jason capps tours

Ten Days in Tuscany – Chef Jason Capps' small group tours of Italy

Join me in Tuscany every May for Ten Days of amazing food, wine, history, culture & architecture…Each day is brilliantly designed to maximize each experience & every meal is included – even transfers & tips. The group size is intimate (12-14) & designed for both expert & novice travelers looking to explore one of Europe’s most treasured regions. Truffle hunting, pasta making, wine tastings, private vineyard, museum & church tours, it’s all included! #jasoncapps #tendaysintuscany #autumninamalfi #jasonsjourneys #cappsized #bellaseraeventvilla #bellaserapgh #italytours

Long Italian Lunch w/ Grape Stomping and Wine Tastings at Tractorless Vineyards

Grape Deep Dive – Barbera

Ep056: Issa Rae’s Toast to Authenticity

No Wine No Problem Appetizer n Dinner #italy #formaggio #prosciutto #beer #wine #tequila

COLOSI WINERY – Vino Spotlight

CARUSO and MININI Winery tour

Join me on an upcoming adventure!

Wines and walks of tuscany.

February 7-17, 2025

Sample world-class wines, savor memorable meals, and soak up the majestic Tuscan scenery on this 11-day small group wine country adventure.

Galapagos Family Holiday Adventure

December 27, 2024 - January 6, 2025

Explore Ecuador and set sail on a weeklong expedition around the beautiful Galapagos Islands.

Want to Plan a Group Trip?

Journeys by Jason can build a custom tour for groups of 10 or more people.

Sample world-class wines, savor memorable meals, and soak up the majestic Tuscan scenery on this 11-day small group wine country adventure departing February 7, 2025. Tour Highlights:

Explore the vineyards, caves and cellars at wineries in Umbria and Tuscany as knowledgeable experts teach you about the history and production of Italian wine Indulge in tastings of Tuscan favorites including Chianti Classico, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and the king of Tuscan vino - Brunello di Montalcino Wander the streets of picturesque Civita di Bagnoregio, known as Italy’s “dying city” Tour the farm at a local agriturismo, learn about its cheese-making process and enjoy a delicious farm-to-table meal paired with local wine Participate in the annual Brunello Crossing, a local wine-themed run/walk event through vineyards leading to the hill town of Montalcino Relax, unwind and be pampered at a 5-star luxury thermal spa resort in the heart of Tuscany Hike, bike or meander along a bucolic stretch of the Via Francigena to admire the Italian countryside Enjoy delicious meals at local osterias and trattorias handpicked for their specialities, atmosphere and hospitality Visit two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Hadrian's Villa and Villa d'Este, and discover the lavish lifestyles of the ancient Roman elite For more information about this trip, please email [email protected].

Explore Ecuador and set sail on a weeklong expedition around the beautiful Galapagos Islands on this 11-day holiday break departing December 27, 2024. For more information about this trip, please email [email protected].

Have an idea for a group trip for 10 or more people? Whether you need basic travel planning services or want a full guided tour experience, we can help. Just email [email protected] to inquire.

WEDDING PACKAGES
PREFERRED PROFESSIONALS
SOCIAL EVENTS
CORPORATE EVENTS
TOURS OF ITALY

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Meet the Team

JASON CAPPS

Owner , jason is a certified executive chef and owner of bella sera, a special event venue and catering company located in pittsburgh's south hills. a third-generation food service entrepreneur, jason launched his first catering business in 1999 and has become one of the most respected caterers in the region. in 2006 he built bella sera, located in canonsburg near southpointe, and became pennsylvania’s first caterer and event venue certified by the green restaurant association. bella sera blends jason's cultural heritage with his years of experience developed in world-class establishments such as nemacolin woodlands, kiawah island and seabrook island resorts in charleston, sc., in 2009 jason pioneered the market square renovation with bella sera urban trattoria, pittsburgh's first certified green restaurant. his latest endeavor is bistro at bella sera, a tasteful weekday lunch buffet. jason also teaches cooking classes for those looking to enhance their culinary skills., jason has been honored annually from 2008 thru 2012 as a star award recipient by the international caterers association. in 2009, bella sera was named one of pittsburgh business times “100 fastest growing businesses”, and in 2010 he was awarded with the esteemed title, “restaurateur of the year”. in addition, jason regularly appears on kdka live to share his delicious recipes., in addition to his business ventures, jason actively serves on the committees of the united way, the cystic fibrosis foundation, united cerebral palsy/pathways, casa, and routinely volunteers and donates to various non-profits., when you meet jason for the first time, you'll be struck not only by his incredible passion for food but also his passion for family. a proud father, jason enjoys traveling and spending quality time with his two daughters lily and lauren. he also enjoys skydiving, snowboarding, cycling and sporting clays..

[email protected]

JAC KY FIFE

General manager.

[email protected] | 724.745.5575 ext. 100

MEGAN PERRI

corporate / social / catering sales manager.

Megan has been a member of the team at Bella Sera since 2014. She grew up in the Pittsburgh area and earned a degree in Communication Studies from Kent State University. With years of experience working with customers and clients across multiple industries, Megan adds dedication and a client focus to the team at Bella Sera. She has always had a passion for special events and enjoys working closely with clients to ensure every detail of their event is just as they imagined. Megan has planned and executed a wide array of events such as showers, executive meetings, holiday parties, bar/bat mitzvahs and everything in between! She spends her free time chasing her toddler and enjoys shopping and time with family and friends.

[email protected] | 724.745.5575 ext. 105

Andrea Zagorski

Wedding consultant.

Andrea has been a part of the Bella Sera team since 2019. She graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management with a concentration in Special Events. While in college, she interned at Bella Sera, bringing her newly found skill and passion for the events industry to Canonsburg. Now that she is our Wedding Coordinator, Andrea has the opportunity to help Bella Sera couples make their wedding dreams a reality. From room design to timeline, she's got you covered! When not in wedding-mode, Andrea enjoys attending live shows and concerts, traveling to new places, and soaking up the sun at Chautauqua Lake with her friends and family.

[email protected] | 724.745.5575 ext. 111

UPCOMING EVENTS

Click here to view all of our upcoming events.

Book your special event and let the authentic Italian flavors of Bella Sera make your special occasion one to remember.

Office Hours: Monday - Friday 9:30AM to 5:00PM

E-mail Bella Sera Weddings

E-mail Bella Sera Soc i al/Corporate Events

(724) 745-5575

Did you enjoy your Bella Sera experience? Follow us on our social media sites to stay updated on special events! #BellaSeraPgh

The Coasts of Croatia

October 11 - 20, 2023, itinerary , trip summary.

While Italy may be my first love, for a variety of reasons nearby Croatia could easily be considered my second. Throughout my travels there I quickly came to appreciate how proud they are of their heritage, and of course their chosen soccer team, Fortunately, my Croatian friends Martin, Simon and Lucia have help me construct a tour that highlights the best of what this smaller country has to offer. Combined with my keen attention to the food and menu design, it’s a winning journey all the way around! Without further ado, I bring you my latest and perhaps the most “sea worthy” offering, called The Coasts of Croatia.

To select this destination you must feel like a dreamer ready to appreciate the charms and adventure of an exciting time and place in European history. As if by magic, your watch will go back some 500 years as you travel to the famous medieval walls that now gives us, among many other things, the backdrop for the popular Games of Thrones series. Here in Dubrovnik, and throughout this history-rich and scenic country, you will enjoy both city life and extraordinary nature, experienced by both land and sea, all of which has graciously withstood the test of time.

One of the most impressive fortification systems in the world, the ancient portion of Dubrovnik was declared a World Heritage Site in 1979. Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque style, everything here breathes simplicity and beauty... Here is where we start our journey toward our ultimate and more northern destination, Split. Interrupted with a multi-day voyage by boat, our spacious private luxury yacht for four of the nine nights.

Aboard this 120 foot vessel we will first move up the coast from Korcula to the charming outer islands of Vis and Hvar. Both steeped in history and full of amazing cuisine, I have curated each and every menu and meal to suit the demands of the day. By demands I mean, a casual pace of sipping local wines, observing and immersing in the essence of what makes this country so special. By boat we can best explore these picturesque islands full of natural attractions, the crystal clear sea, black sand beaches, waterfalls and jagged cliffs, all while savoring the bounty and expansiveness of the sea. Here and throughout Croatia, you’ll find it all… with the comforts of quality accommodations and well-planned experiences.

What about the food you ask? This is a culinary expedition too, full of typical local flavors and smells like fresh baked bread made from flour ground that we bake together at the source. We finish in a family’s home, with a fabulous farewell dinner boasting the country’s favorite main dish, Pekka, among many other flavors, sips and influences of far off lands. Are you ready? Let’s go!

Day 1 - Wednesday, October 11

DUBROVNIK: THE PEARL OF THE ADRIATIC, DALMATIAN COAST

Day 1 summary.

Upon arrival at the airport (DBV), private transportation will take us to check-in at our first accommodation - Hotel Kompas. Located in a quiet yet convenient part of the city, surrounded by greenery, with comfortable, spacious rooms and modern decor, Kompas gives us special views overlooking the picturesque bay of Lapad, and the green blue Adriatic Sea.

After unpacking, resting and refreshing a bit, a warm welcome gathering will be awaiting us. It’s time now for drinks, small bites and a chance for us to meet our fellow travelers. Eventually it’s time for dinner, a short ten minute walk along the popular promenade and we arrive for our first meal together. At Levanat, a place of warm hospitality overlooking the Adriatic Sea, the team of chefs on duty specializes in traditional Mediterranean food. Here they use a wide variety of quality ingredients to craft creative dishes. Tonight, although anxious to take it all in, we won’t go too long or too late. We are tired from our journey and need rest to prepare for the days to come.

Day 2 - Thursday, October 12

STRADUN: THE MAIN STREET AND THE WALLED CITY OF DUBROVNIK

Day 2 summary.

Today (like all of them) will be a special day! This morning our first stop is a visit to a unique jewelry store, an unmistakable representative of the goldsmith culture of the past, yet in continuous evolution since the thirteenth century. Feel free to buy or browse as you wish!

Next, our path will lead us to the old city of Dubrovnik, much to the delight of fans of the popular HBO series, Game of Thrones. On the way through Stradun, the main street of the walled city, you will see iconic monuments and historical buildings such as the Sponza Palace and the Church of Saint Blaise. As we go along our wonderful guide will tell us all about this magical history.

The most impressive and exclusive images can be taken at more than 400 meters above sea level, when we continue on with a relaxing cable car ride to the top of the mountain. This is an opportunity to capture views from far above, giving perspective to everything around and below us.

After working up our appetite for lunch, we gather at Posat, a Mediterannean bistro specializing in seafood and expertly rated among the top ten in the region. In the afternoon, we will meet our guide again for a tour of the city walls. After some free time to shop, we will capture the sunset views of the walls, towers and castle turrets. Dinner tonight is at Dundo Maroje, a cozy restaurant located in a narrow street of the old city, opposite the baroque church of Saint Blaise.

Day 3 - Friday, October 13

THE MEDIEVAL TOWN OF CAVTAT

Day 3 summary.

Our experience today will start by bus, only 45 minutes from Old Town. In an environment of pleasant and typical Mediterranean climate and lush vegetation, sits the medieval gem of a town, Cavtat. With a history that goes back many centuries, it is a haven of tradition that treasures an important cultural heritage, a legacy of Illyrians, Greeks, Romans and Slavs.

All within a short walk, we will be able to enjoy jewels such as the Governor's Palace and the Vlaho Bukovac House-Museum, dedicated to one of the most relevant personalities of the country's arts. After some time appreciating the culture of this wonderful city, we will certainly be ready for some wine, right? Our delightful wine tasting is accompanied by small bites at two great wineries near Konavski Dvori - a true Croatian experience indeed!

Today's lunch will be served right here at Konavoski Dvori, an organic restaurant rooted in local traditions passed down from generation to generation. Famous personalities such as Michael Jordan, Richard Gere and many others have dined here in this unique area. After some free time, we will enjoy the relaxed atmosphere that surrounds the promenade before heading to a sunset dinner at Dubravka 1836 - located in the center that offers stunning views of the fortresses Lovrijenac, Bokar and Minceta. We will be back to the hotel in time to pack, for tomorrow we depart for our next destination.

Day 4 - Saturday, October 14

BY FERRY FROM PELJESAC TO KORCULA

Day 4 summary.

After breakfast and goodbyes to our gracious hosts at Kompas, we take a scenic bus ride to the Peljesac Peninsula where we catch a ferry. After an hour of cruising the beautiful blue water we reach the island of Korcula, one of the greenest and most beautiful islands of Croatia, known as the little Dubrovnik for its beauty and imposing walls. Korcula is also famous for one of it’s oldest houses, the birthplace of the great navigator Marco Polo.

Our first experience on the island of Korcula is the Bire Winery. These vineyards consist of rocky soil, gnarled vines and golden bunches of grapes with which they produce indigeonus Grk wine, among the rarest wines of the country and perhaps Europe.

Next it’s time to head to the center of Korcula. Appreciating the charm of its narrow streets, right in the heart of this medieval urbanism, is the restaurant Konoba Adio Mare. Here we will stop for a delicious lunch by a revered chef who cooks with only the freshest local ingredients.

Following lunch, we meet our local Korcula expert guide, learning all about this small town and how it came to be. In between the sights of the old town, we have dedicated some time for the adventurous types to climb to the top of the Belfry Tower. The view of this small, pristine town is spectacular and not to be missed!

Take some time to savor the sites and wander town a bit, for eventually it’s time to depart for the port. Here, our private 120 foot yacht awaits us. Porters will carry our bags as we get settled in for the evening and dinner onboard. Tomorrow we set off to not-so-distant lands!

Day 5 - Sunday, October 15

THE ISLAND OF VIS, LAND OF FISHERMEN AND WINEMAKERS

Day 5 summary.

Waking up afloat is often one of the most sensory experiences one can have. After breakfast onboard and perhaps a refreshing swim, we will depart Korcula. Relaxing as we cruise the Adriatic toward the island of Vis, we are under the trusted navigation of one of Croatia’s most experienced boating crews.

Once a large military fort when it was part of Yugoslavia, Vis is very sought after to visitors because this island was actually closed to foreigners up until 1991 when it became part of Croatia. Because of this, Vis didn't experience a tourism boom in the 90's or 2000's so it's a still a relatively quiet and authentic island - as you will quickly notice!

Once on Vis, we will visit a submarine shelter, quant postcard-perfect bays, some free time to meander and shop too. Fun fact: for the Mamma Mia fans, Vis is home to some of the spectacular beach scenes in Mamma Mia 2! Our dining spot tonight will be at a beautiful house in Komiza where we will have a barbeque dinner on the terrace. An amazing little beach is a skip of a rock away where you may enjoy a pleasant sunset here.

Day 6 - Monday, October 16

THE ISLAND OF BISEVO… THE FAMOUS BLUE CAVE

Day 6 summary.

Located in front of the magnificent Island of Vis, just five kilometers away, the island of Bisevo is our next destination. Here we will enjoy the impressive Blue Cave, a place where its waters appear to turn a color that is difficult to forget, with a bluish and almost fluorescent hue. We will spend most of our time here enjoying nature and nice weather, perfect for swimming and having a great time.

Throughout the day we will continue to enjoy Mediterranean landscapes while cruising to our next stop: The Island of Hvar. Appreciate the beauty of its coves and beaches and get lost in the narrow streets of its little towns, with little shops full of lavender souvenirs and the typical stone houses of the Croatian coast. We should almost be guaranteed a gorgeous sunny day because Hvar is known to be the sunniest island in Croatia with over 115 days of sunshine a year!

Now that you have a feel for the luxurious isalnd, let's eat! Dinner tonight will be at the Mizarola restaurant in the old town, where we can taste Italian and Mediterranean food. Don't worry, we will see more of the island of Hvar and it’s main town tomorrow!

Day 7 - Tuesday, October 17

STARI GRAD: THE CHARMS OF THE SMALL PORT CITY

Day 7 summary.

Today's adventure begins with a wonderful breakfast served on the yacht just before we head into our next set of experiences, which will be another of the oldest towns in Croatia, located just inland from Hvar: the town of Stari Grad. Always defenders of active and exciting holidays, our tour with quads (yes four-wheelers) will be a full of beautiful panoramic views. Driving along the north coast will be a lot of fun and something you'll never forget!

Once we reach the Fortica fortress on our quads, our Hvar guide will give us a tour of the fortress and the city, where she'll explain all of the fascinating history of this territory.

By now we are hungry… so it’s the ideal time for lunch at the Gariful restaurant. Its specialty is fish and shellfish and always the freshest catches of the day, with a rich wine list to match. Once our appetites have been satisfied, we will have a moment of free time and we will be able to enjoy a little more of its medieval cobblestone streets or its beaches with crystalline waters and perhaps swimming at sunset.

A special dinner on the yacht awaits us and after we are excited for some dancing into the starry night… under a blanket of stars. For us, it is the only way to end this segment of the island cruise tour. We can indulge and relax, but not go overboard, figuratively and literally!

Day 8 - Wednesday, October 18

SPLIT, THE CITY HIDDEN BETWEEN MOUNTAINS…

Day 8 summary.

Today we wake up to breakfast onboard for the last time as our morning journey starts in the port of a city hidden between the Dalmatian mountains and the Adriatic coast: Split. A pleasant walk along the Riva promenade will be an excellent start for us to begin understanding this city and long avenue that spans the length of the city. Not far from the port is our third and final resting place, The Ambassador hotel.

Our next stop is only a 15-minute drive from the city into the country where our charming hosts await us at the family farm, Antunovic. Here we will have a short tour and breadmaking class so we can learn about its history and how the old mill is used today in the traditional flour manufacturing process. Next to the mill, in a green meadow we will have lunch with typical local food. The bread here is perhaps the best you’ll ever have.

After our delicious lunch at the mill now behind us, we will magically arrive next in the city of Omis, a place where within a radius of just 500m, sea, river, mountains and a lively city with a peculiar Croatian seafaring atmosphere converge. We will visit its authentic fortress and the Restaurant Bajso. Finally, after dinner, live music, and the adrenaline going, we will return to our hotel.

Day 9 - Thursday, October 19

IMOTSKI AND THE TRADITIONAL FEAST OF A CROATIAN FAMILY

Day 9 summary.

Our last day of the tour will begin at the Ambassador Hotel with breakfast. Afterwards, the town of Imotski, located in the Dalmatian hinterland of Croatia, awaits us. Here the Bekavac family will welcome us with open arms, full glasses of local wine and a wonderful cultural and culinary experience that defines the most traditional ways of preparing food in Croatian villages. An authentic family experience indeed! Today we will eat Peka, the traditional and most prominent dish of Croatia, prepared with lamb (raised there) and lots of fresh vegetables using an age-old cooking method we all will be excited to try at home!

While lunch is baking, we will take a nice ride and walk to visit two magnificent lakes that surround this small countryside village. Red Lake is the deepest karstic lake in Europe, formed by the collapse of caves and soft rocks of limestone. And Blue Lake crowned by a medieval fortress from which we can take photos and enjoy spectacular vistas. It’s all hard to explain, but seeing is believing!

And why not one more quick stop for a taste of local wine before lunch? Here we will listen to their interesting stories and taste their most delicious wines. By the time the tasting is over, the Bekavac family will be ready and waiting for us. Lunch is served outside on their patio and a truly special experience. This is one of those things we can’t describe, but only experience firsthand. Finally, after we are full and happy, we return to our hotel.

Tonight we finish with a cocktail and small plates at LVXOR.. A magical, entertaining experience full of more unforgettable moments and stories shared by all about our time together!!!

Day 10 - Friday, October 20

DEPARTURE DAY

Day 10 summary.

For those of you departing immediately, we can say our goodbyes after breakfast depending on your departure time. For those of you considering a few days extension, we encourage you to check out Pltivace National Park and Krka National Park. Both located north of Split toward Zagreb.

Important Travel Tips:

Arrive in Dubrovnik Wednesday October 11 (or a day earlier if you wish)

Depart from Split Friday, October 20 (or later if you desire more time in Croatia)

$6,000 per person single supplement: add $750

What’s included: , arrival transfer (day-of only), all hotel/yacht accommodations, all meals & beverages, all guided tours & experiences, all transport during tour, all gratuities (driver’s tip optional), what's not included:, final departure transportation from hotel to airport & airfare.

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Ten Days in Tuscany, Autumn in Amalfi, Venice to Lake Como, Sardinia in September Tours are Produced by Jason's Journeys LLC i n collaboration with Kelly Rodavich @viaggiotravelconsulting

Jason Around the World

Moscow, part 2.

As regular readers will know, I’ve been to Moscow many times going back all the way to 1988 when it was still the capital of the USSR. When I went back for the first time post-Soviet Union about 10 years ago, it was hard to believe it was the same country…but in some ways it still was. The familiar sites were still there: Red Square, the Kremlin, St. Basil’s, GUM, etc, but all the western stores and hotels made it feel the same…just more globalized.

In the years since then, I’ve traveled all around Moscow, seeing all the major sites many times. This trip, we really wanted to take the advantage of having a long period and explore some of the more out of the way and less usual site, starting with the Central Air Force Museum way out in Monino.

Now, saying “way out” is a bit relative, given the museum is only 40km east of Moscow, but it’s nowhere near a metro or train station, so this means either multiple bus and tram connections or taking a taxi. I checked Yandex and it was only about 1200 rubles (less than $20) so we opted for convenience. Unfortunately, the traffic was brutal that morning and it took us nearly two hours to get to the museum!

The Central Air Force Museum in Monino is absolutely huge, with over 170 aircraft on display, some indoors in two large hangers, and many outdoors. There are also over 100 engines and other aircraft related memorabilia on display. It was an absolute airplane geek’s paradise.

Few words if you’re considering it: the staff speak absolutely no english at all (though I’m guessing if you speak no Russian they can do the basics like toilet, go here, etc) but that said, they were some of the nicest, friendliest, and most helpful people I’ve ever encountered at a tourist venue in Russia. More on that as I go along.

After purchasing our tickets, the first stop was the hanger with older WWI and WWII aircraft. Upon entering, the ticket taker very helpfully explained the layout of the museum to us, and gave us all the details about the layout of the museum. She clearly loved her job, and slowed down her speech speaking very clearly so we could understand every word. I was impressed – it’s not common that non-English speakers in Russia make an attempt to make it easier on tourists, and she gave a super positive first impression!

An Ilyushin 10M from World War II – 1944. The displays (mostly in Russian only, although some had English as well) not only had details on the plane, but on the types of missions they flew, and often about Hero Pilots who had flown them. Really cool!

After spending about 45 minutes wandering the two large indoor hangers, it was outside and maybe a 200 meter walk until we got to the outdoor part of the museum. Sure, it was a little cold, maybe about -15C and super windy, but how bad could/would it be. Wrong thing to question…

After walking the first part of the outdoor section, there was another non-climate controlled hanger with some larger pieces. Like this “Volga Stratospheric Balloon Car.”

Back outside, and an Aeroflot Mi-2 Helicopter:

Myasischev M-17 Stratophera – aka what happens when you forget to de-ice the plane before takeoff…mainly took this photo because I loved the look of the plane with huge sheets of ice hanging off the wings.

Posing in front of a Tupolev Tu-144 aka Concordeski…it was cool to see this given I had just seen another one in Germany the month before. 17 were built in total, two suffered fatal crashes, and only five every saw passenger service. At this point I was absolutely freezing, and it was “take hands out of pockets for two seconds, snap quick pick, and move on.”

Mi-12 Heavy Transport Helicopter…one of the most unique looking aircraft on display :

After walking around outside and freezing (dozens of more photos I didn’t share here) it was time to head inside and check what I expected would be a very dangerous giftshop. But first, I had to take a flight…

Fortunately, the gift shop wasn’t too dangerous, although the proprietor was quite a character. She was extremely chatty, impressed by Americans who spoke Russian, and wanted to make sure she showed us every possible thing in the gift shop, as well as telling us all about upcoming special events at the museum. She even encouraged us to come back in the summer when we might enjoy it even more!

Overall, a super cool experience, and if you’re an aviation geek at all I recommend it very highly!

That night, out for more delicious Georgian food. Starting with a jug of house wine…which apparently is poured into a bowl for drinking! Chug, chug, chug!

Khatchapuri again, this one being way more delicious than the previous restaurant.

We decided to branch out for after-dinner drinks, and found another pretty cool pub. Craft Republic was kind of in the basement of a building, but they had a Pac-Man machine, awesome beer list, and even some Cypress Hill blasting from the speakers!

The next day, it was off to Bunker 42 to see where the Soviet Missile Command would retreat to if Moscow was under nuclear attack in the Cold War days. I’ve been to Canada’s version, the Diefenbunker, but figured the Soviet one being right in the middle of Moscow would be super cool. But first, you walk down 16 flights of stairs to get to the depth which engineers calculated could withstand a direct hit from the earliest nuclear weapons:

At the bottom, through a metal-clad corridor into the bunker itself:

Guard-post at the entrance to the bunker complex:

The Anteroom to Stalin’s personal chambers in the bunker. I was cracking up at all the mannequins:

Da. Comrade Stalin is right upstairs:

Oh, hey Joseph! Ironically, Stalin never even ended up visiting the bunker, as its construction wasn’t complete until after he died. Oh well!

Meeting room for officials in case of nuclear attack. The room was only used one time, however, during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

A mock-up of the Soviet Union’s first atomic bomb…although our guide assured us it was real…

Missile command center…we even got to press the button and then watch a simulation film of missiles screaming towards the US…it was the ONLY time on the tour we weren’t allowed to take pictures…supposedly the consoles were the original ones, although the electronics were not.

After the launch room, we were told to go down the next corridor while the guide closed the doors behind us. Of course, he locked the door, turned out all the lights, and the red lighting came on while air raid sirens blasted. It was a pretty cool thing to see!

Standing outside the Bunker.

We ran into the metro right at rush hour, where it was packed…yet orderly in that way that people looking out for everyone else is. In DC, the metro is a disorderly mess with people stopping at the bottom of escalators, cutting each other off, and generally having no communal motivation at all. There’s a reason why it’s at capacity at a much lower point than Moscow, Tokyo, etc…

Next up our last few days in Moscow!

4 Responses to “Moscow, Part 2”

Really interesting as usual, Jason. As a glider pilot the aircraft of course got me. Incidentally, there’s a Titan II missile silo–with a missile–you can tour in southern Arizona. Not quite as good as the Moscow one but still interesting: http://www.titanmissilemuseum.org/ If you want to see a World War III bunker in the U.S., go to the Greenbrier Hotel in West Virginia: http://www.greenbrier.com/Activities/The-Bunker/Bunker-Tours.aspx

Yeah I’ve heard great things about Greenbrier! Despite living close by I’ve never done it. Definitely on the list!

I’ll also be in AZ in a few months to hike the Grand Canyon, so I’ll have to make a tour to the Titan Missile Museum. Thanks!

I’m always fascinated with these nuclear bunkers that were built during the Cold War. Regardless of who made the first nuclear strike, World War III would have quickly erupted and the entire planet would literally have been destroyed. Even if the Earth still remained intact, it would still be uninhabitable for decades (if not centuries) making these nuclear bunkers utterly pointless. Just look at all the radiation that still remains near Chernobyl some 30+ years later making the surrounding land still uninhabitable. The true ignorance of their understanding of nuclear disaster at the height of the Cold War is utterly mind boggling.

So interesting again, Jason, now I have two very exciting places to visit if and when I ever go back to Moscow