14th/15th August 2019: Moscow, Moscow

With a stopover in Vladimir, we went to Moscow yesterday. In terms of distance, it's not far (about 400km), but the traffic situation in Moscow was announced as unpredictable. Travel times cannot be calculated. Mentally, we were prepared for a late arrival. Fortunately, it was much faster and we were already at the Mercure Arbat, very close to the city center, by 7:30 pm.

Vladimir was once the capital of the Russian Empire many centuries ago and accordingly equipped with historic, gold-dome churches. The city is part of the so-called "Golden Ring" around Moscow. After seeing so many golden churches, we are starting to get a bit tired.

Moscow impressed us with its size upon entering. Everything is big: streets, squares, buildings, cars, and crowds.

On today's day off, we started exploring the city on our own. First, to the Ostankino TV Tower (the tallest building in Europe) for a panoramic view, then back to the crowded Red Square, through the GUM department store (no sanctions, please?) and through various boulevards and pedestrian zones back to the hotel. We are a bit overwhelmed by the many impressions and the many people.