Trekking beyond Moscow’s space exploration history—and discovering its many treasures
By Pallavi & Bhupendra (Bob) Deliwala, 3-time travelers & Vacation Ambassadors, Oviedo, Florida
Before deciding to join Grand Circle’s Russia Revealed River Cruise, we did extensive research on Russia. We read through guides, making notes about what we’d like to see and do while we were there, and began taking a look at the various group tours available. It soon became obvious that most tour companies didn’t spend sufficient time in the cities we wanted to visit. And only one company—Grand Circle—offered the opportunity to visit the Cosmonaut Training Center. This was especially important to us, as Bhupendra has been working for NASA at Kennedy Space Center for the past 27 years. So, for us, it was a “no-brainer” to decide to travel with Grand Circle.
Initially, we thought that the cruise might be a little too long, but after experiencing our River Cruise, we agree that it was a great way to relax and see the rest of the small towns and villages (the true heart of Russia) to get the real flavor of the country.
Here, we share some of our favorite memories from our visit to the enchanting city of Moscow …
On the day of our arrival, we planned to see the Russian spacecraft, Buran, at Gorky Park during our leisure time. We were given walking directions and a map, learned which train to catch, and ventured out from our hotel. Gorky Park has an impressive gate entrance, several fountains, beautiful flowers, various thrill rides, a fantastic river front, and of course, Buran. We were able to go inside the shuttle and watch a movie showing the take off and landing of the spacecraft. It was quite an experience—and Bhupendra was forced to admit that Buran’s technology and construction is not nearly as impressive as NASA’s own space shuttle.
Red Square was a major highlight of our trip. And, of course, no trip to the Red Square is complete without a peek inside the onion-domed landmark of St. Basil’s Cathedral. The high red walls and gates are spectacular.
Peering inside the Kremlin’s walls was an awe-inspiring sight. We saw the President’s building from the outside. It was exciting to see the broken bell and take the perfect photo with it. Of the five cathedrals open to the general public, we were able to venture inside three. We also saw a collection of czarist treasures in the Armory Museum and viewed the Diamond Fund, a unique collection of gems and jewelry, on our own—and it was well worth seeing.
We returned by train to Kremlin Square at night with our group. It was simply beautiful and the Square’s charms must be viewed in the evening light.
We decided to explore various Moscow subway stations, which were used as bomb shelters during World War II, during our stay. The depth of the underground stations, the steepness of its escalators, and Art Deco architecture and statues were spectacular. These stations look like five-star hotel lobbies and are well guarded by the police.
Grand Circle’s optional tour to the Star City Cosmonaut Training Center was another major highlight of our trip. The zero gravity pool training area (similar to the one at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston) and centrifuges designed to simulate g-forces that cosmonauts encounter during liftoff were great to see. Our question-and-answer session with a Russian cosmonaut who had spent time on the Russian space station (as well as the U.S.’s International Space Station) was intriguing and informative. Best of all, taking photos with such a unique dignitary was a special treat for all of us.
We loved exploring the city of Moscow. The KGB Lubyanka Headquarters building, as well as its history, was fascinating. Moscow University and its surrounding area was great to see. Some other sites well worth visiting were the Pushkin Monument, the Peter the Great statue, and the Make Way for Ducklings sculpture in Novodevichy Park (similar to the one in the Boston Public Garden) donated by former First Lady Barbara Bush for the children of Moscow.
We are so glad we decided to take this trip, as it was more than what we expected. It was our first tour with Grand Circle, and we loved every minute of it.
Learn about Russia’s space exploration history—as well as its many cultural charms—on our Russia Revealed: Moscow to St. Petersburg River Cruise.