Welcome to Azerbaijan

Heydar Aliyev Intgernational Airport

Airport control tower

One of many, on the way to our hotel

Classic Moscow

St Basil's on Red Square

Moscow Metro

Moscow Metro stations are art for all the people to enjoy every day.

Every station is decorated in an original style. The first station was built in 1935.

Visiting the Rabbi

In Moscow, we visited with this rabbi to learn about the history of Jews in Russia.  Does he look a bit like Taylor?  A distant cousin perhaps?

What's For Dinner?

Short ribs with lingenberries and pearl onions.

Russian pancakes with beef and wild mushrooms.

Pine cone jam.  These are really little tiny pine cones.

These delicious dishes go well with vodka, of course.

Hello Moscow

Here we are, in Moscow.  It's a big European city and we are located at the Metropol Hotel near the Old Bolshoi Theater, Red Square and the Kremlin. 

Looking through the gate into Red Square and St Basil's.

One of the many Russian Orthodox churches inside the Kremlin walls.

One of the many gardens inside the Kremlin walls.

We were surprised that our guide wanted to take us to Novodevichy Convent and Cemetery but who were we to argue.  It turned out to be one of the many highlights of the day.

This is a grave of someone recently passed away.  They wait for the ground to settle before installing the monuments.  As you will see, the monuments are quite heavy.

Gogol. This is fairly modest.

Chekhov. This is built to look like a roadside chapel.

Most of the graves in this cemetery belong to well known people.  The markers are works of art. We weren't familiar with most of them, but I was very impressed with the sculpture designed to honor their lives.

Khrushchev

A movie star in front, and a singer in the background.

This one is my favorite.  I think the man was a well loved comedian.

Goodbye St Petersburg

Hall of Gargoyles at the Hermitage Museum

Russian pies - savory and sweet.  You buy it by the chunk and eat by hand.  Delicious.