We have enjoyed our second week in Moscow. Other than a downpour on Sunday morning, the weather has been fabulous and has allowed us to explore the city at every opportunity.
Last Friday, we had a briefing at the American Embassy. Two public affairs associates discussed their work at the embassy and various academic opportunities for American students and professionals.
The American Embassy in Moscow
Saturday, we enjoyed a bus tour of Moscow, which included stops at Sparrow Hills, Red Square, and Victory Park.
The usual view of Moscow State University (in the background) is currently obstructed by the FIFA Fan Fest. At the Fan Fest, all of the World Cup soccer matches are broadcast on large screens for fans to enjoy.
A view of Luzhniki Stadium from Sparrow Hills.
An advertisement for the World Cup, featuring the dates of the competition–14 June to 15 July–and Zabivka, the mascot of the 2018 World Cup.
A stop at Red Square wouldn’t be complete without photos of St. Basil’s and the Kremlin.
Paige in front of The Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed, commonly known as St. Basil’s Cathedral. It was built from 1555–1561 on orders from Ivan the Terrible and commemorates the capture of the cities of Kazan and Astrakhan. It was the city’s tallest building until the completion of the Ivan the Great Bell Tower in 1600.
Built in 1491, the Spasskaya Tower, translated as “Savior Tower,” is the main tower on the eastern wall of the Moscow Kremlin, overlooking Red Square. The tower gate was once the main entrance into the Kremlin. In tsarist times, anyone passing through the gates had to remove their headgear and dismount their horses.
After visiting Red Square, we stopped in GUM, a historic shopping center that overlooks the square.
GUM, or State Department Store, was built in the 1890’s.
Even GUM is decked out for the World Cup
On Tuesday, students met with their language partners.
After classes on Wednesday, we enjoyed a visit to the State Tretyakov Gallery, considered by many to be the most important gallery of Russian art in the world. There, we had a guided tour and commentaries on the most significant works of art in the gallery.
Entrance to the Tretyakov Gallery
In addition to field trips, students have enjoyed exploring Moscow with their host families and with other participants of our program. Here are some highlights from this week:
