๐ Moscowยถ
Prepare the Vodka cause weโre about to dive in to Mother Russia!
The first stop in the former Soviet Union. It is the U point up on Sparrow Hill, overlooking all the city of Moscow. Never take the wrong Metro station to get there because youโll be more than lost and probably never seen again! Just kidding!
Welcome to the Red Square here in Moscow! Now, the Red Square is the main central square, with festivals, demonstrations, parades, you name it.
It has become more of a central gatherings place for all Mosconiansโฆ Moscownians, Musconites, Moscanites? I donโt know, โthe people who live in Moscow!โ.
Itโs actually home to the Kremlin, that is where the government of Russia is, the president. Itโs also home to St. Basilโs Cathedral, that magnificent building of The State Museum, which has the history of Russia.
about visiting Russia, one thing you really have to say is: donโt prejudge Russia. Whatever you hear in the news, and all these kinds of stuff. Thereโre so many people and media out there saying bad stuff about Russia. Donโt believe and judge for yourself!
It is a wonderful place to visit so donโt be influenced by that stuff. Come explore for yourself.
You really want to go and explore this beautiful country, Moscow to be precise!
Also, another thing you should be careful about is: do not lose - donโt lose! - your registration card. When you come into Russia, theyโre going to give you like an immigration card theyโll fill out. You need that when you leave. If you donโt have that it can cause some trouble. So, make sure you donโt forget it. Donโt think โOh, itโs just a piece of paper, whatever!โ Donโt forget it, okay!
Moscow is expensive. Whether itโs the visas, the hotels, restaurants, stuff like that, you will spend a lot as a foreigner here. And kind-of going along with that is: donโt get upset if you see two different prices and you as the traveler have to pay a higher price, because some museums in places actually have two set of prices, one for locals and one for foreigners. So donโt get upset by it, but just realize that sometimes you are going to pay more and donโt try to weasel your way out of it, coz they know if youโre a local or not. Donโt f@#k with the cops or any kind of the government officials when you are in Moscow. donโt stare at the cops, donโt take pictures of the cops, donโt ask them things because they have to help you, you donโt want to give them a reason to ask for your documents and stuff like that, okay, so just donโt mess with the police when you are there.
Visit All the Churches! Churches? Oh wellโฆ its churches, whatever!โ Man, come into the Russian Orthodox churches with the icons, the gold, the silver, and everything, it just blows your mind, whether youโre going to Saint Basilโs or the โspilled bloodโ church here, I mean, thereโs so many amazing churches throughout the country. Donโt skip those, but also donโt wear a hat when youโre there. But if you are a woman: do cover your head, because, itโs an orthodox country, theyโre conservative, so you want to show respect for that.
Russians are badass cold-hearted people who drink Vodka and eat bears! Donโt assume the Russians are cold-hearted kind of people. If you get to know Russians, they really warm up to you. I mean, I canโt tell you how many times I heard from friends how โBabushkasโ have taken them in and made them their cabbage rolls, donโt be scared of that language as well.
Learn some of their culture and even their superstitions! it really opens up the people, donโt shake hands over the threshold, donโt give flowers in even numbers, just so, you know, it makes things a little bit better.
Weird, I know. But this is Russia!