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My first visit to Moscow was in 1989 on my honeymoon. My usually clever husband to be thought it would be difficult to get into the Soviet Union thereby delaying the impending nuptials. Imagine his surprise when the travel agent said "No problem, when do you want to go?" So we signed up for a General Tour package, staying at the not so centrally located Cosmos Hotel, and toured with a group of senior citizens, many of which wanted to nap in the afternoon. Being young and fearless, we exchanged money on the black market, traded old concert tshirts for Communist flags (still with fresh bird poop!) and nested dolls, wandered the streets and didn't hesitate to use the public transportation.
My second visit was in late August/early September 2003. Once again we signed up for a tour, this time with Gate 1, more due to lack of time to plan on my part than not thinking we could successfully travel on our own. And once again we are stayed at the not so centrally located Cosmos Hotel although we stayed at the Arbat Hotel for three days before the tour officially started. After a frustrating first couple of days with the group, we started wandering off more and more frequently on our own, the tour members were frequently late and one even got lost in Red Square for an hour, seriously delaying our trip.
All I can say is WOW, what a difference. My memories from our first trip include
Eating ice cream from a street vendor because we missed dinner at the hotel. Now there are good restaurants everywhere with English menus
Trading old concert tshirts for souvenirs. Now there are entire souvenir markets
Watching women fighting over plain white cotton blouses at GUM. Now GUM is home to many designer stores
Trading money on the black market, now ATM machines dispense both rubles and US currency
Reviews (40)
At the Nikulin Circus-another photo
Off The Beaten Path
(9)
Here's another photo at the park across from the Nikulin circus more travel advice
At the Nikulin Circus
Off The Beaten Path
(9)
Across the street from the Nikulin Circus, there's a small park with clown statutes, a perfect photo opportunity :-) more travel advice
Old Circus (Nikulin)
Things to Do
(9)
There are two circuses in Moscow, the old and the new. The new circus was not in town so we ended up going to the old... more travel advice
Elki Palki
Restaurants
(2)
There are several of this chain in Moscow. We tried the one on Novy Arbat for dinner and the one in the picture for... more travel advice
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Share Your TravelsLatest Activity in Moscow
- Replied to durenkamp's Travel Moscow Forum Forum Question "Need a guide for Moscow"
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- Wrote a Review At the Nikulin Circus-another photo in Moscow Off The Beaten Path
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Comments (20)
Kristi, I just had to re-read your restaurant tips for Moscow as I will visit the city for the second time in about two weeks.
I hope to get there in a couple of years and your advance info is surely a big help-thanks so much. Have a good trip is you get there again now
I didn't realize that Moscow would be so interesting. Love the architecture too!
Enjoyable page Kristi! Love your 'then and now' observations.
I would love to make it over here some day! So much to do first though haha. Thanks for the peek Kristi!
Great page on a city I so desperately want to visit... it seems that Moscos has impressive buildings all over the place... simply amazing looking... Thanks...:)
Moscow sounds much improved from even a few years ago...I liked your description of the circus visit--also the lovely river cruise. THANKS!
Fascinating page on a city I very interested in seeing.
I have been in Moscow about 12 years ago. Maybe I should go again and see the changes.
An excellent page with so much information!! I particularly like the info. on the hotel but even more so, the souvenirs!! I bought a few similar things in Alaska but would love the Olympics because I collect them!!
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