Blinis and Babushkas

Hello from Moscow!! It is our second night here, in a fab hostel with fantastic staff in the Arbat district, right in the midst of things. We are currently sitting down to a makeshift supper of dumplings, soup, breadrolls, and vodka, intending later to head out and see Red Square all lit up (it won't get dark until about 9pm). Here's a rundown of what we've been up to.
We arrived here Tuesday morning via an overnight train from Riga in Latvia (where we filled ourselves up with perogi!) Navigating the surprisingly simple metro system to the hostel (surprisingly because it was all in Cyrillic - thanks Bec, your map saved us!) - we checked in and promptly headed off to Red Square, a mere 5 minute walk. Entering Red Square was pretty awesome - that first sight of St Basil's Cathedral is definately a big wow moment. We also saw the changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where the eternal flame burns. We then paid a brief visit to the GUM department store, before heading back via the (still being renovated) Bolshoi Theatre and Arbat ul, where we had our first blinis. Later, we settled in to a dinner of pasta and (of course) vodka!
Our first order of business this morning was a visit to Lenin in his mausoleum. We joined the small queue and proceeded through the metal detectors into the tomb, observed by unsmiling Russian guards. It is dark and eerily silent, as you round the corners to where Lenin lays, perfectly embalmed, in his tomb. It seriously looks as if he is merely asleep, even though he died in 1924. It's kind of creepy.
Next stop was the Kremlin. We bought a ticket to the Kremlin itself and also the Armoury. The Armory was our first stop, and oh my god...the treasures within are indescribable. The collection is spread out over 9 rooms. The first contains various artifacts of gold and silver, from various centuries of Russian history. The second contains the treasures of the tsars, including the jewelled Easter eggs the tsar and tsarina traditionally exchanged as gifts at Easter. The third and fourth rooms contained armour and weaponry, the fifth gifts presented to the tsars by various countries ambassadors, and the sixth some coronation dresses of the empresses and various items of Russian dress in different periods. The last couple of rooms contain some royal thrones and crowns, and the final - almost the best of all - is lined by royal carriages and sledges. The most gorgeous include a Viennese and a German carriage, presented as gifts to the popular Empress Elisabeth.
Next up was the Kremlin itself. We crossed through the Trinity Gate Tower, and immediately came across the marble and concrete State Kremlin Palace and the Poteshny Palace, which housed the first Russian theatre. Then we entered Cathedral Square and were again left speechless by the golden domes of the Assumption Cathedral, the Church of the Deposition of the Robe, and the Ivan the Great Bell Tower. Exiting the square, we marvelled at the Tsar Cannon and Bell (with a great big chunk out of it), before taking a pleasant stroll in the Secret Garden.
Tomorrow our plans include Gorky Park and the adjoining Sculpture Park (a collection of Soviet statues joined by some contemporary works), followed by a visit to the Danilovsky Monastery, after which we are on an overnight train to St Petersburg.
Photos to follow a bit later on.