How I Explored the Largest Country in the World (Russia) Solo, by Train, in 30 Days – Moscow/Sergiev Posad (6)

6/8/2019. Moscow is obviously more than the St. Basil’s Cathedral and the Kremlin, so I took a day trip to Sergiyev Posad, one of the towns on the so-called Golden Ring around the city’s fringes. The Tourist Information Office advised that I should not go on my own since I do not speak Russian. My hostel suggested likewise. They underestimated my sign language and my years of professional training asking stupid questions. I made it there. Piece of cake, really. Upon arrival at the train station, I asked an Italian couple “why do visitors come here?”As soon as I asked, I knew I sounded moronic. I really did not and could not plan too much ahead. I only knew I should come to Sergiyev Posad, one of the well-known destinations on the Golden Ring route. They looked stunned by me, then enlightened me that the village’s main attraction was the Trinity Monastery. So the Trinity Monastery it was. On a cold, downcast morning, I sauntered there. At the entrance forecourt, a throng of Chinese waited in multiple lines, led by their tour flags, waiting in feverish fervor for their marching orders to enter the monastery. No, it was no mass conversion. It was indeed a curious sight.

On a gloomy day, the predominantly golden and distinctive color domes of the monastery perched on an elevation beaming ever so brightly. The bright-color roofs also stood out. There were quite a few buildings, each tall and broad but beautiful to look up at. They were meant to look good in good times and bad times, good weather and bad weather. Only the mood of the beholders could alter its look.

I returned to Moscow in the afternoon, to continue to ponder how a country of only 140 million manages to keep the biggest territory in the world, and not be cowed by any other world power. I wanted to soak in Russia, its politics, its culture, its greatness, its frailty.

^{6/8/2019 – 莫斯科其实就是克林姆林宫和圣巴西勒教堂，但其周边一些小城镇，在所谓的金环线，也吸引不少游客。我决定到其中一个小镇谢尔吉耶夫看看。旅游咨询中心说我不通俄语，最好跟团。语言障碍对我从来就不是障碍。一小时路程能有多难，太低估我手语能力了吧！

终于抵达目的地，小菜一碟。在火车站后我问一对意大利夫妻我来这里是干啥的。他们解释其实主要就是一个大修道院 (Trinity Monastery)。在一个云层密布，凉风凛凛早上，我像个无归宿流浪汉步行到修道院。一到入口处，入口前院排满中国游客，浩浩荡荡跟着导游旗，像充满宗教激情，什是热闹，中国那股劲又在我脑子里发起热，按捺不住情绪也跟风急着进修道院。这么大群东方人涌入西方教堂也很新奇。也没什么大不了，跟邻居相处，只要不是学坏的，也可以。

在阴沉天气，在坡上修道院那金光闪闪的大洋葱圆顶和鲜明屋顶方圆数里众目可见。修道院里好几座楼，又高又宽在眼前升起，多欣赏不嫌多。佳境逆境，吉日忌日，日丽或寒风，这修道院一样使人惊叹。

我下午又回到莫斯科，继续思考，一个只有一亿四千人口的国家是如何占有世界最大领土，不把任何大国放在眼里。我想继续浸泡在这帝国的威慑力中。}