Welcome to page 3 of our Moscow adventure.

Piling off the bus, we walked over to the walls of the Kremlin and into the Armory Chamber which houses a staggering number of treasures that include the tsar's coronation robes, carriages, jewellery and armour. It also contains richly decorated arms, ceremonial robes, icons, gold and silver plate and ambassadorial gifts. As well, over 50 Fabergé eggs are on display. Unfortunately, no pictures were allowed once you were inside the chamber.

      

While checking out the carriages, LeVerne reached over the rope barrier to touch a carved piece of a carriage to see if it was carved or cast and instantly set off an alarm. Immediately, a hired gun Babushka who was sitting nearby keeping a sharp eye out for despoilers of national treasures jumped up from her chair and chased after LeVerne shaking her finger at him and giving him proper hell. Envisioning an arrest for his dastardly deed, I had visions of trying to spring my brother-in-law from the Lubyanka. However, she only chased him for a few metres then scuttled back to her seat in the corner. Close call!

After exiting the Armory, we took a stroll through the grounds of the Kremlin passing by the Cathedral of the Dormition, Ivan the Great's Bell Tower, the Upper Saviour's Cathedral and Terem Churches.

      
    

Then we stopped by to see the world's biggest bell and the world's biggest cannon. The 210 ton Tsar Bell was cast in the Kremlin from1733-35. A fire swept the Kremlin in 1737, and when water was poured on the hot bell it cracked and an 11.5 ton piece broke off. The bell stands 20 ft high and has a base diameter of 22 ft. The Tsar Cannon was created in 1586 in the Moscow cannon yard. The length of this weapon is 5.34 metres (17.5 feet) with a calibre of 890 millimetres (35 inches) and weighs 39,312 kilograms (43 tons). Although never fired, there are four one-ton cast-iron cannonballs next to the cannon.

    

On our way out of the Kremlin to reboard our bus, our route took us past the Senate building, the official residence of the Russian President. A little further along was the Arsenal with some 875 cannon barrels on display along the walls. They were captured from Napoleon's retreating army in 1812. Both the Senate and the Arsenal are not open to the public.

    

The final building we walked along before departing the Kremlin grounds was the State Kremlin Palace (originally the Palace of Congresses) built between 1959 and 1961 on Khrushchev's orders to host Party congresses. In our guides opinion it is an ugly, modernist glass and concrete box that doesn't belong in the Kremlin. Today, the 6,000-seat auditorium is only used for performances by the Kremlin Ballet Company and various Russian pop and rock artists.

  

Boarding the bus, we went on a fifteen-minute drive over to a side street where our genuine Russian dinner awaited us. The restaurant, which was called the CDL Restaurant Club, was located in an 19th century mansion. The interior was done in sandalwood paneling, staircases and banisters. The effect was eloquent and quite formal.

  

We were served a very nice five-course meal that started off with a caviar appetizer, and then went on to a salad made up of various sweet peppers, soup, and our main course Beef Stroganoff (how's that for Russian). Wine was served throughout the meal and we finished off with a shot of very smooth Russian vodka and dessert. Nice.

      
      

After dinner was finished, we again boarded the bus for the last leg of our Journey To Moscow. Making our way back to the airport, we drove down the main avenue of Moscow and passed numerous modern shopping malls, a couple of casinos, a multitude of decrepit apartment blocks, lush parks, a gazillion statues and some impressive monuments.

    
    
      

Arriving back at Sheremetyevo Airport at 8:00 p.m. after a 30-kilometre 2½-hour ride, we were efficiently processed through check-in and security. Boarding the airliner shortly thereafter, Lee and I lost sight of Carole and LeVerne but weren't too concerned, as our guide seemed to think everyone was accounted for. The mystery of where they disappeared to was solved when we deplaned in St. Petersburg. While Lee and I thought we got special treatment by having bulkhead seats in the cattle car, Carole and LeVerne had been ushered into first-class when we boarded. La-di-dah! Anyways, I think they got served the same ham sandwich as we did for their on-board meal.

The one-hour flight back to St. Petersburg was again uneventful and on time. Off the plane, onto the bus and back to the ship by 12:30 a.m. We had been going hard for 17 ½ hours and were understandably very tired. Great day, great guides, great city but grateful to be home. Off to bed at 1:00 a.m.

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