Was Moscow a Dream?

I've always dreamed of seeing the "swirly topped" buildings of Moscow.  Once a year or so, I would pick up a travel guide I had purchased on Amazon and look at pictures of a city that seemed almost forbidden to American travelers.  I wondered if I would ever actually get there.

Last fall, I came across a Travelzoo deal that was too good to pass up: airfare to Moscow from Minneapolis and 4 nights hotel with breakfast for about $800. Jason passed on it. It was in the off-season and Jason didn't want to be cold exploring the streets of Moscow. He said I could ask some girlfriends, though. I don't think he actually thought anyone would say yes, but my dear friends Kathy and Jennifer were up for an adventure and soon we were busy with plans for the adventure of a lifetime.

Without a doubt, this quick trip to Russia was one of the most challenging trips I have ever planned (and I have tackled some pretty off the grid stuff).  We had flights cancelled, the ballet we had tickets to was cancelled and the paperwork to get a travel visa into Russia is nothing short of overwhelming. But once the planning process was complete, the complications also came to an end.

I can honestly say, from the moment we stepped onto the plane at MSP International on April 6th to the moment we returned to Minneapolis on April 11th, there was not a single trip glitch. Not one! It was almost like we had stepped into the fairytale of Cinderella arriving at the ball. Several beautiful surprises awaited us in Moscow: weather that was 30 degrees warmer that it should have been, a luxury hotel that served an incredible breakfast with complimentary champagne, arriving to the opera (which replaced our ballet experience) to discover our tickets were in the 2nd row, kind strangers who spoke no English but put their own busy lives on hold to try to help us navigate their beautiful city and a last minute splurge on an extremely affordable (and unique) spa experience that included a 90 minute massage. We were also amazed by the incredible restaurants our hotel concierge and private tour guide made reservations for us at. People in Moscow eat well!  As my friend Kathy texted me just last night, "Everything was so amazing." We really did live a dream and we are attempting to show our appreciation to those who took care of us in Moscow by writing some glowing Tripadvisor reviews.

As you navigate the city of Moscow through its massive and cleverly designed underground metro system, you will be greeted by world class art at each stop. Our lovely young tour guide Katya explained to us that during the rule of Stalin, it was illegal to build churches and many were actually destroyed. So artists went to work underground.

 

During Joseph Stalin's rule from the mid-1920s until his death in 1953, a massive art museum was built beneath Moscow and great skyscrapers were built above it. Stalin's mark on Moscow is a big part of what the city is today. 

When we were visiting the Red Square and the Kremlin, Katya took us to a scenic overlook of the city. She pointed out a great cathedral and told a story of how Stalin ordered it to be torn down and a swimming pool constructed in its place.  When Stalin died, the people rebuilt that cathedral.  But Katya told us for many of the people in Moscow, these great churches are only places to tour and admire and that very few people are practicing Christians.

I haven't had time to process all my experiences during our 3.5 days in Russia. I have been asked several times what the highlight was. For me, it was seeing the amazing churches inside and out. That's what those "swirly topped" buildings are: breathtaking cathedrals. 

There are very few tourist carts or shops in Moscow. This is a world-class modern city with some of the greatest history to be told. I feel beyond blessed that I got to experience it and I hope to continue to process what my time there has to teach me.

Just a few weeks before we left for Moscow, there were some terrible terror attacks in Brussels, Belgium.  A travel warning was issued by the U.S. State Department for all of Europe. I wondered for a moment if we should consider cancelling our trip.  Jason said too much work and planning had gone into this. We could not let the terrorists win. He reminded me that anything can happen anywhere, at any time. 

I am so very glad we went on this trip. The people of Moscow were kind and went out of the way to help us see and experience their incredible city. We always felt very safe.

Jason asked me what the lesson is for Bereket in this little story. Once again, it is simple. Go see this amazing world. Meet its wonderful people. Our time here is short. There is so much to learn and experience.  The blessings of travel will not disappoint.