GUM – the most famous department store in Moscow
This mall was built in the late nineteenth century to replace a covered market and originally contained over a thousand stores. It is built on three levels with a vaulted glass roof and even today resembles a modern cathedral. On this first visit, thirsty and hungry we ignored the rows of designer shops and made for No. 57 CTOΛOBAЯ, the recommended restaurant on the third floor with a noble history of providing good quality, reasonably priced food for the proletariat.
We picked up a tray, waited in line, selected our food and took it to our chosen table and it turned out to be really, really good, probably the best meal we had had so far in Russia.
Have Bag, Will Travel 
1000 stores? I am smiling at thinking what Kim would do in 1000 stores and your description of the adventure. 🙂
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I’d have to call for the paramedics. GUM was interesting, all the big western stores but so, so expensive. I am certain that ordinary Russians could never afford to shop there.
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I laughed for 30 seconds straight before I could type. That is to your paramedics remark not the sad state of living in Moscow.
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Ha ha. Sue is hilarious, isn’t she.
Love the architecture. Certainly, it was amazing for the time it was built. Even now, it’s amazing. A thousand stores? Get me out of there! 🙂
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It is a bit frightening. You would probably be ok with all that shopping training that you have had in China!
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Ha ha ha ha ha. No, I’m not a shopper, unless you let me loose in a grocery store.
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I find it rather ironic that the #1 shopping mall in Russia resembles a cathedral, especially considering how anti-capitalist they were for so long. At the very least I know where I can get a decent meal in Moscow 🙂
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Lenin must be spinning in his tomb!
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