Giant Mosaic

Giant Mosaic

Moscow Metro - The Ultimate Guide

Moscow metro is probably the most astonishing pieces of art I have ever seen. What's that? You're asking why I'm calling one of many city public transport systems "a work of art"? Well, the truth is, everything is complicated in Russia. We're not able to just make a transit system - we must create a legendary, a legend at the least! And exactly what do I say - the metro builders surely succeeded in that!

I cannot really describe you why I really like Moscow subway a lot - you must view it yourself. Those granite walls, huge stations and passages decorated with astonishing mosaics...however, it is important about the metro isn't its looks but instead its spirit, that mighty, darkish essence with the underground kingdom. Slight frightening? Maybe. Mysterious and attractive? You'd bet!

The story of metro in Moscow begins back 1935, once the first line between "Sokolniky" and "Park Kultury" stations was built. Ever since then, our city's subway was constantly expanding, transporting increasingly more passengers each year.

These are passengers - were you aware that Moscow metro transports around 9 million people per day? That's a lot more than a number of other Western European cities serve - and mind that they subways are significantly older. However, that's no problem - we beat Paris in 1936, even though it had the busiest metro on earth.

Subsequently, things changed slightly, and I think we slightly lose to Tokyo and The big apple. However, Moscow subway is still among the busiest ones around - and there is no doubt that!

Think about it. Town would collapse sometime ago was it to not the underground transit system. In fact, Moscow wouldn't be in a position to grow as much as it did - there is no way dozens of people and cars would look for a place on crowded Moscow streets.

Therefore, if Moscow is a tree, compared to the metro is its roots, something which props up tree together and allows it growing and function. No surprise the metro was always considered essential regardless of government entities.

If you are to Moscow metro, you most likely realized that the majority of its stations are build deep underground. These days it might appear just like a waste and money, but in the past your energy was completely justified - Joseph Stalin was getting ready to apply it as a giant bomb shelter when in emergency.

Do you know what - days past did come, and individuals used the metro to hide from the Nazi bombs that fell on Moscow daily. However, even though we won the war, the threat didn't go anywhere. On the other hand, that has been the time nuclear weapons were introduced - and the metro were required to dig even deeper in the event of the worldwide nuclear conflict.

Stations were reinforced, plans were changed - as well as the construction moved further underground to ensure Moscow metro could withstand even atomic blast.

Those were grim, horrible times. I imagine generate income would feel, going for a ride from home to operate, thinking I might hear the alarm any minute now - and never see the sunlight again. Brrr, gives me goosebumps!

Incidentally, did the truth is those metal sections, built within the walls of metro's stations and passages? They the truth is hide a giant blast doors that would become shunts should the bombs fell. Six minutes after "Atom code" would sound, those doors would separate the dead in the living until the threat was gone.

Don't have any illusions - the metro is fully prepared for autonomous existence. Sure, may possibly not be providing in Dmitry Glukhovskiy's "Metro 2033" book, but be assured you'll find a way to survive for two months at least. You can find warehouses full of water and food, and air conditioning filters will always be able to start working if radiation level rises.

Although war never came, its spirit always haunts the metro. Have a look at that old stations, specially those that take a seat on the ring line. Right feel you have the bunker of some kind? Deep underground, completely isolated from your surface? That's the feeling I sometimes get when I'm below, i must say it's pretty difficult to shake it.

However, since the threat from the nuclear conflict will be the thing of the past, let's that would be that for a while and appear about the advantages. Although it is not most of metro's stations were decorated, people who are the oldest ones will often have breathtaking artwork. Again, to a westerner which could not sound right - all things considered, it is just a metro, right?

However, Soviet government felt it turned out extremely important to brighten the stations. I'm not sure the precise reasons, but I suppose that Stalin desired to underline the victory with the Soviet progressed poverty and hunger (but they remained as haunting the post-Tsar Russia).

It had been extremely important how the people could see themselves what powerful and rich state we were holding living at - simply speaking, artwork was not only there to please a person's eye, but also to serve as a propaganda in the Soviet achievements. A lot of the Muscovites were riding the Moscow metro twice every day a minimum of - so when they saw hundreds of magnificent statues and mosaics, they couldn't help but to feel proud for their country.

To inform the truth, I be seduced by that myself every so often. Yes, I understand those are only pictures and yes, they've got not do with reality. However, the mere undeniable fact that Soviet people managed to build the like so deep below Moscow makes me wonder if today's generations can handle that.

Mind you, if you think the metro was built by highly paid professionals - reconsider. In fact, Moscow subway was built by "Komsomol" volunteers. These teenage boys originated all across the country to take part in one of many dirtiest and a lot dangerous jobs within the Soviet Union.

They weren't paid nearly enough, lived in far-from-perfect conditions, and sometimes were underfed. However, those individuals with burning hearts were do something that lots of considered impossible - and present the Soviet capital a few of the biggest and advanced transit systems of people times.

I wonder only could make it happen - "work for idea", even as we say. I reckon that the answer then is "no", mostly as the state abused its volunteers too many times. Everyone was doing work for near-zero wages, sacrificing their health insurance and their lives for the sake of others. They built roads, mined coal, smelted steel - and did all kinds of other things they state wouldn't be without. Moscow metro only agreed to be some of those achievements - one among the numerous.

However, as the years passed, they will realized they weren't getting anything inturn. My grandfather was an experienced oilman anf the husband, too, lost his health during his career. However, when he became old, he received a small pension from the state - plus a classic flat in a very tacky house. That's it.

Despite all the, I still marvel at their achievements. Our grandfathers won the war, restored hawaii - plus they requested nothing inturn. I believe we owe them our deepest respect, right agree?

By the way, if you are investigating Moscow metro map, you might feel it isn't really that large. All kinds of other capitals have bigger subways, right? Eeeeeehh, wrong answer!

The truth is, the map only shows you a tip with the iceberg. Moscow subway is a lot bigger than we're once thought, since it also includes many miles and services information communication and another that we call "Metro 2".

You most likely heard this term before. Codenamed "D-6", it runs for a lot of miles outside Moscow - and its tunnels are laid more deeply compared to regular metro's tunnels.

There are numerous legends about Metro 2, a number of them really are a complete nonsense needless to say. However, t can be safe to assume such system does exist, understanding that it connects all Moscow's strategic objects like Kremlin and Ministry of Defense, allowing swift and safe evacuation from the country's leadership in the event of conflict.

Apart from that, all we all know are diggers' tales. A pity, because infrastructure could possibly be used by civilian purposes. Well, I assume Russia's current leaders aren't that sure of themselves. That knows...

Whatever you may've learned about Moscow metro, I strongly counsel you to visit it. It's really a historic place, one of significant Moscow sights - and a good way to prevent traffic jams. So, buy yourself a ticket, ride the escalator completely down et voila - the entire Moscow lies before you.

Possess a nice trip!Kingston auto financing

About the Author

Admintratror

I just discovered a giant gap in the center of my dark slate floor of my new home. What are my design options?

I just bought a mid-century, modern home with a formal living room having a charcoal slate floor with a random pattern. After closing, I moved the area rug in the center of the room to discover a 9' x 12' gap covered by plywood! The mosaic floor is old, worn and custom designed...so matching the design would be nearly impossible. An area rug is okay, but are there any other options?

If it is so large an area, why do you need to match the other part of the floor? Just find a coordinating tile or mosaic design and fill in that area, perhaps with a transitional border around it. I have even seen floors with a stone or tile perimeter border while the center of the room was wooden parquet. Another option would to see if a concrete flooring contractor could remove the plywood and pour a concrete section, staining it to match the surrounding slate.

London, the giant mosaic