Let me lead you through the streets of Moscow

by Anni Pelmeni

The first alley from Tversksya on the right hand side is Kamergersky pereulok (Chamberlain’s Alley). This is pure history concentrated. This alley has been here since 16 th century and it used to be then less then 7 m. Nowadays it is a fancy pedestrian zone with many cafés and restaurants. Each of the 6 house in this alley are worthy of a special visit. One of them is a world-known Moscow Arts Anton Chekhov Theater.
The alley is named after the count Golitsyn who was a chamberlain and had a house in this alley (# 2) in the end of 18 th and early 19 th centuries. A list of famous people who lived in this alley is rather long including the both the members of Tsar family and Bolsheviks. Nowadays it is a pleasant place to spend you leisure time, to visit the theater and feel the beat of Moscow’s heart.

by Anni Pelmeni

The hotel Moscow has been the part of Moscow since always. It used to be in the most central location – right across the Kremlin. The hotel Moscow was one of the first built by Soviet regime and it functioned throughout all Soviet times.

In the mid 1930s the hotel Moscow was built as a counterbalance to the old-fashioned hotels of Tsar times – National and Metropol. The hotel Moscow was placed right in between the two other hotels and in the prima position across the Kremlin. In order to provide the space for the new ‘Soviet’ hotel, it was decided to eradicate old trade center, churches and pubs that used to be on that location. This was the beginning of the Stalin’s grand plan of Moscow’s reconstruction. The new modern Moscow was supposed to replace the outmoded Moscow.

For the long time the hotel Moscow was indeed the most fancy and trendy place to live in with the central location and fascinating views. But in the beginning of the 21 st century the history has been repeating itself. The example of Soviet luxury no longer satisfies the needs and standards of neuveau rich and the new modern facilities are supposed to replaced outmoded Moscow. In 2003 the hotel was closed down for renovations and de-constructed. The new hotel is scheduled to be opened in 2008, but what it will be it is still unclear.