Moscow and Novogorod

After checking out of the hotel in Saint Petersburg, we were able to take it easy until we got on the bus around 2:30 to begin our journey to Novgorod. Part way there, we found ourselves stuck in a traffic jam. It delayed us a couple hours, but got a really good look at the small villages we passed through. We arrived at the hotel for supper, then went on a tour at 9:00 pm and saw the Kremlin of Novgorod.

Visiting the Kremlin in Novogorod

We began our trek to Moscow at 7:30 am. We ran into some traffic again which slowed us down, but we had anticipated a full day on the bus. We stopped for lunch on the way where we got to eat outdoors in a quaint, tent covered area. We had salad, soup, an entree, and dessert (apple filled bread rolls). The temperatures are rising as we continue our way south.

After we got to Moscow, and checked into the hotel, we met for worship, led by Shawn Collins. At 8:30 pm, several of us went on a tour to see the artistically decorated metro stations, ending up at the Red Square. What a memorable trip!

We woke up early to tour Moscow, ending up at the Kremlin and the Red Square. We were there on their Independence Day, and they had big plans for their celebrations.

Several people got to tour the inside of the Kremlin before we had to meet at the University of Moscow. We took the wrong exit off the metro and ended up walking for an hour to our destination at the university! We definitely got our exercise! :) Faculty and several students were there to meet us to talk to us about their education system. Since it was a holiday, they didn't have school, but came just to meet with us, which was highly appreciated! We enjoyed the time spend with them.

View of the majestic Moscow State University

Library of Moscow State University

While a group of us was sitting inside the Kremlin walls, a man approached Timothy, hearing him speak English, and when he noticed Timothy's Andrews University t-shirt, he announced that he was an Adventist! He was there traveling with a group of boys from Georgia-Cumberland Academy that were homeward bound from a mission trip in China. They had just spent 6 days on a train to Moscow. As the rest of his group joined him, Hilda noticed one of the chaperones and realized she knew him from her days at Southern Adventist University. What a small world, and what a way to catch up, in Moscow!