Off to Moscow in This Week's Fast Five!

My first question to you would be have you ever met me?  I'm fascinated with Russia.  I've been to both Russia and The Soviet Union, depending on which year you talk about of my trips.  I know that there's a war and we can't really go now, but once in a while I miss Mother Russia, and I thought I'd mention a few things that you may not have thought of that you can find in Moscow.

1.    Krutitsky Court.  This is historical in so many ways, and beautiful in so many ways.  Krutitsky was erected first in the 1200's.  This was a few hundred years after the creation of the Russian Orthodox Church and before the Romanovs became the leaders of the empire.  

It's been many things over the centuries.  It was built and rebuilt in the first several centuries.  It was once a military warehouse at the height of the Romanov Dynasty in the 1700's and through the next hundred or more years.  It was restored after WWII and eventually returned to the church after the fall of communism in the 1990's.

It doesn't get more historic, and it's not far from the center of the city where the Kremlin and Red Square are.  Today, Krutitsky Court is the personal Metochin of Moscow's Patriarch.

https://www.rbth.com/special/discovering_russia/2016/08/05/krutitsky-court-excursion-into-moscows-past_618593

https://www.russinfo.in/moscow/parks-palaces/krutitsky-metochion/

https://qvedo.com/details/a1c7c1fa386a7274-palace-of-the-metropolitans-of-krutitsky

https://www.tripadvisor.co.nz/AttractionProductReview-g298484-d23757043-Private_Walking_Tour_to_Krutitsky_Metochion_Novospassky_Monastery-Moscow_Central_R.html

https://www.gw2ru.com/travel/3806-krutitsy-court-moscow

2.    The Apothecary Garden.  This park was created by the authority of Peter the Great himself in 1706 to grow medicinal plants.  It is believed that he planted three of the trees that stand today, himself.  As time moved on the University of Moscow took over in 1805 and it is a beautiful city garden and park today.  It's in a museum district not far from downtown, and is a serene and gorgeous outdoor venue in the country's capital.  It's the oldest botanical garden in all of Russia.

https://rusmania.com/central/moscow-federal-city/moscow/meschansky/beyond-the-garden-ring-around-prospekt-mira/apothecarys-garden-of-the-botanical-garden-of-moscow-state-university

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g298484-d2467468-Reviews-Aptekarskiy_Ogorod_Botanical_Garden-Moscow_Central_Russia.html

https://www.russinfo.in/moscow/parks-palaces/apothecary-garden/

https://www.eng.petersway.org/monuments/russia/moscow/old_botanical_garden/

https://www.hse.ru/recommends/news/904291128.html

3.    The Museum of Soviet Arcade Games.  This one is self explanatory, and reportedly closed according to some places on the internet.  It's also reportedly open according to others.  Do I know?  No.  What I do know is that if anyone's ever played Tetris, you know how much Russians love video games, so this is a great place to stop.  In America we have Fun Spot Park in New Hampshire, and in Moscow this isn't far from the famous TV tower.

I truly hope it isn't closed.  This would be a lot of fun.

https://15kop.ru/

https://arcadeblogger.com/2019/06/15/the-museum-of-soviet-arcade-games/

https://hum54-15.omeka.fas.harvard.edu/exhibits/show/rediscovering-the-ordinary-wit/museum-of-soviet-arcade-machin

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/soviet-arcade-game-museum

In case the one in Moscow is closed, there's one in St. Petersburg!

https://www.introducingsaintpetersburg.com/museum-soviet-arcade-machines

4.    Rostokino Aqueduct Park.  Also known as Milliony Bridge over the River Yauza was built in the late 1700's and was part of Moscow's first centralized water supply.  Built on the authority of Catherine the Great, it's 1,168 feet long, 62 feet high and has 21 individual arches.  It's totally reminiscent of something the Romans would have built.

The aqueduct is a historically protected structure, a pedestrian bridge and part of a small park in central Moscow.  It's quiet, pretty and has some great views.  There were rumors that it was permanently closed, but it was only a temporary closing for repairs and is otherwise open to the public as a park.

https://mindtrip.ai/attraction/moscow-russia/rostokinsky-aqueduct/at-SEZIgDxE

https://4traveler.me/en/travel/moscow/rostokino-aqueduct-moscow

https://qvedo.com/details/23e3212b040f3e10-aqueduct

https://rusmania.com/central/moscow-federal-city/moscow/outer-north/rostokino-district/rostokino-aqueduct

https://www.likealocalguide.com/moscow/rostokino-aqueduct

5.    Sokol Artist's Village.  Nestled not far from all those big tall buildings in the modern parts of Moscow sits a timeless village of dachas.  It almost feels like you've left the city altogether.  What's it all about?

In the early days of communism, this settlement began on what was the outskirts of the city at the time.  Lenin, himself was part of the idea of cooperative settlements such as this.  Since the 1970's it's been under state protection and currently is locally self governing.  A few of the dachas have been sold to rich people in more recent times, and the rich people have torn them down and put more modern villas in their place, but the village is still quaint and yet sits right in the middle of urban development.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/sokol

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2021/10/18/sokol-artists-village-in-the-colors-of-autumn-a75306

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g298484-i718-k12771806-Sokol_garden_city_quarter-Moscow_Central_Russia.html

https://mapcarta.com/N1274540186

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/02/07/the-quiet-battle-to-save-moscows-historical-architecture-a84008

There you have it.  Have I visited any of these sites?  Yes, a couple and I thought they were fascinating.  Do I think Americans should be traveling to Russia right now?  No.  Do I hope we'll be able to in the future?  Yes!

In the meantime, check out my YouTube Channel, Adventures for Anyone and see all the great things I'm finding in New York City and the Northeast of the United States!

https://www.youtube.com/@ninakindred9466

You'll find 5 vlogs each week and a lot of them are about unique things to see and do where I live!

Enjoy!

Did You Know? This Week's Fast Five!

 Sometimes I simply run across some things that I didn't know about.  Not that they're Earth shattering; just new to me.  Here we go!

1.    Ecocash, Zimbabwe.  Zimbabwe is one of those countries that has Victoria Falls on one of its borders.  It's also a country whose currency, the Zimbabwean Dollar, became completely worthless.  You can buy as a collector item $1,000,000,000 notes.  It got so bad that they started over so to speak and went to something called ZiG or Zimbabwe Gold in 2024.  I guess it's a good idea, because it is now backed by gold reportedly, but normal folks in that country needed something reliable, that didn't change in value every ten minutes and that they didn't need a wheelbarrow to carry around.

In steps Ecocash.  This is digital, and it saved a lot of people's sanity in Zimbabwe.  It's an app, a portable digital bank account, and so much more.  It's accepted all over Zimbabwe and now it can even be used some outside the country and in international money transfers.  It may sound sketchy, but those people needed a solution and Ecocash provided it.

https://paynow.co.zw/blog/how-has-ecocash-changed-lives-in-zimbabwe/

https://www.remitly.com/us/en/providers-zimbabwe/send-money-to-ecocash

https://www.connectingafrica.com/mobile-money/zimbabwe-s-ecocash-to-grow-usd-mobile-money-transactions 

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=600530320603337 

https://www.comviva.com/blog/transforming-lives-with-ecocash-powered-by-mahindra-comvivas-mobiquity-money/

2.    Kisumu, Kenya and its Equator access in Maseno.  Kisumu is the hopping off point for this one along the shores of Lake Victoria.  About 24 miles north of there is Maseno, and one of the marked spots for the Equator.

We all know that the Equator is that imaginary line that passes around the middle of the Earth latitudinally.  However, most of us here in the United States rarely if ever hear about a tourist location besides Quito, Ecuador where you can go, have your experience and take some photos.  If in Kenya, I would definitely make an effort to go to this one.  How often do you get to see a marked spot on the Equator?

https://visitkisumu.go.ke/equator-point/  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGwWVwzrICM

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g317064-d13566276-Reviews-Equator_Sign-Kisumu_Nyanza_Province.html

https://www.nativeafricatours.com/equator-experience-in-kenya/

https://www.nomadicbackpacker.com/crossing-the-equator-at-maseno-kenya.html

3.    Monte Alban, Oaxaca Valley, Mexico.  Southern Mexico is very different from the northern parts in many ways.  Monte Alban is a pre Columbian ruins of a settlement.  There's a lot to see and do there in the Zapotec Capital.  Temples, sports arenas, tombs, and so much more.  Entrance to the UNESCO World Heritage Site runs 90 Pesos or about $3.50.  

It's a great way to spend the day when in the Oaxaca area.  It's also perched on a mountaintop and has a great view.

I would, however, probably take a tour.  It's a great way to settle the transportation and helps you find it.  Guides can also help a great deal with understanding such a location that was inhabited by a reportedly advanced people.  So there's a lot to learn about in their history.  Tours tend to start at around $30.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g150801-d155099-Reviews-Zona_Arqueologica_de_Monte_Alban-Oaxaca_Southern_Mexico.html

https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/415/

https://www.wmf.org/projects/monte-alb%C3%A1n

https://blogs.uoregon.edu/mesoinstitute/about/field-trips-and-excursions/monte-alban/

https://oaxaca-airport.com/monte-alban/

4.    Babcock Ranch, Florida, USA.  This is the first solar powered town in America.  It was a planned city close to Fort Myers, and was designed to be completely sustainable.  Does this work?

I'm not sure, but there are roughly 7,300 residents who were willing to give it a try.  It's well planned out with its own dining, shopping and schools.  

Is it a utopia?  I didn't get the idea that it was supposed to be.  It's just an experimental situation with sustainability.  There have been some mild social issues, but the town does seem to be a sustainable entity.  At any rate, if in the Fort Myers area, you might want to check it out.

https://babcockranch.com/

https://babcockranchecotours.com/

https://www.babcockranchliving.com/27/Community

https://www.fdacs.gov/Forest-Wildfire/Our-Forests/State-Forests/Babcock-Ranch-Preserve 

https://developingresilience.uli.org/case/babcock-ranch/

5.    The John Lennon Wall, Prague, Czech Republic.  Some artists are never forgotten, like John Lennon.  After his death, the wall was painted as a tribute to the artist.  Who knew what it would become?

The wall was expanded on time and time again.  It became a symbol against the Communists and has now become a national treasure.  It's at the Maltese Gardens and is still an inspiration today.

Artists to this day paint, repaint, add to a mural and so on.  The one thing that isn't allowed is spray paint.  Prague is a fascinating city which I've been to and absolutely adore.  If you happen to have the privilege of visiting Prague, you should check out this wall.

https://prague.eu/en/objevujte/john-lennon-wall-zed-johna-lennona/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g274707-d27977908-Reviews-The_John_Lennon_Wall-Prague_Bohemia.html

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/czech-republic/prague/mala-strana/attractions/john-lennon-wall/a/poi-sig/401339/1323268

https://prague.eu/en/objevujte/the-lennon-wall/

https://thelennonwall.com/en-us

In closing, I'd like to remind everyone that when you visit somewhere, there may be more than you are aware of.  I find that all the time.  I'm still learning.  The Lennon Wall was in Prague when I was there and I didn't know about it.  I may need to visit again.

Never quit learning about the world.  Take New York City for instance.  I never quit learning about that city.  If you want to know some weird and fascinating things about the world and New York,  check it out here or on my YouTube Channel, Adventures for Anyone.

https://www.youtube.com/@ninakindred9466/shorts

Enjoy!