THE Kremlin

 Major adventures, Russia -- 2014  Comments Off on THE Kremlin
Sep 162014
 

For centuries the Kremlin has been a symbol of power. In my lifetime it has been THE SYMBOL of power in Russia. I imagined it as a glorified Pentagon–dreary central offices of Soviet and now Russian bureaucrats, military and oligarchs. Instead it is a glorious site of a sumptuous complex of churches, buildings and parks walled in by the kreml(fortress) which was begun in 12th century. The Kremlin is also the workweek home of the Russian President as well as the seat of his administration. As a consequence, many of the administration buildings are not open to the public. The Armoury, Patriarchs Palace and the churches in cathedral square are a compelling attraction. In imperial times these were the settings for great state occasions like coronations, baptisms and burials.