Day 14 & 15 Friday and Saturday 6-7 Jul 2012
On day 14  Friday 6 Jul we loaded the bus and drove to the airport.  We had to go through two securities, and one of our members became lost for a while.

When we arrived in Moscow we had to claim our luggage and get back on a bus.  The drive from the airport took a while and we saw quite a few old buildings. Our guide, Svetlana met us at the airport and she had a little red bag full of Roubles to exchange for our American money.  Who knows how much she had.  $1 equaled about 30 Roubles.

We stopped at a supermarket they claim is as big as Costco and we were able to buy some water and snacks. Svetlana purchased a basket full of water for us to have on the bus each day.

center court of the shopping center

When we checked out we had not weighed and marked our bananas or candy and so had to wait while a clerk went back to do that.

Svetlana (in the red bouse)  helping with the water.

We then went to the hotel and checked in....very very nice.  After checking in we asked Svetlana about a place to eat and after talking to us decided to walk us to a Russian Restraunt.  It was only two blocks away and was an easy walk.  When we were ready to order she talked to the waiter in Russian, then told us what was on the menu and how much food would be on the plate and how much it would cost.  She also told us to be sure and count the change when we paid.

Our Marriott Hotel

The restaurant

Our server, he spoke a little English

Our server set this photo up for us.  The second night she was our server and spoke very good English.

Day 15 Saturday 7 Jul 2012

This was our marathon day we walked 6.64 miles by the time we finished.

We started walking past the Theater Square. 

One of the theaters

We then went to the Metro.  This is supposed to be one of the best Metros in Europe only Tokyo has more ridership.  It is recognized as one of the city's landmarks due to the rich and varied architecture of its 185 stations.

One of many, many ceiling pictures

A ceiling of one of the stations

A good view of one of the stations

There are a lot of statues in the stations. This is one of Stalin and very few are left.

Another ceiling picture, each station depicts a different part of the culture or part of the country.

Our guide Irene, waiting for us to look and then catch the Metro.

Mom caught this lady as she was running for the Metro.

People rub the dogs nose to make it shiny, this is supposed to be good luck

After leaving the Metro we walked to the Red Square, we only saw part of it because they were doing motorcycle jumping.  We also spent some time in the Gum department store and ate lunch there. The stores feature fashionable brand names familiar to the West. Locals refer to these as the "exhabitions of prices"  the joke being no one can afford the items being displayed. There are are over 200 stores in the mall.

Lenin's tomb in Red Square

Markers on the wall indicate where other dignitaries cremated remains are located.

Saint Basil's Cathedral on Red Square. We could not get close because of the motorcycle competition.

Russian dress on Red Square

Standing outside Red Square waiting to go to the Kremlin.

The Kremlin is a historic fortified complex and includes four palaces, four cathedrals and the enclosing Kremlin wall with Kremlin towers.  It covers an area of 68 acres. 

Coming to the entrance of the Kremlin

Cannons used for defense

This big cannon was never fired, it was a 36" barrel
The Cathedral of the Dormition in the back ground, it was completed in 1479 where all the Tsars were crowned.

Close up of a chain that matches the swallow design on the wall used for defense.

This bell was cast and left buried for many years, when they dug it up part of it fell out.

Tree planted by a Russian Astronaut

The Church of the Desposition of the Vigin's Robe, built in 1484-88. Features superb icons and frescoes from 1627 and 1624.  The Tsars were baptized in this church.

A sneak picture of the inside of the above church.

The Southwestern section of the Kremlin holds the Armory building built in 1851.  It is currently a museum housing Russian State Regalia and Diamond Fund.  We were not allowed to take pictures.  It has a lot of jewel studed Bibles, crowns, carriages, and thousands of other items.  We could only see about 10% of the total collection the rest are in warehouses.  They rotate the exhibit periodically and it was said no one would ever see the entire collection in a lifetime.

We walked back to the hotel.  Most of us stayed close the remainder of the night.

Day 13--Thursday 5 Jul 2012

We left early on the bus for Berlin. It was a 4 hour drive.

Upon arrival we started our tour, visiting both East and West Berlin.

This was our bus from Copenhagen to Lubeck, on the ferry and in Berlin

Little communities down between the freeways

old original lamp post

The ground water is so high they have to pump it away in order

 to do construction (pink pipe in picture)

The Holocaust memorial.  It consists of 4.7 acres covered with 2, 7011 concrete slabs.
Under ground there is a display and historial information

The Brandenburg Gate. Built as a Triumphal Arch and the only remaining
gate through which Berlin was entered. When the Nazis assended to power
they used it as a party symbol.

The area around the gate featured most prominently in the media coverage of
the opening of the Berlin wall in 1989

Government Building where all the prominant dignitaries come.

One of the last standing, original apartment building.

The reinforcement steel left from the Berlin Wall after souvenier hunters
 took pieces of the wall

The wal was built in August of 1961 completely cutting of
West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and Berlin

The barrier included guard towers placed along concret walls

Circumscribed an area known as the death strip or no mans land.

A memorial of some of those who tried to cross "No Man's land"

There were three check points this was checkpoint "C"

best known as checkpoint Charlie.

Soviet and American tanks briefly faced each other at

this location during the Berlin crises of 1961.

There are markers throughout the city where the wall

originally stood.

Day 12--Wednesday the 4th of July 2012

We spent our day driving through the Copenhagen countryside, arriving at Rostack where our bus drove onto a large ferry taking us from Norway to Germany. It took about 2 hours for the trip, we were able to walk around the upper decks and of course they wanted our money, but would not take a Visa card.

Waiting for the ferry

Driving onto the ferry

Catching some sun and fresh air on the ferry

Leaving the harbor

We rode another 2 hours on the bus to Lubeck, Germany and had the rest of the day to walk around the ancient town and explore on our own.

Puppet Museum

Old Church

Town Square

We almost missed dinner that night because no one wanted to accept our Visa.  One couple found a place and we returned to it for a good meal.