The Kremlin of misconceptions

Outside the real Kremlin.

Despite all the aura and history associated with the seat of the Soviet government, the Kremlin is much smaller than you would assume. Just like the Mona Lisa is much smaller than it seems to be in pictures.

And it seems that, there are many kremlins in Russia. In fact, the Kremlin that the world knows is the one referred to in Russia, and is more of a figure of speech. It actually refers to any fortress or castle in Russia.

Finally, like ironies, which seem to so banal now that they can't be called ironies anymore, what we see currently of the fortress and structures was built, ironically, by Italians, not Russians.

Beautiful still, and not crazy.

The Red Square

The Red Square, in the nature of squares like the famous Times and our local Nasser, is anything but square. And like the Times one, and unlike your local Nasser, this is huge.

The whole Red Square complex, along with the Kremlin

on one side, and one humongous building on the other long side, is a massive cobblestoned ground. It actually served as a market place, and as an area for official ceremonies. Outside where I am standing is exactly where the Russian President might be residing if he had been in Russia.

Now, as the final irony from my Russian trip, the name Red Square does not refer to the colour of the bricks of the fortress. Nor does it connote the Communist link of this country. Rather, the word comes from a meaning of red in Russia to denote something 'beautiful'.

Beautiful it truly is. And like all things Russian, truly big as well.