Whatever disparaging comments I made about Moscow autumns earlier I fully retract. Fall here is gorgeous. The trees all changed at practically the same time. The city is golden now and we’ve had plenty of blue skies and warm afternoons lately.

I ventured to Kolomenskoye Park today only to find that every family in the city was there enjoy the jubilant display of fall colors. There were so many people, many of them either making or wearing maple leaf crowns, it felt like an impromptu holiday, everyone convened to enjoy that rare overlap of beautiful weather, Sunday afternoon, and the height of autumn glory.

Kolomenskoye was once a royal estate and though it has probably enjoyed centuries of stunning autumns, I doubt during Tsarist times it was so open to the public.

While wandering through the park, I stumbled upon a small group of monks performing on instruments that sounded like bells. I sat in the grass and tried to weave maple leaves while listening to the concert. As I was leaving again I came across an unexpected sight: a dozen giant sand castles. It was dusk and I was ready to be back in the dorm room, so I only viewed them from a distance.

Kolomenskoye Photos