At last, the Red Square, which gave me cold chills during my time there.
The GUM (Gosudarstvennyj Universalnyj Magazin (Russia; government Universal shop) shopping mall runs parallel to the square were we quickly walked through it to see what it was all about. Many American stores were present, like "The Gap." When we stepped out of the mall a cathedrals' bells were beautifully ringing.

I scanned the square from where
we stood, at the opposite end is St. Basil the Blessed Cathedral.

Lenin's tomb is midway down, but he had taken the day off for some rest... we didn't go inside his tomb and museum, it was Monday.

Looking up I saw the infamous clock, which I remembered as a child seeing black and white pictures and films of Russian troops marching with the strollig armory close behind.

I was standing in RED SQUARE!

While we were in the mall I had purchased some postcards and I sat down on the curb to write my beloved friends and family while tears continued to flow. I couldn't believe it... I simply couldn't believe I was sitting in Red Square. I couldn't control my emotions.

As I was writing, cathedral bells began to ring again. I looked down to the other end of the square past Lenin's tomb at the St. Basil the Blessed Cathedral, rich with many colors and onion domes.

It was commissioned during the mid 1500's by Ivan the Terrible for a celebration of Russian victory over the Tartars.

Each dome stands for one of the eight churches. I wondered what military men thought as they marched through the square seeing that symbol. I wondered what their prayers were as they marched toward war many times, or simply marched in the historic May Day parades.

I pondered how this square was originally built as a market square hundreds of years before Russia had become Communist.

Our day in Moscow was almost over, it was time to head
back to the airport for
St. Petersburg.

As we drove, I took in every site that I could for remembrance and reflected over the realities I faced while in Russia from childhood and recent history.

Yes, I want to go back again. Moscow is rich. I wondered if the borders would be open for me to return someday.

After another leisurely day seeing St Petersburg in a different way, by taking a river cruise down the Neva River, which is the main river that flows through the city, I left Russia with a feeling that I will be back and how some feelings from childhood were resolved. I am glad we are at peace.

- KS, 2003, S.W. USA -


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