I meant to mention this in the DUSHNO email...
While we were inside the Kremlin yesterday, we visited this church-- inside
there are remains (coffins/sarcophagi) of past tsars and grand dukes back to
the mid-1300s. While we were there, there were four guys dressed sort of
like priests or priests-to-be (but were neither) inside who are part of a
choir that sang for us a capella. The song was very beautiful, very moving,
especially given the accoustics. The were "selling" a CD of their
Orthodox-style choir music for a donation, so I got one (to play during
exams at school, just to haunt my students). It was really an experience to
be in the churches were tsars were baptized, coronated, and laid to rest--
in three different churches that open to Cathedral Square in the middle of
the Kremlin. I wish I'd had more time to really look around more, but we
were on a tight schedule, so, given the time constraint, I think we saw a
lot. If you'd like to see a little more about this part of our visit to
Russia, there is encapsulated, easy-to-digest info about it on this web
page: http://www.geographia.com/russia/moscow02.htm
And a footnote to yesterday's visit to Red Square: One of my students,
Stephanie, who is African-American, got more than a little attention as we
were taking pictures on Red Square! Stephanie, who is a very pretty young
lady, was asked by two guys if they could have their picture taken with her.
And another guy who was just taking pictures in general, surreptitiously
snapped one of her. I guess we must have looked a little strange to them (I
in my MHS Russian Club t-shirt walking along with 5 teenagers, 4 girls and 1
boy). Inasmuch as Stephanie may be a novelty to them (this happened with a
professor from UT in 2004 who REALLY suprised the natives as an
African-American woman who is conversant in Russian!), I really want to tell
the next rubbernecker that she not only knows a little Russian, but she
could also whoop 'em in chess!... Stephanie is a rated player, for those of
you who don't know).
Anyway. I think that, with Alex' (one of my students) disk reader, I may be
able to get a picture or two out soon... So stay tuned!
Poka!
E.B.
