Welcome to Moscow!
by Anya_D
When planning a visit, everyone is anxious not to miss the most important and characteristic activities and places. I suppose, the task of the guide is first to give some ideas of what any visitor must see, to be able to say: 'Yes, I've been to this city!'. And then proceed to detailed description...
So, I will try to give you a short priority list, first fives being an absolute must, the others depend on how much time you spend in our city. 1. The Kremlin. When visiting it, try to make the most: buy tickets to all the cathedrals, and, if you are lucky and can get them, tickets to the Armoury and the Diamond Fund. The visit will require not less than 4-5 hours.
2. The Red Square: just step in it, and see it. Walk around, from History Museum to St. Basil's. Go behind St. Basil's on Krymsky Bridge, enjoy the view. At least 30 minutes.
3. Tretyakov Gallery. The best collection of Russian paintings and icons. Isn't it the best way to learn a nation: through it's literature and fine arts? If literature requires knowlege of Russian, paitings are available for everyone who has eyes. 2-3 hours.
4. Fine Arts Museum. Contains intersting and invaluable pieces of art from all over the world. There are always interesting exhibitions there. 2-4 hours. After the Museum make sure you visit the Church of Christ the Redeemer: it is unbelievably beautiful inside, and the church service is just amazing, if you are lucky to catch one.
5. Lanes and streets around Kremlin, Kitai-gorod. This will give you an impression of what Moscow architecture is. Pay special attention the buidings: each of them is a piece of art.
The Song of Russia
by Muscovite
Not a typical Muscovite, though she was born here, but a very true Russian.
She died yesterday, having celebrated 80 years June 10, 2009.
Her site will hopefully be back, it went down as the whole country rushed there when the news broke out.
http://www.ludmilazykina.com/
Try to find her CD if you want to take home something authentic.
And leave Arbat street alone, please. Mp3
http://www.zvezdi.ru/catalog/zikina_mp3.html
Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptsDIeZVz38&hl=ru
http://rutube.ru/tracks/928535.html?v=d15eacd228f665c349535063bd9283cd
Minin & Pozharsky monument
by bugulma
Monument was built in 1818 to heroes and heads of national war against Polish interventionists 1610-1612. Although the time for monument was risky: Poland became a part of Russian empire only during Napoleon wars. I think the monument showed who is master in that times. Nowadays it's just historical monument in front of Blessed Basil Temple.
Matryoshka - Russian typical souvenir
by kris-t
One of Russian stereotypes -a Matryoshka doll or a Russian nested doll is a set of dolls of decreasing sizes placed one inside another. Its name is a diminutive form of a Russian female name "Matryona".
A set of Matryoshka dolls consists of a wooden figure which can be pulled apart to reveal another figure of the same sort inside. It has in turn another figure inside, and so on. The number of nested figures is usually six or more. The shape is mostly cylindrical, rounded at the top for the head and tapered towards the bottom, but little else; the dolls have no hands (except those that are painted). The artistry is in the painting of each doll, which can be extremely elaborate.
Matryoshka dolls are often designed to follow a particular theme, for instance peasant girls in traditional dress, but the theme can be almost anything, ranging from fairy tale characters to Soviet leaders.
Money
by kris-t
Beside your credit card take some cush (rubles)
1 - you can use credit card not everywhere;
2- sometimes better and much more save use cash in small shops and restaurants.
Never show how much money you have. And don't put all money in one place.
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Elki-Palki, Moscow
Russian chocolate bar: Alenka
Night view from my window
nubu cafe
