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- Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital of the world's biggest country, situated
in the centre of the European part of Russia. At the very heart of
the city, and indeed the country, is the Kremlin, the Russian place
of command for almost eight centuries, and the religious centre.
Red Square and the exquisite, colourful domes of Saint Basil's
Cathedral, and the jewelled, Fabergé Easter eggs of the Tsars are
images that have long been associated with the Soviet Union in the
minds of Westerners.
The city of Moscow is a fusion of both splendour and ugliness
that is evident in the massive concrete slabs and high-rise
apartments of the Stalinist era, and in the ornate churches,
beautiful neo-classical houses, and the impressive architecture of
the old city. Wide grey thoroughfares give way to narrow winding
inner city streets, and golden church domes gleam between the
looming skyscrapers. It attracts not only those eager to embrace
new business and free enterprise, but also the poor from across the
country, and the extremes of affluence and impoverishment are
evident everywhere.
Since the fall of communism Moscow has been injected with a
sense of urgency to change the face of the 'Mother City', embracing
capitalism and shaking off the years of communist-imposed atheism,
with flashy shop fronts housing western franchises, new restaurants
and glossy hotels, and the restoration of lavish Orthodox churches.
The once dreary streets are now a vibrant commotion of life with
markets and eager vendors offering an assortment of goods that were
unavailable during the Soviet years.
It is also a city of entertainment, with theatres and the
renowned Moscow Circus, museums and art galleries. It boasts the
world's largest and most efficient metro system with gleaming
stations deep underground, astonishingly decorated in elegant
marble, glittering chandeliers and gilded works of art and
magnificent mosaics. It is the soul of the new Russia and an
intriguing mix of history and politics, business and culture.
Information & Facts
Climate
Moscow has a continental climate, typified by exceedingly cold,
long winters and hot summers. In mid-summer, during July and
August, temperatures are pleasantly warm, with occasionally hot
spells, and humidity tends to be high. Winters differ drastically,
with only about six hours of daylight in the middle of the season
and temperatures recorded at way below freezing point. Winter snows
start in October and the snow blanket persists well into spring.
Moscow has little rainfall, most of its precipitation falling as
snow.
Eating Out
Eating out in Moscow is a warm and gratifying experience. There
are ample Moscow restaurants serving traditional Russian cuisine
such as caviare, beef stroganov and chicken kiev, as well as a many
offering international or seafood menus. The best Moscow
restaurants specialising in local fare can be found in the Garden
Ring and Kitai, or near Poklonnaya Hill. There are excellent
seafood restaurants in both Red Square and Kiev Station Square,
while international cuisine is available from restaurants in
Pushkinskaya and Tverskaya, and on Teatralny Proezd (city centre).
While there are some Moscow restaurants that even stay open 24
hours a day, most establishments require reservations. Some
restaurants add a service charge to the bill and if not, 10%
gratuity is acceptable.
Getting Around
By far the easiest and most pleasant way to get around Moscow is
on the underground metro. It is considered to be one of the finest
transport systems in the world and many of the 150 stations are
superbly decorated with sculptures, chandeliers and mosaics. It is
inexpensive, very efficient, and easy to use, even considering all
signage is in Russian, but it's still a good idea to have the
destination written in Cyrillic characters to help identify the
correct station. The metro runs until 1am and fares are standard
regardless of the distance travelled, allowing unlimited transfers.
Strips of tickets can be bought for numerous journeys and are valid
on all forms of public transport. Overland transport is less
efficient than the metro, but an extensive network of buses, trams
and trolleybuses covers the areas not serviced by the metro until
about 11pm. They can get unpleasantly crowded during rush hour.
Tickets must be validated in machines immediately on boarding and
are valid for one ride only. Alternatives to the bus are the
passenger vans called 'marshrutka', which follow the bus routes and
stop on request. There are also scores of official metered taxis
and unofficial cars that can be flagged down on the street, but
fares must be negotiated before entering the vehicle, especially as
foreigners are likely to be overcharged. Although taxis are
generally safe, tourists should be cautious and single women are
advised to avoid them at night. Driving in the city is not
recommended.
Kids Attractions
It might seem like a daunting task finding attractions and
activities that kids on holiday in Moscow will enjoy, but look a
little closer at this fascinating and historic city and you'll find
there are a few things that will spark interest for children. The
Obraztov Puppet Theater features performances for children during
the day, while animal lovers should head to the Moscow Cat Theater
where domestic cats perform a multitude of acrobatic tricks. The
Moscow Dolphinarium will delight with dolphins, whales, seals, and
sea lions performing tricks, balancing balls and jumping through
hoops, while older kids may take interest in the historic value of
the Kremlin, but even younger children will delight in the sheer
size of the Tsar Cannon and Tsar Bell, which makes for a great
attraction while out and about in the city. For something a little
more soothing, enjoy a boat ride through the city where the kids
can't run out of sight and the constantly changing architecture and
landscape will show them a side of Moscow they'd never see.
Language
Russian is the official language. Some people speak
English, French or German.
Money
The official currency is the Rouble (RUB), which is divided into
100 kopeks. Most major credit cards, like Visa and Mastercard are
accepted in the larger hotels and at places that deal with foreign
tourists. Currency can be changed at banks, currency exchange
booths and hotels. Travellers cheques are difficult and expensive
to cash, but if necessary it is advised to take them in US Dollars
or Euro. ATMs are widely available in major cities. It is hard to
get rubles outside Russia and travellers are advised to take good
condition US dollars or Euro notes to change once there. It is
illegal to pay for goods or services in hard currency, though it is
often accepted.
Night Life
Moscow's notorious nightlife features an amazing selection of
bars, clubs, bowling alleys, billiards rooms, casinos and concert
venues. The most popular party scenes can generally be found in and
around Kitai Gorod, Arbat and Garden Ring. Bars like Piramida and
Nightflight have prime spots near Red Square, the Hungry Duck has
been popular for years and Propaganda is another renowned bar/club.
Authentic jazz venues include the likes of Forte or the more
upmarket Le Club, while Dolls is a classy Moscow strip club. For a
full-on club night, Fabrique is the place to go, and Mio is also
quite trendy. B2 and the Chinese Pilot are not to be missed for
live music. Moscow's casinos include Carnival and Casino Desperado,
and bowling alleys like Bi Ba Bo can also be good fun, as is the
Onyx Billiard Room. Luzhniki Stadium hosts massive international
music concerts, while Hermitage Garden is good for open-air
performances and contemporary electronic concerts, and also has the
Novaya Opera Theatre and an ice-skating ring.
Shopping
Shopping in Moscow is surprisingly rewarding. This
previously-deprived nation loves shopping and Moscow's city centre
has numerous malls and upmarket boutiques, offering all the big
name brands and some pricey local produce. The GUM building in Red
Square hosts Hugo Boss, Dior and Calvin Klein. Tverskaya Ulitsa,
running north from Red Square, is Moscow's most trendy shopping
street. More modest, high-street fashions such as Benetton, Guess,
Nike and Reebok, are available from Okhoktny Ryad, under Manezh
Square. Izmailovskii Park has a market at the weekends, selling
traditional Russian arts and crafts (such as nesting dolls) as
souvenirs. Eliseev Gastronome was an 1880s palace and retains many
of its original features, such as curling marble pillars and
candelabras, but is now an exclusive supermarket where visitors
mights find the finest Russian vodka or caviar; the Cheremushinsky
Rynok market also sells fresh local produce. Warehouses in the
suburbs sell cheap electronic goods, DVDs and software, as do
vendors at the Gorbushkin Dvor market. Shops are generally open
Monday to Saturday from 9am to 6pm; some larger retailers stay open
till 8pm, many smaller shops are closed between 1pm and 3pm. Ensure
that all necessary export permits are in order, and beware of
purchasing illegally manufactured/pirated goods.
Sightseeing
For the most part, Moscow attractions are testament to the
city's turbulent past, but there are also a number of cultural and
religious venues to enjoy in the city. Sightseeing in Moscow is
best during the summer, from May until late August, when it is
warmer and the days are longer. The foremost Moscow attractions are
the Kremlin, a fortress dating back to the city's foundation in
1147, and the multicoloured domes of St Basil's Cathedral, both
iconic Russian landmarks. Red Square is another must when
sightseeing in Moscow. The Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre is home
to Moscow's famed performance arts, while the Tretyakov Gallery
exhibits traditional Russian masterpieces. Historic Moscow
attractions include Poklonnaya Hill, which highlights Russia's
military strength against both Napoleon and Hitler, and the
Borodino Panorama Museum which has interesting artefacts and
displays from the Napoleonic wars. The Cathedral of Christ the
Saviour commemorates the soldiers who died defending Russia in the
early 19th century.