Let me lead you through the streets of Moscow

by Anni Pelmeni

If we follow Tverskayas street from the Kremlin, the first building on the left hand side will the famous hotel National. For more then a century this hotel welcomes the guest – Tsar’s generals, Soviet workers and Russian oligarchs. 6- storeyed hotel was built in 1903, its official name was Nationalnaya gostinitsa or simply National. Even Russian people pronounce the name with the bit of French accent and very soft ‘l’ and the end. In the early 20 th century among the foreign guests staying here were Anatol France and Hebert Wells. The closeness to the Kremlin made this hotel a fancz place to stay for anyone famous alike. Century ago the ground and the first floors were fancy restaurants and the upper floors were rooms, suits and rented apartments. An elevator was one of the high-tech attractions with shiny buttons and mirrors.

by Anni Pelmeni

Another square of Tverskaya street will be easy for you to spot – Pushkin square with Pushkin monument.

The poet #1 in Russia is of course Alexander Pushkin. Pushkin will be everywhere if you do any cultural or historical explorations of Moscow. There is of course Pushkin square in Moscow with the Pushkin monument. Pushkin square as we know it nowadays is the product of Stalin’s Grand Plan of Moscow’s reconstruction. Originally on this place used to be a monastery of Christ Passions and the square was called Strastnaya (aka Passions). In 1880 Pushkin monument was initially placed at the other site of Tverskaya street. It was only in 1950 that the monument was moved to its current location. There are many establishments in Moscow called after Pushkin: Pushkin cinema (as if there are movies during Pushkin lifetime) where the major premier take place; Pushkin Art Museum, Pushkin Drama Theater.