The subject of the beginning of April is the discovery of the southern sector of Moscow University "MGOU" during Easter period.
Easter is the biggest celebration of Russian Orthodox calendar. On Saturday evening there are many people in churches to celebrate this fest and this year, important safety precautions have been taken to access certain basilicas (like Christ St Saviour) because of recent bombings in Metro Moscow.
The most famous tradition that survived is the Easter cake called "kulitch" (there is also another dessert called "Paskha").
The "Kulich" is prepared several days in advance. It is a cake flavored with rum and saffron, fabrication looking more like bread. It contains candied fruit, almonds and grapes. Its shape is special,any height, with the fondant icing poured on the sides. It is decorated with the XB letters with candied fruit, with Cyrillic letters for "Christos voskres" - "Christ has risen." Bringing it to Mass on Easter Sunday is a tradition, a candle stuck in its center, to be blessed by the priest. The "Kulich" is sometimes served with "Paskha" pyramid. You can still find the letters "XB" on its flanks. Made of white cheese drained, there is added nuts and berries, or lemon zest to make it cooler.
How to reach the "MGOU" university in Moscow ? The easiest way is the metro (red line until Universitet station) followed by 10 minutes walk.
The University of Moscow "MGOU" also called Lomonosov was founded in 1755. It is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in Russia. In 1940 it was renamed in honor of the Lomonosov Academician Mikhail Lomonosov (1711 - 1765), a prominent Russian scientist, who greatly contributed to the creation of the Moscow University. Some key figures to give an idea of the size : more than 40,000 students, over 4,000 teachers, over 15,000 workers and employees to manage and maintain over 600 buildings spread over 205 hectares, with a magnificent skyscraper with arrow over 200m high, which was built between 1949 and 1953.
Around at least 1 hour to walk around outside but it's worth doing it.
Then walk from the skyscraper towards the city, on the large esplanade north face of the skyscraper to go to Sparrow Hills. Make a stop next to the church of the "life-giving Trinity" with its green roof and the crowd of worshipers who come on Easter Saturday to bless their traditional "kulitch" cake.
The small place on Sparrow Hills, formerly known as Mount Lenin, dominates the city of Moscow and is the highest point (157 m). There are many souvenir vendors. Russians like to come in this greenery area to escape the pollution of Moscow and to do activities (rollerblading, walking, cross country skiing in winter ...). Let's take a panormic look to the business district on west side, the Luzhniki stadium in front, and on right side quite far, the Cathedral of Christ the Holy Saviour with the Kremlin on its right.
Curious to find a ski hill here : I will check if next winter it is still used ! By the way, there is even a chairlift that is there (but stopped) to reach the Mount of Sparrows. And if it works, it's a good plan with easy access (Metro "Vorobyovy Gory" perched on the bridge) for ski even if the altitude is not the Alps !
To end this discovery, let's walk down to the wharf of the Moskva. There are some walkers, cyclists, family skating and even joggers. Then resume Metro on the "Vorobyovy Gory" bridge to go back to the center of Moscow.
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