After breakfast our first morning, we had the obligatory safety drill.

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The Russian word kreml was once used to describe a fortified stronghold that encased a small town filled with palaces, churches, monasteries, wooden peasant houses and markets. It was first mentioned in 1147.

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Assumption Cathedral is the Kremlin's main church. Combining Italian Renaissance and Byzantine traditions, it is built from white limestone and brick with rounded arches and five gilded onion domes. The interior is lit by 12 chandeliers and is covered with frescoes and icons that date back to 1481.

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Red Square, the heart of the city, was first mentioned in 15th century chronicles. From the time of Ivan the Great, the square has been used as a huge gathering place for public events, markets, fairs and festivals. It received its name in the 17th century from the old Russian word krasny that means both red and beautiful.

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St. Basils Cathedral was erected by Ivan the Terrible from 1555 to 1561 to commemorate the annexation of the Mongol states of Kazan and Astrakhan to Russia. It is built of brick in the traditional Russian style with colorful, asymmetrical onion domes.

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The Spasskaya Clock Tower is 220-feet high and used to serve as the official entrance of the czars into Red Square. Today it is the main entrance of government officials. The marble structure in front of the clock tower is Lenin's Mausoleum also known as Lenin's Tomb. It serves as the current resting place of Vladimir Lenin. His embalmed body has been on public display there since shortly after his death in 1924 (with rare exceptions in wartime).

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The GUM department store was built in 1893 and is Russia's largest store. It has 200 shops on three levels and a large glass roof. There are ornate bridges that cross from one side to the other.

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On a bridge above the Moscow River we saw these metal trees covered in padlocks. We were told that newlyweds came to this place and place a lock on the tree and then together throw the key into the river signifying a long life together. As we walked over the bridge, we saw a couple attaching their lock.

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We went to the Old Tretyakov Gallery for a special performance of original music and dance, including Russian and other classical compositions. The orchestra played traditional Russian folk instruments including balalaikas, bayans, domras and guslies as well as other wind and percussion instruments. Tryna was selected to perform with the orchestra on the tambourine. What fun !

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Sergiev Posad Monastery or the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergii (a Lavra is the highest rank of Orthodox monastery) is the Russian Orthodox equivalent of the Vatican, which has a complex of medieval buildings to rival those of the Kremlin.

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Trinity Cathedral was constructed in the 1420's making it older than all the churches of Moscow's Kremlin. The golden domed white church is the resting place of St. Sergius. The small cathedral also has wonderful iconostasis partly painted by 15th Century celebrated icon master Andrei Rublev.

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Because we were visiting a working monastery, women were required to cover their heads. Since Tryna didn't have a scarf, she fashioned a cloth napkin from the dining room into her head covering.

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Within the walls of the monastery we saw marvelous churches with colorful onion domes...

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...smaller colorful chapels...

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...people from older generations coming to the monastery for the 2-1/2 hour Russian Orthodox service (where they stand instead of sitting in pews)...

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...and monks walking the square circulating among the people (notice the holy water fountain where people were filling their jugs.

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Kvass is a fermented beverage made from black or regular rye bread. The color of the bread used contributes to the color of the resulting drink. It is classified as a non-alcoholic drink by Russian standards, as the alcohol content from fermentation is typically less than 1.2%. It is often flavored with fruits or herbs such as strawberries raisins or mint. It really has a refreshing taste.

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Tonight found us riding down the Moscow Canal where we were able to experience breathtaking and colorful views of the city. It amazed us to see all the buildings and bridges brightly lit bathing the city in fairy tale splendor.

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We ended our evening by returning to Red Square which, like the rest of the city, was lit up like a Christmas tree. St. Basil's was especially beautiful by night with a full moon shining down on us.

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