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Moscow, Russia
Moscow is the capital and the largest city of the Russian Federation. It is the seat of the government, as well as the political, scientific, historical, architectural, and business centre of the country. It displays the country’s contrasts at their most extreme. Its distinguishable symbols of great and terrible past, as well as ancient and modern architecture, are visible side by side. Today, imposing Soviet buildings, the Seven Sisters, or Stalinist skyscrapers representing Stalin’s empire and other impressive architectures spread all over in this intimidating city. You may love or hate Moscow. You may probably be visiting monumental and palatial areas at one point. Then all of a sudden, you…
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Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics in Moscow, Russia
One of the things I did during my visit to Moscow was to visit the Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics. With the help of my Russian roommate – Julia, I was able to organize my visit. Travelling by train from the Red Square area via Kitay-gorod to VDNKh station, I conveniently reached the museum after approximately thirteen minutes. VDNKh is the closest station to the complex, should you wish to travel by train. Services depart every ten minutes and it operates every day. Monument to the Conquerors of Space – Russia The Monument to the Conquerors of Space is a stunning 110-metre-high titanium spire erected in Moscow in 1964. It soars…
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GUM Department Store, Red Square
Moscow Gum Department store in Kitai-gorod facing the Red Square is the most glamorous and expensive shopping mall in Russia. Gum literally mean “main universal store“, was originally built in 1893. With its sky-high prices, to me it’s an excellent place to window shop and its collections of hundreds of exclusive boutiques and have a feel of being in this lavish shop for the rich and fortunate beings. This three-level glass-roofed state of the art building is quite exquisite and is well worth exploring even if you’re not literally buying anything. All the while, I had the impression that everything inside this enormous shopping mall was expensive until our eloquent…
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Immense Peterhof Palace in Saint Petersburg
Peterhof Palace, also called the “Russian Versailles” is famous for its series of palaces, beautiful gardens, fountains and museums. Laid out on the orders of Tsar Peter the Great, it was officially opened on August 14, 1723. The palace-ensemble along with the city center is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Peterhof is a Dutch/German word meaning “Peter’s Court”. Peterhof Palace is a product of one man’s fascination with beauty and an obsession with greatness and grandeur apparently intensified after visiting and getting inspired by Versailles in France on 1717. More exquisite statues and fountains are along the axis from the palace to the pier. The truly imposing view of…
