Travel Tips at Sheremetyevo-Moscow

This airport can be a bit overwhelming when you arrive. One thing to really be aware of are the sharks dressed like cab drivers. These guys know enough English to get you where you want to go but for a price that would feel like a slap in the face! I've heard of guys paying 300 bucks to get into Moscow simply because they have no alternative or person to help them.

First, there is a bus to take you to other airports if you need a transfer, it's like 5 bucks to ride the bus, so look around for that.

Second, If you must take a cab, first check to see if your hotel has a shuttle (which is usually a cab company or a guy driving his personal car). This can be a lot more reasonable and safer as the hotel can arrange it.

Third, If you decide to take a cab on your own-walk out of the airport, past the sharks, and walk to the side of the street where cars turn in to the parking lot. The price down there is usually 75% lower-not bad for walking 100 feet.

Fourth, let a Russian speak for you if at all possible. Hey you just got off a plane full of them, make a friend! Cab drivers are much less likely to try and rip off a local. I personally let my girlfriend do all the talking on cab arrangements and we always paid very low fares. She warned me if they heard me speak English or thought I was American the price would double. Maybe not true always but good to know!

The cabs in Moscow are usually clean and well maintained so enjoy your ride!

Poka...

Red Square

After a long walk to the subway and a few quick changes in the stations my girlfriend and I emerged onto a busy street at the center of Moscow. We walked past a few shops and souveneir stands and then I saw a large brick building where people were entering. It was the Kremlin. Wow, so that's the famous Kremlin, I thought. I always thought of the Kremlin or Kreml as Russians call it, to be a government fortress full of spies and government agents. I couldn't have been more wrong.
As we purchased our tickets, we walked across Red Square toward the entrance.
I have to say that Red Square is quite inspiring just from the history it represents. I saw so many black and white movies of Soviet Soldiers stepping sharply on this football field sized arena. It looked much bigger on TV. Still it was humbling to think how much has changed, and how an American could freely walk and tour this country now with no cause for concern or fear.

We entered the Kreml and there I saw what it was all about. Churches, everywhere, one next to another. This is where a town drew it's strength in the olden days. Churches were the center of the town, and the more they had the closer they were to becoming a city. I think it took 33 churches for a town to be elevated to "city" status.

The cathedrals are inspiring to put it mildly. I was told Russians were all atheists...um, that's so wrong! These churches are not the work or heritage of atheists. Granted, communism and the Soviet Empire banned religion, and many churches were destroyed during that dark time. But the remaining buildings are spectacular. Russians are mostly Orthodox in their beliefs, although some Catholic and Muslims also inhabit the culture.

We walked into each Church and admired the paintings on the walls, the tombs of buried royalty and many other treasures justifiably protected in the Kreml walls. The governmental fortress I expected was nothing like I imagined. It's true the President of Russia does reside their in a large building off to the side, but it's almost ignored compared to the historical landmarks you will encounter.

It took weeks to absorb all I saw in my brief time inside the Kreml. Each time I look at the pictures that were taken, I am reminded how awesome it was to walk around in that incredible place at the heart of Russian Culture.

Welcome to the Hotel Orlyonok

I admit struggling to pronounce this Hotel's name correctly, it means young eagle in Russian I think-a name used for the young pioneers back in Soviet days, but of course that time is long gone. This hotel is in a great location, next to a park, Moscow State University and the nicest view in Moscow. They even have a casino on the first floor, how cool!

We checked in, yes the lady at the desk spoke English, and we received our electronic keys. How cool is this, when you open the door, you have to put your key in this place holder just inside the door, this turns on the electricity for the room. It's a pretty high tech feature I thought-well until all the diet coke got warm one day-the refrigerator really should be exempt from this thing!

It's a good idea to know your number s in Russian cause it comes in handy throughout the day. Dialing phone numbers, being asked what your room number is or which floor in the elevator. The strange thing is, I would say our room number when we would sit down for breakfast, and they would just stare as if...what was that? Are you TRYING to speak in Russian?...then they would look at my girlfriend and she would say the same thing I did, I swear the exact same thing, no fancy dialects, and then they would nod..like..ohhhh well why didn't he say it that way?

It's the same here in America, people often lean forward as if they cant hear her when she talks, and I say the same thing and pow they understand. I think the slight accents throw people until they get to know you a bit.

So we settled in and then went for a walk around the park. Here was something kind of cool. We walk down this sidewalk along a busy street...and there are some items laying just off in the grass. It looked like a mans shirt, maybe some keys and a wallet. Wow kinda personal stuff to be laying there and no one around. I asked what that might be, and my girlfriend explained...ok, this is probably someone's stuff who got robbed.

What?! I was in shock. I looked around for a police officer as if to motion and say..hey, here is someone’s stuff, maybe you are looking for it, or him or whatever??? Well guess what-bad idea! In Russia this would have landed me in jail as suspect number 1. Why did you call the police? Did you know the man who was robbed? etc.
I guess they see someone acting like a good Samaritan they suspect you are trying to cover up your deeds instead. Um. good tip for those preparing to travel-mind your own business when it comes to finding stuff on the street!

I thought that was just so strange, and saw that same shirt and items lay there the entire week we were in Moscow, crazy huh? Look a wallet...don't touch it!!

The next morning we went to see the Kremlin...more on that in my next blog.

My First Trip To Russia

The first thing I remember when landing at SVO in Moscow was the Aeroflot airplanes everywhere. The logo is of course in Russian and its right about then that I realized-hey they don't use English much here. Yes, it seems obvious, but when you are an amateur at reading Russian-a language and alphabet very different from English-this is a big deal! At that point it was cool, charming, exciting. I'm in a foreign country--I just flew around the world and here I am!

Finally the door opens and I could head down the walkway, unsure where I would go after that. I had pictured a hustling and busy airport with lots of confused signs and people going everywhere...instead it was quite the opposite. We seemed to be the only plane landing. I later found out that we were in the pre-border area, and the busy crowds were on the other side of the walls.

This area of the airport favors a prison, dark grey walls, yellow stripes and warnings everywhere. It’s not what you expect for such a main artery into Russia, but it’s just a passage way, nothing to base your impression of the country on.

A lady said something unrecognizable in Russian, opened a glass door and off everyone went in that direction. I figured I would follow, and soon we came to a staircase, leading down to a lower level. Once there people were scrambling for pencils and pens to fill out their entry form. No this isn't customs; it's the "Border".

The line was very long and slow, I met everyone around me and we were all as confused as could be. There are no guides or instructions at this point; you simply have to figure things out. If you have a question, you'll have to wait in line and hopefully not have to go back to the end for not having whatever they want.

A female guard or border agent-not sure of their title, walked by and opened another booth. Um, it's true about Russian Women by the way-they are gorgeous by default. She looked very fashionable in her uniform to say the least.

Finally I made it to the booth, it took about an hour+, I said hello in Russian, Privet, and she didn't even look up. Oh, ok.... She stamped my passport and visa and slid the documents back to me. I was done.

Now on to Customs! I thought it might be worse in customs, longer waits, lots of questions over my sexy boxer shorts or some giant Russian named Igor wanting to conduct a cavity search, but actually it was brief and easy. They just want to know one thing, got any property or cash over 10k? If not, pick up your bags off the floor and go!

I made my way through the turnstiles and I was done, I met my girlfriend in the crowd and we were soon traveling down the road toward Moscow!