Russia

We're off to Mother Russia! I arrived in the largest city in Russia as the sun was setting. As I flew into Moscow, the heart of the city was lit with the lights of the Kremlin and Saint Basil's Cathedral, both of which I would visit later. The Kremlin is made up of many cathedrals and walls including one of the most famous Saint Basil's in the Red Square. Saint Basil's Cathedral finished its construction in 1560. It was built to commemorate the capture of Kazan from the Mongols in 1552. Originally white with gold domes to match the Kremlin it was redecorated in 1860 which is the present colored designs. It certainly is a site of historical significance relating to Russia as a country and the Russian Orthodox Church.



 I continued on to the Grand Kremlin Palace which is the biggest building in the Kremlin and the official residence of the Russian President although rarely used for that. Construction on this 25,000 square meter building ended in 1849 and housed the imperial family of Moscow's tsar but as times changed it slowly changed uses from a residence to a reception building and museum bringing in people from all over the world, like Ronald Reagan in 1988.