Moscow Trip - Part 2

The next morning, after a hearty breakfast, we set off for some more sight-seeing.

Henry at breakfast.

The idea was to pick up a bus tour at the Karl Marx monument in Teatralnaya Square. Well, we got there on time, and so did a thousand or so internal security police, but of the tour bus, no sign.

  Karl Marx, looking a little chilly in the winter snow.

Old Karl wasn't lacking company, as the photos below show.

 Police to the left of him...

 ... and police to the right of him...

... and as the video below shows, police on all the other sides of him, too.

So, what was going on? It was the week before the Russian presidential elections and the authorities were getting nervous that there might be political demonstrations. 

Eventually, our tour guide showed up, and off we went, regaled with tales of historical buildings, and the odd politically-tinged comment. It wasn't really the best of weather for sight-seeing but I took a few photos anyway. 

 Thomas on Sparrow Hills, with a few relaxed soldier boys in the background.

Luzhniki Stadium looking like a space-ship.

A monastery, the name of which I've forgotten.

At the end of the tour, we were dropped off back in the centre of Moscow, which was still flooded with soldiers.

 Soldiers at the entrance to the Teatralnaya metro station. And I don't think they are all queueing for the toilets.

Next on the agenda was a meeting with Yelena and friends before heading off for another highlight of our trip, a KHL game, Dinamo Moscow vs Lev.

The whole gang at the Il Patio restaurant.

The Dinamo Moscow team enter the ice through a mock police van, a reference to earlier days when it was sponsored by the KGB.

 The national anthems.

 

  Face-off in the Dinamo defensive zone.

The home team won 5:3 but as it was the final game of the regular season and there was nothing really to play for, the game was not very intense and the crowd quite small. Followers of hockey will, of course, know that Dinamo Moscow went on to win the Gagarin Cup, beating Avantgard Omsk in the final.


Tiina took the opportunity to get a fan shirt of one of her idols, #11 Aleksandr Maltsev.

Tiina modelling her new gear.

The next day was a quiet day. We went to the Moscow Metro Museum, but it was closed, so then returned downtown to stroll along the Arbat.

Thomas on the Arbat.

 Sesse having a coffee break.

The boys doing likewise.

Then our trip was all but over. We had a few hours to taste the air of the metropolis before heading for the night train back to Finland.

The boys larking about in the hotel foyer.

Oh, and where was H-M when we were having such fun? She was having fun of her own at a Butoh dance workshop. You can find out more here.