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Hello my friends in NYC. I have really missed being around. After the twins were born Satori, Hayden, her father, me and the children spent the summer in the Hanptons. During part of that time I took a side trip to finish up the research on the book I have been writing “The Romanov Prophesy” Moscow was beautiful and the architecture is enormous in a way you cannot even imagine unless you are there. I mean, I have seen Red Square and the Kremlin in pictures but being there and seeing it with your own eyed just adds a whole new level of real to the experience. Pictures do not even come close to doing it justice.
The Kremlin is the oldest part of Moscow. It is the historical, political and social "heart" of the nation. It was built in 1147, more than 860 years ago Moscow Kremlin has seen Tsars, Soviet leaders and Russian Presidents. These days, it's a major decision-making center, just like it used to be.
Russians have always built on a large scale and I guess some things never change. This is called The Dormition Cathedral,or Uspensky Sobor. There were two attempts to build it. The first cathedral was destroyed by an earthquake. If I lived back then I would have thought it was an omen and stopped but the Tsar was determined. Ivan III was determined to try again and it was finished in 1479. His persistence paid off, and now this place is still here for us all to admire. Next is The Cathedral of the Archangel In Russian, it's called Archangelsky Sobor. Constructed around 1508, it is the home of many beautiful frescoes, icons, and stonework. Some of the icons date back to 14th century, and were created by a famous Russian painter; Andrey Rublev. Many of the Russian Tsars are buried there, including Ivan the Terrible. You can actually see the ornamented tombstones inside the cathedral. They would not allow me to take a picture.
The Cathedral of the Annunciation, or Blagoveschensky sobor, is on of the last of the tree cathedrals on the square. Walking through the gold gilded doors is like being transported into the past. The icon lines walls and spaces covered with frescoes are amazing and these sites rival some of the places I have been like the Ufuzzi, or the Medici Museum and Vatican City as far as architecture, giving glory to God and artwork. It is something you have to see in person to really get the full picture and appreciate the grandeur.
Another two buildings on Cathedral Square deserve your attention. They are Saint Ivan's Great Bell Tower. This beauty's height is 81 meters. It's the tallest of all the Kremlin bell towers. In the past, it was forbidden to build anything higher than this belfry in all of Moscow It's almost 700 years old. Some say it marks Moscow's geographic center. And Saint Basil’s Cathedral absolutely breath taking and everything looks like it was just built yesterday. The Russians take restoration and upkeep seriously.
As majestic as the buildings were in the day time, at night when lit they are stunning. This is where I spent most of my time; The Moscow Museum of History could there be a more beautiful place in the world to do research?
Well it has been six months since my interview with Miki Romanov and without his assistance this trip, my research and this book would not have happened so I wanted to give him proper credit and when the book comes out next month you will see his name in print. Many thanks Miki; I could not have done this without you!
I am excited to say that the book is finally finished, has been edited and is being printed as we speak. Many advance copies have gone out to critics and I think I may open on the New York Times Best Sellers List again if I am lucky. Here is one review that I got a look at from someone at Time Magazine.
( Time Magazine Review )
I am very excited to be in the process of finally releasing this book and when it comes out of course I will be doing a signing tour. One final thing; I picked up a little something in Moscow I could not resist it and I could not smuggle anything larger out of the country!
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