Moscow Food
There are downsides to visiting Moscow, of course ? the extreme temperatures being both one of the best and worst things about it, with deep snow on the ground pretty solidly from November to March and July and August tending to be warm but rainy.
However, what makes up for this is the unparalleled number of things to do and see in this truly magnificent city. Things to see simply abound at every turn: even the subway stations have a history and an elegance that tourists will appreciate.
The most iconic symbol of Russia, and absolutely a place to head for, is Red Square. This astonishing place will make your eyes boggle whether you visit during snow-covered winter or gold-glistening summer. Of its many interests, the two most famous are St Basil's Cathedral and Lenin's Mausoleum.
St Basil's is Moscow on a postcard. Built between 1555 and 1551, it was originally set up to celebrate Ivan the Terrible's capture of the Tartar stronghold, Kazan. Its multi-coloured onion dome is famous throughout the world, having been narrowly saved from destruction at the hands of Napoleon's troops in 1812.
Lenin's mausoleum may not be a trip for the faint-hearted. The body of the founder of the Soviet state is actually embalmed and on display for visitors in a crystal casket, although some have alleged that it is actually a wax copy. The building has a facing of red granite for communism and black labradorite for mourning and the queue that for many years formed for admission has now dropped off considerably.
The next place on the list of most visitors to Moscow is the Kremlin. This self-contained city is shrouded in myth and legend. A medieval fortress that began as the hunting lodge of Prince Yuri Dolgorukiy and then developed into a fortified town as the prince's regional stronghold, there is plenty to see and in which to indulge your imagination.
It has seen the tyranny of the Tsars and the height of communist power and now holds on to its history with grace, elegance and intrigue. Among other things to see are the Ivan the Great Belltower, the State Kremlin Palace and the Senate, which was commissioned by Catherine the Great and later served as Lenin's office. Today, it is the official presidential residence.
If you become overwhelmed with history and culture, however, a very Russian thing to do would be to find a Banya, or bathhouse, and spend the afternoon whipping and cooking yourself back into shape again.
Banyas are a popular way to relax in Russia and Moscow's most famous is the Sandunovskiye Baths in the north of the city. Built in the nineteenth century, here you can enjoy a fairly typical experience, which consists of a hot sauna, then a hotter and wetter steam room session in which you are invited to beat yourself with twigs, followed by an ice-cold plunge into the pool.
After a pause, you can get up and do it all over again ? for several hours if you wish. An excellent way to prepare for venturing out into the snow once again for more sightseeing.
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