Mon27Jun16: All Russian Exhibition Centre, Metro tour, Kitay Gorod

Up at 8am, breakfast at Tepemok, down into the Metro and a long ride north on Line #6 to the All Russian Exhibition Centre (VVT).

Just outside the Metro station is a 100m stainless steel obelisk topped with a rocket, atop the Monument to the Conquerors of Space with a line of busts of five Russian cosmonauts and a miniature solar system.

 The VVT park has a triumphal entrance topped by a statue of a tractor driver and a female farmer holding a sheaf of corn, guarded by a statue of Lenin, with scores of pavilions of the old USSR republics lining the walkway.

Flower gardens, rows of trees, fountain areas, one large Fountain of the Republics with 15 gilded statues of maidens in national dress representing the former Soviet republics,

the second fountain constructed with precious stones from the Ural Mountains.


The Moscow Aquarium and an amusement park complete the attraction.








Back into the Metro system, and this time its a tour of a dozen stations of the Circle Line, each station with its own architectural design and appeal.





We emerged at Resurrection Gate, for another look at the Kremlin wall and Red Square, and mailed a batch of post cards.

Continuing our walk down past the GUM Department Store towards the Moscow River, and the line of churches and Old English Court - home of the English merchant traders of the 16th century - that lined the original north bank of the Moscow River.


Liberated some money at an ATM, then back to the hotel for a quick shower before supper.  Luba has decided to clean the room, and give us fresh linen & towels - after 6 days of usage, and the night before our departure.  Strange sense of timing.


A last meal of pasta & salad, before heading to the room for some Euro2016 football, and time to plan another short excursion to Red Square before tomorrow's return to St. Petersburg.