Kolomenskoye

Got taken for a lovely afternoon walk in beautiful summer sunshine by V, as part of his on-going campaign to improve my education in Russian history and architecture. We went to Kolomenskoye park (conveniently accessible by metro on the green line) and visited the exquisite little group of buildings around the 16th century Church of the Ascension, a UNESO World Heritage site. And got into a discussion about how it looks like a rocket ship, so the space race must have started earlier than we thought... 

Cathedral Square

I have to thank V and K for - finally - making me go to the Kremlin, and in particular for showing me Cathedral Square and the six various churches that surround it. This is definitely a must-see for tourists. Although Italian renaissance  architects were imported to do some of the work (and you can see traces of their impact), the overall effect is of a long continuity and tradition with Byzantium and medieval artistry. The interiors are covered in their entirety with scenes from the bible; and in each case a larger-than-life God stares down (and seems to look you directly in the eye) from the central dome. Terrific.