Victory!!!!

While seeing Ballet in Moscow some storm clouds rolled in on us. So that when we left the theater it was absolutely poring. Probably an inch or better in an hour. We had several blocks to walk and our pour umbrellas were of little help. My socks were soaked in my shoes, RG would have been better off walking barfoot than to wear the open shoes she had. But it the entire left side of my body got wet. We refused to duck into shelter however preferring to soldier on. I mean really come one, we are from Minnesota, if we don’t stop for a blizzard what affect should a little rain have (yes you are correct I do not have sense enough to come out of the rain). While drying off on the subway ride home – one of the few times I was happy it is pretty warm in the trains – we got another surprise.

Crazy Russians singing, playing music, and dancing on the train provided entertainment for most of the ride back to the apartment. While I am used to seeing people do one or two of these on the trains around the world they are usually 1. Looking for a hand out and/or B. Younger (in general). This group seemed to be older and established. Someone’s parents, in their late forties or early fifties, ok dressed for Russian, and looking pretty healthy. No what you would consider beggars or bummers by any means. I did capture some of the dance which can be found in the photos section of this site (link). It was quite amusing. They were doing a typical folk dance with their arms raised in the air bouncing from foot to foot all while spinning and occasionally swinging a hip or clapping. Most people on the train watch with a little bit of fascination but a few clapped along as well. It was quite a scene.

The rain continued the rest of the weekend, though it did let up some. So Moscow returned to what most of my memories are of the place, damp and cold. But that doesn’t mean we couldn’t have any fun. RG found a spectacular place to take me to. One thing about the Soviets was they knew how to build monuments. Another thing about Russians is how proud they were of their efforts in defeating the Germans in World War 2. Just about every where you go there is a memorial to the war; every park, several metro stations, some buildings down town, Red Square, basically everywhere. One, now that I have seen it, stands out. That is Victory Park on the West side of the city. It is fantastic. It includes dozens of fountains, monuments to individuals units that served in the war, the most ornate church I have seen in Russia to date, a large pillar topped with a winged angel and a bell, a large museum, and grounds that include tributes to each part of the military.

It was fantastic, even the unrelenting rain couldn’t have made it a bad visit. The best parts of the park were an out door display (where we spent our last few dozen rubles, 2-3 dollars) of Russian/Soviet and German military equipment. First you see some examples of mines and fortifications, along with some big guns, and amour cars from both sides. Then you walk through some trenched fortifications similar to those that may have been used during the war. Once out of the fortifications you get to the big fun tanks, planes, and guns on trains. Does that rime? I think it does. It was fantastic. I have seen some of the German equipment before but due to the cold war I have seen very little Russian equipment so it was great. It wasn’t all from WWII either much of the air power came from all times during the cold war. Some of it was quite unique other seemed to be copied from vehicles used in the west. It was a blast.

After this display we walked to the other side of the park and headed back to the subway. Of course RG was on a mission to find on last interesting part of the is park. Probably the most fun part to be honest. Along one of the paths in the park are parked 4 soviet tanks. They just sit there as if parked after a parade for use another day. Because of where they are you can climb all over them. So we did. I have to admit it my fearless wife was first to get on one. But I followed up her act with one of my own. We took some pictures sitting on the gun, behind the turret, and any other thing we could think of. All in the entire trip in the damp coldness to a wooded park was well worth putting up with the elements.