Sign in with Facebook"MOSCOW...A CHARMED EXISTANCE?" Moscow by Michael_D
Moscow Travel Guide: 4,008 reviews and 9,130 photos
OK OK I admit it...St Petersburg, by all accounts is prettier(that will make my friend Elena Tolstuhina VERY happy;-) but Moscow seduces you.Amidst pre-concieved notions regarding big cities it has all the earmarks of a place you should worry about as a traveler. There is no shortage of people warning you about the mafia...pickpockets..gypseys...there are many back alleys and the streets are sometimes VERY dark at night.TRUTH(pravda) IS I wandered around untill the wee hours many most nights,,,not because I was "night-lifE-ing" it...more like "Im in Moscow I can sleep back in Florida". I saw more in London...and certainly more in New York to "worry about" than I ever did at any time in Moscow.Maybe I lead a charmed life...maybe there are
easier targets...MAYBE I was plain lucky.But I felt safer in Moscow than in Detroit or Newark.
REGARDING the picture..I know its cliche to lead off with a stock photo of St Basiles in Red Square(Krasnaya Ploschod) but to me...it is THE landmark of Russia.Besides..it sets you up for my next photo....WINTER!
I live in Florida and I arrived in late August but I swear it felt like winterwould set in at any moment! (see picture...OK its a joke matrooshka!;-)
Peter had convinced me back in Lutsk that I need NOT spend the $50 for the visa from Ukraine to Moscow.I KNOW..I KNOW...its hard to believe but I DIDNT get a visa(check my passport. No Russia entry or exit stamp...but I have pics of Moscow)
Truth is,,,times were tough...there are no guards at the border,,,especially a train that comes through at 1AM. So my friend Peter was right for once, but it cause many problems later.
The upside was I saved $50...the downside was that in a document dependent country like Russia, I didnt have the necessary papers to check into a hotel. Woe is me, Time and time again I got turned away...its some holdover from pre-glastnost days, but there wasnt a desk clerk that would budge on that issue.
..did I mention it was dipping into the high 30's in MAY!!!!!
- Pros:It is enchanting and interesting and resilliant.
- Cons:Russian is NOT an easy language to learn...Ponemayu!
- In a nutshell:Just go...and thank me later!
Reviews (17)
I call this the 'lonely...
Local Customs
(4)
I call this the 'lonely kiosk'...its 12 degrees out and snowing...anyone care for an ice cream(marozjenah)...a cold... more travel advice
This is almost so homely its...
Local Customs
(4)
This is almost so homely its artistic...in an attempt to limit car thefts this contraption somehow was the... more travel advice
While its painfully obvious...
Local Customs
(4)
While its painfully obvious that there is a basic inability to understand supply/demand/marketing in Russia, it is also... more travel advice
Taco Bell in Moscow...a movaeable feast.
Local Customs
(4)
Moscow is full of enterprising people, At the top level of the Arbatskaya Metro stop I couldnt believe my eyes!!! A... more travel advice
Michael_D's Related Pages
Moscow Travel Guide
Member Travel Pages
- "My Moscow..."
- "Memories of Moscow"
- "Mother Russia"
- "Moscow is my Universe"
- "Marvellous Moscow"
- "Moscow - Thrilling capital of Russia"
- "MOSCOW !!! MOCKBA !!!"
- See All...
Categories
- Things to Do in Moscow
- Hotels in Moscow
- Transportation in Moscow
- Nightlife in Moscow
- Restaurants in Moscow
- Shopping in Moscow
- Warnings and Dangers in Moscow
- See All...
Nearby Travel Guides
- Moscow Travel Guide
- See All...
- Member Rank:
- 0 1 0 6 2
- Forum Rank:
- 0 2 4 3 9
- 1,041 Reviews
- 1,000 Photos
- Add Friend
- Follow
- Send Message
Badges & Stats in Moscow
- 17 Reviews
- 19 Photos
- 13 Forum posts
- 76 Comments
- 6,172PageViews
- See All Stats
- See All Badges (3)
Have you been to Moscow?
Share Your TravelsLatest Activity in Moscow
- Posted in Miscellaneous Forum ""
- Commented on one of angelochka's Moscow travel pages
- created a Moscow Travel Page "MOSCOW...A CHARMED EXISTANCE?"
- Uploaded a Photo to "MOSCOW...A CHARMED EXISTANCE?"
- Wrote a Review I call this the 'lonely... in Moscow Local Customs
Top 10 Pages
-
Orlando
Intro, 88 reviews, 27 photos
-
Saint Petersburg
Intro, 53 reviews, 51 photos
-
New York City
Intro, 48 reviews, 36 photos
-
Tallinn County
Intro, 39 reviews, 39 photos
-
Ithaca
Intro, 38 reviews, 40 photos
-
Top 5 Page for this destination
Mount Dora
Intro, 40 reviews, 36 photos
-
Rochester
Intro, 26 reviews, 31 photos
-
London
Intro, 29 reviews, 26 photos
-
Helsinki
Intro, 33 reviews, 20 photos
-
Eustis
Intro, 31 reviews, 21 photos
Romantic Travel and Honeymoons
Trains
CyclingLatest Moscow hotel reviews
- Le Royal Meridian National Hotel
- 271 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 16, 2013 - Cosmos
- 291 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 21, 2013 - Izmailovo Complex Gamma-Delta Moscow
- 159 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 8, 2013 - Renaissance Moscow Hotel
- 124 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 15, 2013 - Crowne Plaza Moscow World Trade Center
- 240 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 20, 2013 - Ozerkovskaya Hotel Moscow
- 4 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Sep 4, 2012 - Radisson Royal Hotel Moscow
- 130 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 16, 2013 - Arbat Hotel Moscow
- 29 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 12, 2013 - Vega Hotel Moscow
- 144 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 16, 2013 - Home from Home Hostel
- 15 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Nov 2, 2012 - Intourist Hotel Moscow
- 10 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Sep 23, 2012 - Golden Apple Boutique Hotel
- 363 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 13, 2013 - Novotel Moscow Centre
- 169 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: May 21, 2013 - Capital Hostel
- 2 Reviews & Opinions
Latest: Jul 25, 2011
Comments (72)
Get the Pimsleur Russian I CDs. Ya nim noga ponemayu Pa Ruski. I don't know a lot, but many Russians have told me that my pronunciation is good. If I ever go, I will be sure to get a Visa! Best from New Jersey, Bill
great Moskow page, Looks really interesting
THe fantasy is something like this.... A Big Black Fluffy Fur hat.... a bottle of vodka... 600CT thread sheets (I'll bring my own!) and...
Russia esp Moscow looks beautiful....thinking of visiting in December....so I can get one of the fluffy hats and freeze my butt off in the snow! Lol...great page...brilliant piccies!
"...after taking a bus during rush hour and getting the international sardine treatment..." Are you sure? Probably, at Moscow is "caviar treatment"!!! ;-) Enjoyable page, Michael.
LOL. . .129 photos for St. Petersburg and I haven't even started on Moscow yet! :-) This is a great page ~ sounds like an adventure, for sure.
very interesting perspective!
Wonderful page. I want to see it in January myself. Thanks for the insite.
an excellent page and brilliant pics ! and after my stay in Moscow it's funny to read about Moscow in WINTER. Happy new Year !!
wow - such snow! That brings back memories :o) Thanks!