My 10-day trip to Russia resulted in over 500 images – events, people, architecture. I am delighted to share the creme of the crop with you.
The magic of Red Square (Moscow)
I happened to visit Moscow at the time of my great interest in architecture. Russian architecture deserves a separate article – so grandiose and extravagant it is. It’s a sharp contrast to the modernistic New York – tall, dark and handsome in its geometry. All of a sudden, I was yanked out of the future and transported into the streets of a 500 year old ancient fairy tale.
Novodevichiy Convent Upon Lake
I’ll be honest, I never cared much for architecture before. You’d never see me snapping a cheesy picture in front of the Eiffel Tower. But Russian architecture is so different from anything I’d seen, the beauty simply makes you cry. Standing amidst it, you feel overwhelmed – almost crushed – by the centuries and centuries of history.
I fell in love with gold. Most people think of it as cheesy and outdated but I’m out to prove it isn’t so!
The best thing about Russia is definitely COLOR. So much of it – not one gray building through the entire trip – that your brain feels like it’s about to explode into a million pastel-colored pieces! Everything is either bright blue, green, pink or yellow. Buildings are quaint and all-timey – like candyfuture in reverse! Um, Candypast?
One of my favorite buildings in Moscow: an entrance to the metro station. Moscow metro is as beautiful inside as it is outside – it feels like you’re walking through a museum with dozens of frescoes and arches looking down at you. Puts NYC subway to shame for sure!
St. Basil’s Cathedral in Red Square
This pretty toy castle I’m standing in front is St. Basil’s Cathedral. The most famous and definitely my favorite, it’s almost too elaborate and colorful for the eye!
Legend has it, Ivan the Terrible had the architect Postnik Yakovlev blinded so that he could never create something this beautiful again. Looking at it, I can almost understand Ivan…
For an eccentric like me, Moscow was a wonderland. An ocean of many wonderful textures, colors and shapes, all of which I drank in hungrily with my eyes. Roaming through those streets made me wonder if my obsession with color is somehow linked to this place…
Next week: Russian culture!
Oh thanks so much for answering our requests. How ridiculously beautiful! I know i’m gonna cry too when I go there! I’m surprised you didn’t make plans to move to Moscow permanently – it really is a Doe Deere heaven!!
I’ve learnt how to read Russian and have started on the actual language (kind of tricky!) all ready for my trip! whenever that may be..
I’ve been in awe of St. Basil’s since college art history. How lucky that you got to see Russia in the correct mindset to appreciate it as you did! I’m also impressed at how well kept all of the architecture seems to be in Moscow. Lucky for us, because these are true large-scale works of art. Glad you had a memorable time!
Oh I read that only in Russia are metro stations a tourist attraction haha. fkin WOW
Does your newfound love for gold mean you’ll do more looks with Treasure Chest? That and Siren are ones that very rarely have tutorials and I think they’re the prettiest colors of the group, hands down. TC is especially my favorite since it’s so versatile.
“Standing amidst it, you feel overwhelmed – almost crushed – by the centuries and centuries of history.
You’ve described exactly how I feel in Rome, Venice and many other cities. The photos are beautiful and make me ache for Russia even more – I’ve never been there, but I’ve always been fascinated with the culture and language + some of my favorite people are Russian. I’m glad you fit into Moscow so well.
Can’t wait for the next post!
So beautiful! I have to visit Moscow soon.
I pinpoint my obsession with color and rainbows on my first hero, Rainbow Brite. XD
Architecture is grand, thanks for sharing pictures!
I spent a month in Russia in 2006, mostly in Moscow with a mini trip to St. Petersburg. (BTW Peterhof kicks Versailles butt times infinity) One night when some of my friends and I were just sort of exploring the city, there were random fireworks over St. Basil’s. I think it may have been the only time I used the video part of my tiny little camera! Just soooo amazing.
the town fits you soooo well!
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LIVING AND LOVING LONDON
I had no idea that Russia was so colorful. I think it’s more colorful than Disneyland in these pictures which is a total shock. A stark contrast from how most Americans are raised to think of Russia (cold, gray and backwards stupid coldwar history books). Thank you for sharing these. Russia is officially on my list of places to visit.
I love the idea of calling it Candypast. :)
Beautiful!
When I was a kid I always used to tell people that St. Basil’s was made of ice cream.
Woah, that does look mighty colorful. Pretty :D
I love your pictures! :) Moscow is like a whole city with all the whimsical charms of the Disney castle! :P They seriously look so much alike it’s ironic!
Wow, those pictures are absolutely gorgeous. What a colorful city, I never knew!
Omg, I never thought about visiting Russia one time, but now I deffinatly am am thinking about it. I love colour, though I do not wear it often, and this pictures look amazing.
Your hair is so beautiful, i wish mine was that voluminous(?), could you do a tutorial about how you make your hair? or is it natural(that would be very mean)
I think this is one of the reasons I’ve always wanted to go to Russia, the architecture. I’m so in love with St. Basil’s Cathedral, it looks like a giant Candy Castle.
Thanks for sharing your photos there all gorgeous!
I love the pictures! They are SOOO beautiful, my dad told me about the legend that Ivan had blinded the architect of St. Basil’s cathedral, it always freaked me out to know you can make something so amazing and pay with your EYES O.O haha
Much love,
Glendy :3
I would like to introduce you to Gaudi a famous spanish arcuitect that I´m sure you´ll LOVE. Serach for Parque Guell or Casa Mila…
Those buildings are absolutely breathtaking! Like something out of a Disney princess tale.
I now have a sudden urge to travel to Moscow – anyone got plane tickets?
seeing these photos makes me want to visit Russia..everything looks beautiful and reminds me of candy..
wow! it looks like candyland. i never thought i’d want to visit russia, but now i do!
wow your pictures are just stunning, I can see how they would bring on the waterworks!
I’m now in love with the building that’s steeple boasts a bright red STAR in the second picture! And the Cathedral is gorgeous; I’d be happy with a house that looked like that. All lovely and swirley and shapey. Yes shapey. And the spikey little globe on it looks like a strange fruit.
These are some of my favourite buildings! Thank you for photographing them!
Oh wow, it all looks so bright and gorgeous!
Lovelovelove the outfit in the fifth picture!
How familiar, I’m Russian-born as well (but have lived in the UK for 5 years and now have dual nationality) and I remember I was in Red Square with my then boyfriend (later husband) after getting my UK settlement visa at the Embassy. I heard the church bells and they very, very nearly made me cry and turn my back on leaving Russia. It makes my eyes well up as I’m writing it now!
Sadly, I have seen a lot more grey buildings in Russia than colourful ones.
This is SO stunning! I wish I could visit Russia….
This places looks so beautiful… They look like they are made of candy!
OH MY GOD, DEERE!!! you are always amazing but this is probably one of my favorite entries. I love reading/seeing your perspective on Russia, and these shots are beyond incredible. St. Basil’s is indeed the most awesomely gorgeous place!! I was lucky enough to visit it IRL last year :D
*sighs* I’ve always wanted to go to Moscow, and your pictures have made me want to go even more! It’s so beautiful!
Maybe my dance career will take me there one day. Here’s me keeping my fingers crossed!
Thanks for sharing!
Nefabit
I love that fluffy yellow jacket and the puffy white skirt! I have to know where you get your skirts…I’m always on the lookout for very full knee-length or slightly shorter tutu-esque skirts like the ones you wear and I can never find any that I can afford (they’ve got great ones at Betsy Johnson, but my budget is more…Target sized). Got any advise? Or any used clothes you want to unload?
Anyway, your photos are stunning. By best friend was doing a study abroad in Russia over the summer, and you two were there at the same time for a few days (in Russia, I mean. It’s a huge country, it’s doubtful you were within a hundred miles of each other). I’m glad your trip was great. I love the colors in Russian architecture — so bright and bold, and on such sublime buildings! I can see where you get your unique taste for color and design.
how many beautiful pictures!!!!
I strongly believe that you found the connection between your past and your present!!! you fit perfectly in this colorful extravagant city!!!
i want to see and know moooooore! :)
Anytime I see photos of Moscow, I am reminded of Little Nemo in Slumberland.
I can read and write Russian. It’s a very interesting language. :)
I would love to see more pictures of Russia. Not all of Russia is very colorful like that though. People should know that, I think.
oh so stunning! I have always wanted to visit Moscow. What great inspiration!
OH MY GOODNESS! that looks so beautiful! i had no idea it was such a colorful and amazing city! you look gorgeous in your pictures BTW! ( i hate txt slang, half the time i dont know what it means) xoxoxox, Sophie!
Oh, I love Russia! Seems so nice and pretty.
I remember having a russian girl in my class in sixth grade.
Wow. I’ve seen hundreds of photos of many of those edifices, and none of them have captured the colors and details that these have. In fact, I think these are the first pictures of any Russians places I’ve seen that *didn’t* depict it in dull and gloomy shades. That first pic of Red Square certainly looks like something straight out of your Candyfuture poetry and prose.
And I’m with you on the topic of gold–it has such a bad rap, but I think it has more sophistication and personality than silver.
The shoot of you in front of St.Basil’s in wonderful, the colours of the dooms(?) really stand out in the sund and your colourful outfit amkes in look amazing! Am so jealous, I would love to go to Russia one day, I wish I had a friend to go with.
These photos are beautiful! I’m sure all the buildings are colorful as Russia is blanketed in snow most of the time. Why would you want grey buildings that blend in with the snow? You’d never find anything! I love the color!
Candypast, very fitting. I think I’ll start referring to it as that in conversation now, lol. Those pictures are ah-mazing.
I’ve only ever seen st. basils cathedral in pictures or on TV, but i’ve always marvelled at the beauty of it. I love how bright and fairytale-ish it is. You certainly fit right in with all that colour and magic! I’m a big fan of extravagant architechture. I love the colours, the swirly shapes! All the buildings in these photos look good enough to eat! No doubt you would love the work of the spanish architect, Gaudi.
Wow.I would love to see Russia! Looking forward to learning more about Russian culture:)
Amazing! So beautiful.
I especially love the blue building.
I’ve been to Saint Petersburg a few times, but I really want to visit Moscow. I think your ’500 year old ancient fairy tale’ description is perfect, judging from the pictures!
x
I love this post!
I was looking through thousands of vintage sewing pattern art recently, and the colors reminded me of a faded CandyFuture, and I too thought “CandyPast?”! <3
Here are some which made me think of you:
I hope that code works :O
Wow! Moscow is beautiful! The architecture is amazing!
Wow so gorgeous! Russia has always been on my top 5 travel destinations. Right after Spain and India, but I’ll get there!
Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos!
That cathedral reminds me of The Church of Our Savior on Split Blood in St Petersburg – both really beautiful! I must go to Moscow…
The first picture of you is amazing. I love the reflection in your sunglasses, it seems like a window to another world… ^^
Wow the architecture is amazing, whenever i visit somewhere new it is always interesting architecture that enthrals me above all else. I thinka visit to Moscow is now on my wishlist! Thanks Doe!
xxx
I’ve always wanted to visit Moscow so I’m totally looking forward to the rest of your posts! I really am the type to go crazy over architecture, plus I’m rather partial to vodka and history so I think Moscow would be heaven to me!