Kremlin and on to Italy

Photos: A couple views within the Kremlin
Oct 1
Today we were back on the bus for a Kremlin tour. (FYI: kremlin means fortress.) We stood in the ridiculous security line and then got into the “armory” of the Kremlin which is the building that houses all the artifacts of dynasties dating back centuries. It had the clothing of all the tsars and tsarinas, crowns carriages, jewels, Faberge eggs, gifts of precious items given as gifts by foreign countries, etc. Very interesting museum with far more to see than we had time to see. We had a very knowledgable guide that was able to provide us with the high points. I’m sure you could spend hours and hours and still not see everything that there is to see. Outside, we saw all the buildings included within the Kremlin and saw a parade that is done every Sat. We went inside the Church of the Assumption (full of frescoes), the church where all the tsars were crowned even when the capital was in St. Petersburg. After the Kremlin, we went to Arbat St, a pedestrian street with lots of shops where we got to buy our souvenirs. The weather was not the best…cold with periods of VERY cold wind and rain. The evening was our farewell dinner held at a restaurant in the hotel. Tomorrow: Italy!
Oct 2
Pretty much a wasted day. Slept in, had breakfast, packed and hung around waiting to leave. It was cold, rainy and windy outside and we just couldn’t get up the energy to go out in it. Left early for the airport waiting for our flight to Rome. Alitalia seved a meal that was the best meal we had had in 2 weeks and….keep in mind it was airline food. Wine was definitely the best we’d had since leaving home. Italy, here we come.