Our final day in Moscow was a day of highs and lows. On the way out in the morning we were taken through a very crowded metro with so many people that we were swept up onto the train. Inside we were pressed so tightly together that my feet started to lift off of the floor. Some thieves must have seen us as easy targets because after we got off one of us had lost a wallet and the other a small digital camera. Though disappointed we were thankful that we had not lost anything more important like a passport. We did what we could and then went on with our day and tried to enjoy the little time we had left in Moscow.
Our spirits were revived by the Pushkin Museum and in particular the collection of impressionist paintings. As we entered each room we gasped with delight as each hall was filled with wonderful works by all of our favorite artists. It is said that the Pushkin has the finest impressionist collection outside of Paris and I definitely believe it. Instead of one or two paintings from special artists, the greats such as Degas, Monet, Van Gogh, Renoir, Gauguin, Picasso, Cézanne, Miro (I could keep going on and on) had entire rooms filled with their art.
After visiting the museum we did some souvenir shopping and then met our new friends, the Moscow DID team, in front of the Christ Savior Cathedral. There was saw long lines of people purchasing blessed Easter breads. The Russian Orthodox Easter is this coming Sunday and so we have seen many beautiful painted eggs and chocolate treats. Easter in Russia is somewhat like Halloween in the states in that children go knocking on doors and say “Jesus Christ is risen” and then people give them candy such as chocolate eggs that they collect in their Easter baskets.
Our friends took us to The Science House for lunch. Today the Science House is a museum and private club for Russian scientists who have won the Nobel Prize and other honors. However, it once was a nobleman’s palace before the Bolshevik Revolution when it was taken by the government and the owner was either killed or fled the country. It was huge and decorated very ornately with mosaics, painted ceilings, marble and gold moldings and beautiful artworks. It reminded me of Hearst Castle inside and made me think about how having these vast discrepancies in wealth in such a close proximity as they used to have in Moscow could have fanned the flames revolution.
After many toasts, and exchanges of gifts and embraces we left our friends and set out for our last night in Moscow. Walking back to the hotel we visited a “Super-Mall.” They had every type of store you can imagine including many American stores like “Build-a-Bear” and all of the top European fashion designers. On the 7th floor there was an ice skating rink with giant windows looking out across Moscow.
Perhaps the most spiritual moment of the day was just as it was ending. Cheryl, Hasan and I left the hotel and went back to Red Square to see it lit up as in is at night. It was very late so there were only a few people here and there. The square was quiet and peaceful. We stood quietly, almost reverently in the center of Russian culture as the next day began.
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