Crowded, Crazy Moscow!!!

I was in Moscow for a few days this week - again a work trip so not too much time to explore but enough time to make it to Red Square and to get a taste of the culture. I arrived on a Wednesday afternoon at 2:00 and asked the driver approximately how long it would take to get to the office. He said it was "medium traffic" so it would take a little over an hour (apparently it is 30-40 min with no traffic, which is hardly ever). One hour and fifty minutes later we arrived at the office. Seriously, I have never seen anything like Moscow traffic - complete chaos, no rules, and crowded crowded crowded! My coworker told me that it once took him 4 hours!!!

After a few hours preparing for the workshop the following day, Daniel and Ann took me to dinner and Red Square - which was fantastic!!! This was also the night when Moscow upset England in a football match (soccer) so the city was alive with celebrating fans!

In front of St. Basil's Cathedral....

Lenin's Mausoleum where the embalmed body of Vladimir Lenin lies....

GUM, one of two large, posh department stores in Moscow, GUM (pronounced 'goom') is right in the middle of Red Square.

Overall, I think I would recommend going to Moscow - Red Square is really impressive and it is so different from anywhere I have ever been - but just a few days is enough to get the flavor. I've heard that St. Petersberg is beautiful so hopefully I'll make it there soon!