| Page Views: 5,246 Last Visit to Moscow: - | MOSCOW...A CHARMED EXISTANCE? by Michael_D - last update: Sep 11, 2002 |
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! |
|  | Spring comes late in Moscow;-) 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!!!!! |
> Add to your Custom Travel Guide [What's This?]
| 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!" |
Michael_D's Moscow Travel Tips
 Comments for Michael_D about Moscow | | | | |
BillNJ Thu Jun 19, 2008 08:13 UTC
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 | Balam Thu Mar 13, 2008 10:07 UTC
great Moskow page, Looks really interesting | Hexepatty Sun Jan 2, 2005 17:29 UTC
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... | kentishgirl Tue Sep 21, 2004 22:43 UTC
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! |
|
|
email me
add as friend
