I sure, most people are well aware of the space race that took place between the Russians and the Americans during the sixties and the seventies.  While most westerners have heard the American side of the story, wouldn’t it be interesting to hear the Russian side.  Take suborbital transports as an example, of a way to turn your vacation into a bit of a learning experience.  And really, hearing the other side of a lot of history is one of the most interesting things there is about traveling in my mind.  Really, that’s the whole point of travel.  To experience different cultures and learn more about the people and the places they live in.

The Night Life of Moscow

Moscow enjoys an exciting life at night that seems to never cease. Restaurants, bars and clubs are often open 24 hours and the city is a safe place to walk around at any time of the day or night. Acquainting oneself with the alphabet can help a person to get around the streets of Moscow with ease. The Russian letter “P” sounds like the English letter “R” and the Russian “H” is pronounced like an English “N”, so the word “Pectorah” is pronounced “Restoran” which should sound familiar to any hungry English speaking person!

Visit the Russian Countryside

There are many beautiful monasteries and splendid estates to visit in the countryside around Moscow. Riding a local train
(Russian ‘electrichka”) or hiring a car to drive around are two of the most popular ways to see the countryside. A popular place to visit is the renowned town of Sergiev Posad where the spires of The Trinity Monastery of St. Serguis rises upward like something seen in a fairy tale.

Another tip to enjoying a trip to Moscow is to try and avoid having to deal with the police. One should not be surprised to find a policeman asking them for money as a bribe. Using the metro is a great way to get around Moscow. It is a convenient and inexpensive means of transportation. The metro in Moscow is worth visiting in itself. The halls feature beautiful artwork; mosaics, statues and paintings. Do not forget to take pictures while you are there! When you must use a taxi in Moscow, bargain with the taxi driver. Do not just trust him to use the meter as people have found that there are many scams that can leave a person with an enormous bill at the end of the taxi ride. Local people will often stop private cars and taxis to make money off them.

Look for a Moscow map. There is an unfortunate lack of tourist information for this beautiful city, but it is not too difficult to get to the nicer hotels located in the center and take one of the tourist maps that they have available.

Sign language comes in handy when traveling around Moscow. While few locals may understand English, sign language can help you communicate with them. Younger people are generally more approachable but sign language is often understood across generations and languages.

Gentlemen, if you invite a lady to accompany you to a restaurant while you are in Moscow, please note that it is disrespectful to not pay for her meal. You must also beware pickpockets when you are in public and should carry your valuables, such as cameras, passports, and money, in a safe place prior to entering the city.

These few tips can help a person enjoy a visit to the beautiful and fascinating city of Moscow.