Fire helicopters

A couple of weeks before the end of term I was sitting quietly in the flat when a helicopter flew over. For Moscow this is an usual event as the city is a no fly zone so any sort of aircraft are rare. Below the helicopter was a large basket. For a minute I thought it was for carrying building materials. Then three more flew over and it was clear something was up. The lake I walk across in the winter is just the other side of the appartments behind me and the helicopters appeared to be picking up water from the lake. I couldn't be sure. Emma then text to say she could see them too (she lives in a block down the road) and Cathy text to say there was a fire on television and were the helicopters anything to do with it. Emma and I had to find out. We joined forces and headed to the top of the lake!!!

Through the buildings

Here it comes!

Over the water

In and fill

Up and away

This one had a tank so had to nearly land on the water.

The spectators got very wet!!

Look closely this helicopter has a double rota on the top and fins at the rear.

It kept us entertained for over an hour. When it became clear it was going to continue for sometime we decided it was time to go home. A very interesting evening. I think a factory was on fire but I don't know. A lake with unusual uses!!

A walk around Krasnaya Presnya

One Sunday Peter and I took a walk to the North west of the city in Krasnaya Presnya and the old Armenian sector. We started by the zoo which we have seen before. We then came across this amazing sight belonging to the sculptor Zurabl Tsereteli. Apparently he has work all over the city.

Catherine the Great???

Charlie Chaplin

In the park opposite was a tiny statue of a 12th century poet Shota Rustaveli.

We walked through some quiet streets until we found the Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. many of the children from school go there at different times as the Mass is said in Polish, English or Spanish.

We spent the rest of the time exploring two cemetries, one Russian and one Armenian. Both were very full and the memorials are amazing. Enjoy the pictures.

The bow of a boat if you look carefully!

Across the road was an Armenian cemetry. Just as packed but somehow different in style. The chapel was being well used by visitors.

The chapel

Different!!

Flowers anyone?

An interesting walk. The cemetries really are packed. Every grave has a fence around it and you wonder how anyone ever gets in to sort it out. They are all higgeldy piggledy, wiht some huge monuments, some quite small. I know funerals cost a lot of money here, but I cannot think how much the memorials cost. interesting though

A wet Sunday

The first weekend in June saw me off on a very wet BBQ with MIC. To be honest only a few of us made it as it was pouring with rain. However, Sergey was determined that it should take place and found a riverside cafe with little gazeeboes  for us to borrow. While Corinne, Olga, Diana, Maureen and I set out the food, Sergey set the barbecue up and cooked for us all. As we sat down to eat the sun came out and we had a lovely afternoon. Sergey's wife and son came to join us. It turned out to be a delightful afternoon.

It's a bit bleak by the river

Olga and Sergey cooking in the rain

Eat up

Here comes the sun - Maureen in green, Diana in stripes, Corinne in blue looking forward, Olga talking to Ian who turned up later and Natasha, Sergey's wife.

Maureen and I having a chat outside

There must be something good under here!

Wait!

Fetch!

Sergey takes his dog, LLoyd (after Andrew Lloyd Webber) hunting at least once a week and he is very well trained. It was amazing to see him.

Sergey and son (no I don't know his name!)

Sunbathing Russian style

Someone swimming - not my idea of fun!!

While I was out enjoying myself Peter was attending the American residency for the Eagle Scout presentation. This year they had (I think) five boys who had attained their Eagle Scout so asked the American ambassador to present them. There is a formal ceremony and Peter was asked to be the Narrator for the Journey to Eagle Scout. Here are a few photos. Peter has a CD of official ones and I'll try and get some of those.

An interesting day for us both.

Welcome

So you have found me. Well done. I'll continue where I left off in May. It was half term. Victory Day dawned damp and cold and we hardly went any where. We watched the parade on the TV and that was it. However, I did take these photos of some youngsters a few days earlier off on their own parade. Their uniforms are very smart, but look carefully at the girls. They all wear these enormous puffs with their uniforms which looks really odd.

Peter went back to work so I set off on one of Phoebe's walks in an area called Chistie Prudy.

This is the entrance to Krasnye Voroda (Red or Beautiful Gate) station and is considered a classic.

 This is the Yusopov Palace and was a hunting lodge built in the 17th century. It has been extensively restored in the last few years, but getting inside is not easy so I didn't try. The last owner was Prince Felix Yusopov who murdered Rasputin (see the Yusopov Palace in St Petersburg in the previous blog). 

The red and white checked roof

Statues of the playwrights Alexander Volodin, Alexander Vampilov and victor Roxov

Two displays in an interesting knick knack shop

This curious building is 'The Egg House'. It was completed in 2002 but even now I don't know if it has ever been lived in. Certainly articles on the internet from 2007 indicate it hadn't. It is one of Moscow's curiousities.

The Sovremnnik Theatre which was designed by Roman Kelin who also designed the Pushkin Fine Arts Museum (where Mum and I saw the Dior exhibition) and TsUM departement stall (not to be confused with GUM).

This extraordinary art nouveau building is by the pond at Chistie Prudy and I cannot think how I missed it.

The walk was quicker than I expected and I had time to lose so decided to take the 39 tram and head towards Universitat. Peter and I did this run back in the winter and I had been to the top of the hill with Sheila.

From the metro I took a different route round the University and found this war memorial.

The front of the memorial

The back with an eternal flame

This mural is on the front of one of the newer university buildings

And so half term came to an end and we looked forward to the last few weeks of school.