|
|
A
second trip to Russia
Part
3: Cannons and cathedrals
Then off to the rest of the beautifully kept Kremlin where
military men shouted with their whistles, "get on the
right side of the street!" One doesn't mess around breaking
the rules; I wanted to salute and say "Yes SIR!"
but dawdled over to the right side of the street instead,
pretending to mind my own business. There was not a language
barrier even when walking down the street.
|
|
|
|
I would probably be a bit flippant in my own country, except
here I had horrible imaginations of being put into a cold
dark jail by a young 18-year-old military man.
The
Arsenal building, on the grounds of the Kremlin, was built
in the late 1700s; today there are 875 trophy cannons surrounding
it, which was captured by Napoleons army in 1812. Walking
throughout the Kremlin there were other cannons, gunners,
and military type medallions on buildings everywhere, besides
a physical military presence giving me an eerie feeling.
|
|
|
We
witnessed two army platoons at separate times marching in
formation. Upon reflection from childhood, I realized maybe
what we were told was true that Russia was always prepared
to attack us when as I watched the platoons coupled with viewing
the "parade" artillery. We don't see this kind of
military presence in my country even after September 11, 2001,
except at the airports, which is now more low-key.
|
|
|
We
weren't able to enter the Kremlin proper, but seeing it from
the outside was amazing in itself. Around the corner are three
cathedrals called Cathedral Square the oldest part of the
Kremlin.
The Assumption Cathedral is where the Tsars where crowned
and foreign heads of state were greeted in ceremony.
"What?" I thought to myself, "is this?"
I had never ever heard of cathedrals being on the grounds
of the Kremlin, even during my limited research beforehand,
I didn't realize this. Perhaps it was fate for this big surprise.
|
|
|
|
Watching numerous bald priests in brown robes meekly walk
through Cathedral Square amazed me. Scanning the square I
spotted some nuns, another surprise. After snapping a shot
of the nuns we ducked into a cathedral and saw the most gorgeous
fresco of Christ. "Christ!" I thought these people
were atheists, which is what I was told as a child that Communism
is all about.
|
|
|
|
Another
strike against propaganda learned in my country. I wondered,
why would the Russian government preserve Christian cathedrals
and art, if they were truly atheists? There is value in traveling.
We wandered
around the grounds that followed by a fascinating tour of
the now defunct KGB (Komitet Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti
/ Committee for State Security, USSR). The old KGB headquarters
is now turned into a museum. We were only allowed to take
pictures in two places.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|