Walking tour around Moscow

On Monday afternoons after morning classes, Liden & Denz usually organize a walking tour around Moscow. Although Moscow is far too big with far too much to see to cover it all in just a two hour walk, this is a great opportunity for newcomers (like me) to get a feel for the city. It also provides a brief look at some of the must see attractions, while also pointing out other, less well known places too.  Although it was just a walk around, it was good to know where certain places were located in relation to one another. Now it isn’t quite as daunting having to plan a trip.

We set off with our guide on a very hot Moscow summer’s day. I strongly advise to bring a bottle of water along. It was dearly missed! Although if you forget there are plenty of places to stop for a quick refreshment. We also passed the Moscow ice cream festival which is taking place here until July 10^th. So if you are in need of something both sweet and refreshing, there are many options.

The tour was conducted in Russian, so it proved to also be a great opportunity to get straight into practicing Russian outside the classroom. We passed through patriarch’s pond, a relaxing shaded area a short walk from the Liden & Denz offices. The relaxed atmosphere and green space made a nice change from the usual “hustle and bustle” of a big city.  Soon after, we had a quick rest while the guide grabbed a shawarma, before heading off towards the Kremlin and Red Square. Lenin’s mausoleum was closed by the time we arrived, so I’ll have to add that to the long list of places to revisit.

The tour finished by the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, which is next to Kropotkinskaya metro station, giving me my first chance to use the metro. I returned home very tired, but excited to revisit all the new places I had seen on the tour and really get to know Moscow.

Lawrence Toye, currently studying Russian at Liden & Denz Moscow