Friday, February 24, 2012

U.S.S.R. - Leningrad to Moscow - 10.6.1970

From my Notes:

Pack our things, wash up and go to see Aurora* an old ship that had something to do with the Revolution  Catch taxi to station.

Leave Leningrad 1pm.

Train trip rather dull, packed mostly with women. 

Arrive Moscow 8:28pm.

 Met by young Intourist fellow and whisked off to Hotel.

Aurora from Wiki:
The historical ship Aurora has been turned into a museum and is docked just a few hundred yards upstream from the Cabin of Peter the Great, opposite the "St Petersburg" Hotel. The cruiser, built in St. Petersburg between 1897 and 1900, took an active part in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05 and participated in the Tsusima battle, in which most of Russia's Pacific fleet was destroyed. After the war the ship was used for personnel training and during the October revolution of 1917 gave the signal (by firing a blank shot) to storm of the Winter Palace, which was being used as a residence by the democratic, but largely ineffective Provisional Government.
During World War II and the 900-day Siege of Leningrad the guns of the ship were taken down and used on the front line of the city's defenses. After the war the ship was carefully restored and used as a free museum and training ship for cadets from the nearby Nakhimov Navy School.

 We wanted to take a photo of the Aurora but didn't want to get into trouble... again... for taking photos so we stopped two very young men in army uniform and asked if it would be okay for us to take a photo.  They said yes and the two of them stood in front of the ship and smiled for the camera.  Well we had to take a photo of them didn't we...  but...  sadly, as I've said before, all our photos were stolen in the USA. :-(  I would love to have that photo today.

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