Moscow and Beyond
Three Trips to the Muscovite Zagorod
May 20, 2009 at 12:35 amIn this blog, we (Andy, Ben and Shane) each visit a different part of Moscow's zagorod (Moscow's surrounding countryside) and share our thoughts on the excursions.
Outside the City
May 19, 2009 at 10:05 amWhen we first heard that we were assigned to visit a city outside of Moscow, several of us jumped at the chance to accompany one of the Russian students to…
Sergiev Posad (St. Sergius Monastery)
May 19, 2009 at 7:53 amOur mission this week was to go "zagorod," out of the city, to explore one of Moscow's many satellite cities. We chose to visit Sergiev Posad, the site of an…
Trips to Rostov Velikiy and Torzhok
May 18, 2009 at 8:01 amThis weekend, for many of us last full weekend in Moscow, we broke through the Moscow Bubble, embarking on various excursions “zagorod,” that is, outside of the city. While…
The aroma of Victory Day
May 18, 2009 at 7:53 amEven a week later, the aroma of Victory Day is still in the air. Literally, as this year, Columbia decided to present Russia with a100,000 lush red roses in celebration…
Tula: City of Stagnant Greatness
May 18, 2009 at 7:24 amOn Sunday, we made our way to the medium sized city of Tula, which is located about 2 hours south of Moscow. Tula is best known as the hometown of…
Victory Day and Russian Nationalism
May 14, 2009 at 10:19 amOn May 9th, Russia celebrates the end of the Second World War. The following are our thoughts about the celebration.
Ross-i-ya!!
May 14, 2009 at 10:10 amThe most important secular holiday in Russia is Victory Day, which takes place on May 9th. This holiday celebrates the victory of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany in the…
Peter's City
May 14, 2009 at 9:26 amDescription of bronze horseman and Leningrad siege memorial
Assumptions vs. Reality
May 14, 2009 at 4:50 amIt may be unfair to say that Russia's Victory Day is similar to America's Independence Day, but it's the best comparison I can think of. Victory Day is celebrated on…
And you thought the 4th of July was a big deal . . .
May 13, 2009 at 9:43 amEarly May is a busy time in Russia, holiday-wise. While we didn't see much of the May Day celebration (being occupied by a seven hour bus tour around Petersburg at…
A Cathedral, A Bronze Horseman, and a Maritime Feel
May 11, 2009 at 1:40 amAnd before the younger capital
Old Moscow has faded,
As before a new empress
The dowager in purple robes.
(From the Arendt translation of Pushkin's "The Bronze Horseman")
We do still like Moscow though, even if the mother city is an old dowager in purple robes.