Moscow's economy does not seem to be suffering. Architecture ranges from Stalin and Kruschev style buildings to modern skyscrapers under construction. Traffic jams are everywhere, roads clogged with Mercedes, BMW's, and Audi's. Women worthy of model status strut in 4 1/2" heels and skinny jeans.
Even though Russian leaders often relegated their wives to somewhere like a monastery, many ended up with their husbands at New Maiden cemetery.
Stalin's wife #2.
Here's a place I never dreamed I'd see.
Grave of shoe-thumping Nikita Kruschev.
Grave of Boris Yeltsin, made to look like Russia's flag.
Back on the ship, Russia's May Day/Veterans' Day activities continued. Veteran Paul found a bond with Russian veterans from WW II.
Evening found us at the famed Moscow circus, popular since the time of Catherine the Great. We hope the jaw-dropping elephants who performed were as happy as they appeared. An aerial acrobatic team that fell (no net) last year gave its first performance of 2013.
Boy, they really like red.
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