Park, and not buy a furry hat!