MOSCOW, DAY 2

Today John went to the Russian Military Museum in the morning. He was disappointed because the emphasis was on the bravery of the Russian people during WWII not the military weapons and strategy of the Cold War. The guide spoke no English so one of the ship's guides had to translate everything. No conversation between guide and group was possible.
I went in the afternoon to the Old Tretyakov Gallery, one of the largest Russian art museums. It dates to 1856 when Pavel Tretyakov began his collection ranging from icons to the beginning of Russian painting in the 18th century to contemporary pieces. Tretyakov wanted Russian art housed separately. He gave his entire collection to the state and his house was expanded to become the museum.
Our guide was just the best! I learned that before Peter the Great the only art done in Russia was religious--icons and frescos. Peter sent artists to Europe to study and observe so in the 1700's Russian portraits and landscapes start to appear in the country.
The museum has paintings in rows to the ceiling on every wall. The portraits were my favorites especially those of children. I saw some paintings that took the artist 20 years to complete; they were the largest paintings I have seen anywhere in the world. There were beautiful sculptures and a whole floor devoted to icons, some dating to the 13th century. John and I decided that I definitely picked the better tour.



Going back to the bus we walked over a bridge that had trees on it with hearts hanging from the branches. It is a Moscow custom on one's wedding day for the bride and groom to go to the bridge, lock the decorated heart on the tree and throw away the key in the river. The couple vow that their love will last forever!