Wayne Norman’s 1998 Trip To Russia

The world famous St. Basil’s Cathedral, just outside the Kremlin walls in Red Square.  Perhaps the most photographed site in Russia.

One of five gorgeous churches inside the walls of the Kremlin (Russian for “fortress”).  I knew the Kremlin was the center for governmental power, but had no idea it held such a religious presence for the Russian Orthodox Church.

Taken from St. Basil’s, looking north into Red Square.  Lenin Mausoleum is the structure adjoining the Kremlin wall.  The Kremlin is inside the wall on the left.  During the three hours a day that Lenin’s tomb is open, all visitors to Red Square must pass through airport-type security, with no cameras allowed anywhere in the square.  The large gold stars atop the Kremlin towers actually serve as weather vanes!

One of Moscow’s busiest streets-Tverskaya-looking north, with the Kremlin immediately behind you to the left.   Note the exchange office on the right, indicating 6.2 Rubles to the dollar on August 9.  A month later it was almost 20 Rubles to the dollar.  My first week there Russia’s economy was normal.  My second, the Ruble began to crash, and during my final days it began to get bad, but I had left before the serious crisis would hit.

The world-famous first Moscow McDonalds (Moscow now has 18, including some drive-thrus on the outskirts).  This one is just off Tverskaya, not far from where the previous photo was taken.  Most McDonalds I visited were very big and very busy.  Prices were comparable to the USA.  But they charge one ruble extra for catsup!  And Russians don’t know about syrup on pancakes.  McDonalds offers a strawberry jelly-type product for their “blinys” (pancakes)!

The awesome Victory Park, a tribute to the Russian World War II effort.  It was dedicated by President Clinton in 1995.   Besides a museum that includes the table that Stalin, FDR, and Churchill sat at in Yalta, the domed building in the center houses six incredible dioramas portraying different stages of the war, which claimed 20-30 million Russian lives.

In the woods near the Volga River-about a four hour drive northwest of Moscow.  I am standing in a 55 year old crater left by a German bomber.

Down the hill from the crater, we’re swimming in the Volga River, which is about the size of the Connecticut River in Hartford.  We are the only people within a mile of this spot.

The green building is “The Hermitage”, in St. Petersburg.  Some say it is second only to the Louvre in Paris when it comes to size and quality of museums.  If you spend 30 seconds at each exhibit it will take 17 years to see it all!  St. Petersburg is a city of canals, much like Venice or Amsterdam.

Peterhof-about 15 miles from St. Petersburg-was Peter the Great’s residence.  It is an incredible display of fountains, ponds, statues, gold, and beautiful walking trails which usually end at a fountain.  It would take all day to walk every path.