"Armory Visit"
(Spouse Activity)
Part
of the
Great
Kremlin
Palace
complex,
the
Armory
is home
to
Moscow's
oldest
and most
prestigious
museum,
which
boasts a
staggering
collection
of
Tsarist
artifacts,
Russian
and
foreign
jewelry
and
armour.
Although
the
museum
has been
open to
the
public
since
the
mid-19th
Century,
the
current
collection
was
established
as
recently
as 1986,
which
means
that
display
techniques
are
relatively
modern,
the
layout
is clear
and
coherent,
and
there is
even
plenty
of
labeling
in
English.
"Visit
to the Diamond
Fund"
(Spouse
Activity)
The
Diamond
Fund was
set up
in 1922.
It
originally
contained
the
treasury
of
Russia
and the
crowned
jewels
of the
Russian
Tsars.
Special
attention
is also
given to
the
Soviet
Diamond
as the
Soviet
Union
was one
of the
main
suppliers
to the
world
diamond
market.
Today,
the
collection
of the
Diamond
Fund
consists
of
fabrics,
furniture
jewelry,
gold and
platinum
nuggets,
precious
stones,
including
one of
the
largest
diamonds
in the
world.
Highlights
include:
*
Catherine
the
Great’s
crown,
with
over
5000
diamonds,
the
Orlov
and
Shah
diamonds;
a
136-carat
emerald,
a
260-carat
Ceylon
sapphire
*
Russian
diamonds
from
Siberia,
collectively
equaling
30
000
carats;
*
Located
on
the
Kremlin
grounds.
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"City
Tour"
(Joint Activity)
Visit
to
the
Red
Square
Moscow's famous Red Square earned its name not from the red walls of the
Kremlin, nor from the traditional symbol of Communism, but from the Russian word for "red", which many centuries ago also meant "beautiful".
The square first came into being at the end of the 15th century during the reign of Ivan III. It was initially called Trinity Square after the Trinity Cathedral, which stood on the site of the later St. Basil's Cathedral. The name by which we all know the square today
originated much later, possibly as late as the 17th century.
Located on the site of the city's old market place, Red Square served as Moscow's equivalent of ancient Rome's Forum - a meeting place for the people. It served as a place for public gatherings, government announcements and executions, the later becoming particularly commonplace during the reigns of Ivan the Terrible and Peter the Great and during the anarchic Time of Troubles in the early 17th century.
In 1712 Peter the Great moved the Russian capital to St. Petersburg and Red Square temporarily lost its political significance only to regain it two centuries later, when the Bolsheviks moved the capital back to Moscow in 1918. The new Communist regime turned the square into a memorial cemetery and parade ground and in 1924 the Lenin Mausoleum was built to house the embalmed body of the founder of the Communist state. State funerals continued to be held on Red Square near the Kremlin wall until the early 1980s.
Red Square was also the site of frequent Soviet military parades and demonstrations on major
national holidays, such as May 1st (International Worker's Solidarity Day) and November 7th (the Anniversary of the October
Revolution). Perhaps the most dramatic and impressive military parade that the square has witnessed took place on November 7th 1941, when Nazi troops were advancing on Moscow and fought just a few miles away from the capital. On that day thousands of Russian
soldiers marched directly to the front line and many of them died bravely defending the Soviet capital. The brief parade boosted the confidence and fighting spirit of the Soviet people at the height of their battle with the Nazi forces.
Today, Red Square is a popular attraction for both Russian and foreign visitors alike. It provides plenty of photographic opportunities, while the area between St. Basil's and the Moskva River is often used for rock and pop concerts.
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PHOTO
STOP:
Sparrow
Hills
(Next to
the
Moscow
University)
Sparrow
Hills is
one of
the most
popular
places
among
Moscovites
and
guests
of the
city.
The
observation
platform
situated
there at
the
steep
bank of
the
Moskva
River at
an
altitude
of 85
meters
above
the
river or
200
meters
above
sea
level
enables
one to
enjoy
the
panoramic
view of
the
city,
which
gives a
better
idea of
Moscow
and its
size.
Sparrow
Hills is
also
famous
for the
Moscow
State
University,
one of
the main
educational
and
scientific
centers
of
Russia.
It was
founded
in 1755
by the
great
Russian
scientist
Mikhail
Lomonosov.
PRIVATE
BOAT
RIDE
An
enjoyable
boat
ride to
the
city’s
historical
centre
along
the
picturesque
banks of
the
Moskva
River
. During
this
exciting
tour
you
will
discover
some of
the
remarkable
landmarks
of the
capital
from a
different
point
of view.
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PRIVATE
DINNER
AT
RESTAURANT
"YAR"
The
Yar
restaurant
is
famous
for both
its food
and hospitality.
We are
going to
get to
sample
both
starting
with a
dinner
of
Georgian
cuisine.
"All
countries
and
nations
have
their favorite
dishes,
which
have
long
stepped
over the
national
boundaries
and
because
of their
virtues
have
suited
everybody's
taste.
Georgian
cuisine
uses
familiar
products
but due
to
varying
proportions
of its
obligatory
ingredients
such as
walnut,
aromatic
herbs,
garlic,
vinegar,
red
pepper,
pomegranate
grains,
barberries
and
other
spices
combined
with the
traditional
secrets
of the
chef 's
art the
common
products
do
acquire
a
special
taste
and
aroma,
which
make
Georgian
cuisine
very
popular
and
unique.
Georgian
national
cuisine
is
notable
for an
abundance
of all
possible
kinds of
meat,
fish and
vegetable
hors
d'oeuvres,
various
sorts of
cheese,
pickles
and
pungent
seasonings,
the only
ones of
their
kind.
The
entertainment
tonight
will
feature Cossack
dancing.
A
time to renew acquaintances and opportunities to meet new friends.
The
foundation
of Bolshoi
Theater
traditionally
dates back
to the 6th
of January
of 1825,
when a
fine
classical
building
with
8-columned
portico
crowned by
the
carriage
of Apollon
appeared
in the
Theater's
Square.
The new
theatre is
considered
to be the
second
largest of
Europe
after the
famous
"La
Scala"
Theater of
Milan.
However,
the
theatrical
company
had
already
existed
for a half
of
century.
And in
honor of
the
inauguration
of the
theatre
this
company
performed
"The
triumph of
Muses".
