Going to Red Square is always welcomed with great anticipation. There's always something new to discover here in terms of the buildings' impressive architectural designs sprawling the City Center. Forget about the shopping part because then you will be blown away by the building façades that only speak of grandeur and pomp. "Every object we behold in Moscow is, like the city itself, in a certain degree, gigantic, " as observed by the scientist and traveller, Peter Simon Palace. So, from the ginormous parks they have here, to the magnificent buildings that were erected in place, everything is bolshoi.
GUM's façade which stretches more than 240 meters in length.
GUM, pronounced 'goom', is acronym for Glavny Universalny Magazin which literally means 'main universal store'. GUM is Russia's iconic three - storey State Department Store which was completed in the year 1823. It is located on the eastern side of Red Square opposite Lenin's Mausoleum. Known as one of the most prestigious shopping meccas in the world, it is also famous for its historical Russian medieval engineering and architectural design with its trapezoidal shape. According to their website, GUM attracts almost 50, 000 visitors per day.
During the Soviet Era, the top floor was converted to a secret clothing store called Section 100 which was only opened for the top echelons of the party that time. In 1928, Stalin closed GUM and used it as headquarters for his officials. In the 1950's, GUM was reopened and served as a popular venue for Soviet's long and winding queues for buying breads and life's essentials. At times the long lines extended all the way to Red Square.
Photo credit: Screen shot from bbc.com on Europe world news.
GUM's façade which stretches more than 240 meters in length.
GUM, pronounced 'goom', is acronym for Glavny Universalny Magazin which literally means 'main universal store'. GUM is Russia's iconic three - storey State Department Store which was completed in the year 1823. It is located on the eastern side of Red Square opposite Lenin's Mausoleum. Known as one of the most prestigious shopping meccas in the world, it is also famous for its historical Russian medieval engineering and architectural design with its trapezoidal shape. According to their website, GUM attracts almost 50, 000 visitors per day.
During the Soviet Era, the top floor was converted to a secret clothing store called Section 100 which was only opened for the top echelons of the party that time. In 1928, Stalin closed GUM and used it as headquarters for his officials. In the 1950's, GUM was reopened and served as a popular venue for Soviet's long and winding queues for buying breads and life's essentials. At times the long lines extended all the way to Red Square.
Photo credit: Screen shot from bbc.com on Europe world news.
A trip to Red Square would not be complete without a short stroll to this historic shopping mall even if we don't intend to buy anything. Just keep your monopod stick handy at all times if you're that kind of person. It' s like you're travelling back in time, as my son describes it. Jazz music filled the air as we heard Gershwin, Armstrong, Fitzgerald, and even Sinatra on the background! We waited for Bublé to play... but maybe that's for next time. And really, there's no problem with big band music piping in the air. It's actually the reason we wanted to stay longer. We imbibe the atmosphere that is so much like the 19th century rail-way stations of Europe particularly London. Just like in the movies! Picture the setting of the Hollywood film 'HUGO', a family favorite of ours.
In the 1990's, the Soviet Union was dissolved and the management of GUM was privatized. The historic shopping mall easily became the home for Western signature retail giants like Armani, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, among others. I hope you won't mind window-shopping as you scroll below.
There is definitely no more trace of the long queues at GUM because of shortages of supplies which the Soviet era was remembered for. But I think that long queues for food are here to stay; not because there is a scarcity of food supply but because of the abundance thereof; and a few fancy ice cream parlors to choose from. People queued for ICE CREAM. Yey! I scream for ICE CREAM! Visitors waited patiently to get a bolshoi scoop or two. Walking on the aisles of this historic gem with ice cream in hand is truly a part of the entire GUM experience at a very affordable price.
A bolshoi scoop of vanilla or chocolate ice cream is worth 50 rubles ( PhP 36 / USD .75 ).
This vanilla ice cream tasted exactly like the vanilla ice cream that we've always had many many many years ago with my T'yo Danny who'd take us out to the old but one and only 'Ruby' ice cream parlor located at P. Burgos St., Batangas City. But unlike the ice cream at Ruby, this one has no matching barquillos.
On the third floor, visitors are patiently waiting in line to be seated inside Stolovaya No. 57, one of the oldest running restaurants here which is known for serving the traditional old Soviet cuisine such as salads, meats, soups, and the like. But this particular day, we didn't have the grace to patiently wait to be seated in a crowded restaurant so we headed back downstairs instead.Lord, please help us to be patient, NOW.
A bolshoi scoop of vanilla or chocolate ice cream is worth 50 rubles ( PhP 36 / USD .75 ).
This vanilla ice cream tasted exactly like the vanilla ice cream that we've always had many many many years ago with my T'yo Danny who'd take us out to the old but one and only 'Ruby' ice cream parlor located at P. Burgos St., Batangas City. But unlike the ice cream at Ruby, this one has no matching barquillos.
On the third floor, visitors are patiently waiting in line to be seated inside Stolovaya No. 57, one of the oldest running restaurants here which is known for serving the traditional old Soviet cuisine such as salads, meats, soups, and the like. But this particular day, we didn't have the grace to patiently wait to be seated in a crowded restaurant so we headed back downstairs instead.
Have you heard about the historical toilets of GUM? Their website says that "in 2004 these ramshackle premises of one - time bathroom were closed on complete renovation that lasted about seven years...The architects were provided archived drawings and they made the layout, design on the marble walls, bronze lamps with famous Murano glass identical to the original." So, what we're seeing these days are the accurate interiors of the renowned restrooms just like the old times.
Are you brave enough to take a peek with me? It's not what you're thinking.😉
The entrance leading downstairs to the historic tyalet ( pronounced twal - yee - eht ), Russian for toilet.
A red carpet walk to the john. Take a curtsy.
The fee is 150 rubles ( PhP 107 / USD 2 ) per toilet use. You may choose to pay in kesh or kredit karrrd. Tip: If you feel that you have to go really bad, as in really bad, don't use your vinyl karrrd to pay babushka at the toilet entrance because it would take about 2 -3 minutes to process your payment with a receipt, but instead prepare an exact amount. It's just my word of advice.😄
There are friendly babushkas dressed as chambermaids waiting at your door to clean up after you...
Brass door handles.
More brass toilet hardwares.
Italian ( ? ) burgundy marbles and another element of brass just for your trash.
'Bourgeois luxury' as historians describe these toilets. Every detail bespeaks opulence. You can freshen up here, spray eau de toilette, do some make - up retouches, slowly wash your hands with warm water while you sing the A - B - C in your head 3x, and use a good amount of lotion on your hands afterwards. Be careful your head though as you walk towards the door on your way out because ladies come here armed with their monopod sticks swinging up in the air to take selfies. Para sulit ang ibinayad. My daughter said she can live here.
Fresh and soft cotton towels for your hand-drying pleasure. Sulitin na!
Some toiletries in case you may need some.
Fresh flowers to behold as you wait for your turn.
An old picture of GUM hanging on the wall by the toilet entrance.
I am assuming that this is one of the Murano glass mirrors that they were pertaining to on their website.
Some works of art wall rugs that are on display for the visitors to take pictures at. I didn't know that rugs like these could be so so cuddly soft like cotton to the feel.
Every corner that you turn to is vibrant with visitors and tourists that are making precious memories through beautiful pictures that they curate in their mobile phones.
GUM by night.
Are you brave enough to take a peek with me? It's not what you're thinking.😉
The entrance leading downstairs to the historic tyalet ( pronounced twal - yee - eht ), Russian for toilet.
A red carpet walk to the john. Take a curtsy.
The fee is 150 rubles ( PhP 107 / USD 2 ) per toilet use. You may choose to pay in kesh or kredit karrrd. Tip: If you feel that you have to go really bad, as in really bad, don't use your vinyl karrrd to pay babushka at the toilet entrance because it would take about 2 -3 minutes to process your payment with a receipt, but instead prepare an exact amount. It's just my word of advice.😄
There are friendly babushkas dressed as chambermaids waiting at your door to clean up after you...
Brass door handles.
More brass toilet hardwares.
Italian ( ? ) burgundy marbles and another element of brass just for your trash.
'Bourgeois luxury' as historians describe these toilets. Every detail bespeaks opulence. You can freshen up here, spray eau de toilette, do some make - up retouches, slowly wash your hands with warm water while you sing the A - B - C in your head 3x, and use a good amount of lotion on your hands afterwards. Be careful your head though as you walk towards the door on your way out because ladies come here armed with their monopod sticks swinging up in the air to take selfies. Para sulit ang ibinayad. My daughter said she can live here.
Some toiletries in case you may need some.
Fresh flowers to behold as you wait for your turn.
An old picture of GUM hanging on the wall by the toilet entrance.
Some works of art wall rugs that are on display for the visitors to take pictures at. I didn't know that rugs like these could be so so cuddly soft like cotton to the feel.
Every corner that you turn to is vibrant with visitors and tourists that are making precious memories through beautiful pictures that they curate in their mobile phones.
GUM by night.
