Changing of the guard—the Kremlin in Moscow
I think the guy on the right took our tickets to the Armoury later in the afternoon
One of the first things we did in Moscow was to book a free walking tour of the city. Now let’s get this straight. It doesn’t mean we walk all over the city and it doesn’t mean they are completely free (don’t forget to tip). These tours are designed to give you a feel for what the city has to offer, and to help you get your bearings.
We’ve done walking tours all over the globe—geez, I need to write about more of them—and Moscow’s was one of the best, even if it was freezing cold and raining most of the time.
Our guide, Elena, was first class. Her English was amazing. She also has a great sense of humour and an excellent timing for how the tour should go. (St Petersburg could learn a few things from her, but more about that in another post).
One of the highlights was seeing the changing of the guards at the Kremlin. This happens every hour, on the hour, between 8am and 8pm.
Elena told us that the guards are chosen by very specific criteria. They should be from outside Moscow (a nearby wife and kids can create distractions). Plus they should be of a similar height, weight and appearance.
The guards live at the Kremlin and do other duties, but this is the most important. Elena said the guard cubicles are heated. There’s are heat pads at the back and on the floor. I bet they aren’t very much comfort in the dead of winter when temperatures can drop as low as -30°C (or -22°F).
We watched two sessions of the changing of the guards and I have to agree that they all looked similar. That said, I’m quite sure the young man who took our tickets when we visited the Armoury later that day was the same guy who was on the right at the second changing of the guards. The rosy cheeks gave him away.
We had a short chat and I asked if he was on guard in the morning, but that was too much English for him. Sorry he didn’t understand because I’d like to think I can see beyond the view that They all look the same.
Where to next? 
Wow…Heat pad I bet they were still freezing their gonads ..But I bet that was a sight to see I love watching the changes of the guards 🙂
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Oh gosh you made me laugh. My dad always used to say gonads. 🙂
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That is probably where I got it from my dad..makes you wonder how many names there are for them…lol
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I could never be involved in a guard-changing ceremony with any degree of respectability. I’m too easily distracted… 😉
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I can picture it now. Ooo look, something sparkly.
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I love the uniforms.
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They are very elegant.
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I like the unabashed disregard for modern political correctness …. this is important and the aesthetics are critical so we will ensure that certain physical criteria are matched. And I doubt any one stamps his foot and says that’s not Fay-ER because he is not going to get a chance due to not having the right look.
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Not sure how much stamping of feet goes on in the background, but I still like to think I can tell them apart.
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Of course you can …. you have far too keen an eye to believe a bunch of people can all look the same.
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I didn’t know this activity took place in Moscow. Of course, the changing of the guard is very famous at Buckingham Palace. It seems so Medieval to me but elegant. And boy, they seem young.
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I think Elena said most of the guards are 18 or 19. Not sure how long they have the job?
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Must have been an interesting tour. I bet Moscow has a lot of interesting history and culture. Does all guards look slightly like Putin …? 😉
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I didn’t think any of the guards looked like Putin. They were much more handsome.
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I hear that the President of the U.S. is instituting the changing of the Russian guards, in front the White House so this might soon be a familiar sight in Washington D.C…..
Ben
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Better get my camera ready! 🙂
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wow, I would love to be there for that, fabulous uniforms and process.
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I’m glad we saw it twice. Very respectful with a lot of ceremony.
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You do get around, don’t you? Do they make you walk like that?
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No, they haven’t made me walk that way, although I fully approve of the John Cleese School of Silly Walks.
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🙂
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Hi Peggy!!! Yes very handsome. That young handsome look and yes they do look amazingly similar. The walking tour sounds good. Lots of posts of your to catch up on… I’ve been lying low. Louise
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Hi Louise!!! Nice to see you surfacing. We’ve always enjoyed walking tours and the Moscow one was excellent. The handsome young men were a bonus. 🙂
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I have seen that, and it is impressive indeed. In smaller towns and cities in the former USSR, they also had youth-movement guards (Komsomol) who did a similar parade when the flag was raised and lowered each day.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Thanks for that insight. I wonder if it still happens?
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I would like to think so.
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Did you fit in an audience with Lenin’s stuffed corpse?
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Ah yes we paid our respects to Lenin, but photos aren’t allowed.
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I’m really enjoying your trip !
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Thanks so much. I appreciate you travelling along with us.
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Wow that was quite impressive. Or perhaps he did understand your English but was not at liberty to say he was one of the guards!! No wonder you were cold! 🙂
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After years of bridging the gap between Australian and American slang, I’m getting pretty good at watching a person’s face and knowing if they understand what I’m saying.
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Quite the detective!! 😉
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That is such a cool experience! The rosy cheeks every time!
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I thought his cheeks were rosy because of the cold, but when I saw him later in the day they were still rosy. Such a giveaway.
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That is so funny Peggy
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Nice to get another installment of your trip. I amazed you’re posting so much as you go. The Changing of the Guards looks like just the kind of thing I’d love to see.
Alison
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I’ve been amazed too. Internet connections have been more available on this trip than any other. Plus, I’ve been able to write posts while on the train.
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I do quite like looking at good marching. They look like nice young fellas.
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If the young man I spoke to outside the Armoury is any indication, they are lovely young men.
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Always a fascination to watch. I can’t imagine the challenge one must undergo to receive this duty!
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Good point. It must be such an honour to be chosen. Think of all the proud mums and dads. 🙂
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Changing of the guard ceremonies are interesting and other than the one at Buckingham Palace, we’ve watched one in Santiago de Cuba that was impressive (very high leg kicks!) and a less impressive one in Valletta. These guards at the Kremlin look very smart, and I hope the heated cubicles help when they’re standing still for hours at a time. 🙂
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Yes, we’ve seen guards change in various countries. One that comes to mind was in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The Kremlin guards change every hour, so they get some relief from the cold, but I wonder how effective the heaters are when the temperature is –25°C?
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The world could do with a “Changing of the guard” in Russian leadership at this point!
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It sure could.
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