Moscow – Armoury Chamber Museum

The Kremlin complex contains a hugely fascinating museum called the Armoury Chamber, which is in operation since 1851. It is full of religious, political and military historical artefacts from over a 1,000 year period, and is one of the most interesting cultural venues that MB has ever visited. The piece de resistance is a glass case that contains 6 or 7 Faberge Eggs. 00MB must inform followers that photography is not allowed within the Armoury, but followers are also well aware how much respect MB generally gives to that particular rule when he is on his travels. During the course of MB’s visit, he received four “final warnings” from Kremlin security staff. They really were giving MB a hard time, unaware, obviously, that MB’s efforts were solely in the interests of furthering international peace and harmony.

The security staff were obviously watching the Faberge case like hungry hawks. So trying to get off a decent shot or two with the camera proved, sadly, impossible. To raise the camera to one’s eye, depress the button 50% to lock the autofocus, and continue to execute the shot as per normal procedure, would certainly have seen MB ensconced in the nearby and infamous (just around the corner) Lubyanka Prison.

In hindsight, MB is a tad sorry he wasn’t willing to suffer a spell of incarceration in order to get a few decent egg shots, but there was no guarantee that the KGB prison lads would have respected MB’s camera memory card, or even the camera itself. Two rushed shots, whilst hiding behind some Spanish tourists, produced a couple horribly out-of-focus shots that MB is far from proud of, but gives them to you below nevertheless.

Herewith, MB’s shots, at much personal risk, from his Armoury visit: