To Moscow With Love... I Think Not!. Review on Moscow

We flew from Katmandu to Moscow on Aeroflot, (the worse Airline I've ever been on), and arrived at the Sheremetyevo Airport. Moscow is a huge City with a population of over 8 million People.

After we passed through Customs we were handed a piece of paper that said not to wear Tennis Shoes, Shorts, you must have your shoulders covered, not to bring any Books, Magazines or Religious Items.

The Canadian Government sent some one to take me to my Hotel in a Taxi. He told me I would be here for two days and one night and that the Government would be paying for my room and food. He took me to the Currency Exchange so I could change my money into Rubles.

The Driver drove so fast I thought we would be killed by crashing into a Bus or a Car.

THE HOTEL:

I stayed at the Budapest Hotel. The Hotel was built in 1876 and had the same cold Architecture I had seen in Beijing. It took me a few minutes to walk to the Bolshoi Theatre. I had to give them my Passport when I checked in and it wasn't returned to me until I checked out.

When I got off the Elevator there was a hefty Woman who gave me the key to my room, (I had to give my key back every time I left the floor.

My room was sparely decorated, dark and gloomy. There was no air-conditioning and it was very hot. There was a single bed, a desk and a phone. The only thing that was nice had a view of a bridge over the Neva River.

The bathroom had a Shower, a Toilet, (with a yellow stain around the bottom), and a Sink. I never sat down on the Toilet seat. The Toilet Paper was brown and rough.

WHERE I ATE:

I had breakfast and lunch in the Café and dinner in the Restaurant. I was to frighten to go into the Bar because when I went to see it there were only Men and Sleazy looking Women were in there.

Both days I had cereal for breakfast and hot Borsht for lunch. One night I had an Escalope of Veal and the other night I ordered Beef Stroganov, (there wasn't a lot of Meat in either). There was a boiled potato and red cabbage as the vegetable. The only good thing about all the meals was the dark rye Bread and the steaming hot glasses of hot Tea, (with a cube of Sugar on the side).

The desserts were great. I ate an Apple Cake, (Pirogi), a Blini, (Pancake), filled with jam and Tvorog, (a sweet Cottage Cheese).

During my evening meal I had a few glasses of Vodka! I did try a glass of Martovskyoye Beer and Kvas, (a drink made from fermented rye Bread).

WHAT I SAW:

Every where I went I felt like I was followed. I kept looking over my shoulder but I couldn't see anyone.

I walked over to see the Kremlin in Red Square. In Red Square there are large Statutes of the Men who lead the Revolution, (except Trotsky).

It took me a long time but I finally found the Synagogue. I took the Subway to get there. The Station in Red Square was decorated very nicely with Crystal and Marble Chandeliers. When I got to the Synagogue it wasn't open so I could just see it from the outside.

I when to see a few Russian Orthodox Cathedrals that have brightly painted Onion Domes. They weren't open either so I just took some pictures of them.

I walked through Gorky Park. It was interesting to see a Park named after a book and a film.

The Canadian Embassy managed to get me a ticket to see the Bolshoi Ballet preform Swan Lake. To me that was the best part of being in Moscow.

WHERE I SHOPPED:

I shopped on Arbat Street at the stalls of the Street Vendors. I bought a hand painted wooden Russian Stacked Doll, (5 Dolls are inside a larger one), of an old Russian Woman with a babushka, (scarf), on her head. I bought some T-shirts, (they were made so bad they shrunk the first time they were washed), for every member of my Family and a Russian Soldiers Hat for my Sister-in-law, (who thought at one time that Communism would be better than living in a Democracy).

I found a Shop in the Gums Department Store that sold a few types of Russian Vodka so I bought a bottle for my Husband.

WARNING:

You need a Passport and a Visa, (the Canadian Government got the Visa for me).

Bring any medicine you need because you won't be able to get any there.

Don't take pictures of any thing that is considered to be Military, (that includes the Policemen and most Government Buildings except the Kremlin).

MY CONCLUSION:

I returned home on BA via London to Toronto and Air Canada to Edmonton.

I was in Moscow during the time the Communist ruled the USSR and I am sure a lot of things have changed since I was there.

I'm rating this a 3 because I'll leave it for you to decide if you want to see Moscow.I won't go back to see it but you might enjoy seeing it.

Comments are always welcome.

©LL2003