From Russia, with love

Next stop on my journey around that world was Moscow, capital and most populous city in Russia.

The first surprise came in pretty fast and it was not the good one. First, my internet was very spotty so Uber app would not work. I also tried Gett app, since that’s what Google Maps suggested but it would not work as well. I tried to find the cab, but the cabby was pretty shady, insisting that I pay in advance more than six times what apps predicted the price would be. Fortunately, my app started working so I did not have to take the offer of “manager for all the cabs at the airport”.

I was staying in Sovietsky Legendary Hotel, which was really close to downtown - just an hour walk of 15 minute drive from the Kremlin. Hotel was built in early fifties and it was built to be glorious, but it looks like it was not maintained properly lately. It gives out the feeling of “impoverished noble” wherever you look. There is white marble everywhere and expensive artwork, but wooden furniture in rooms could use re-finishing. There is harpist playing live during every meal, but they do prepare meals cheaply, closer to student cafeteria than to extraordinary hotel that one would expect from first impressions. Rooms are pretty large and staff is very polite.

I was in Moscow for about three days and I feel like I didn’t even scratch the surface. There are so many museums and churches to see just within walking distance of Kremlin that I didn’t actually get to see much else. Sadly, in most of museums photography is strictly prohibited so I do not have photos other than organic ones - memories in my head. Even just walking through and around Kremlin is worthy experience, as there are pieces that normally belong in the museum just lying around everywhere - Tzar bell and cannon to name a few.

Probably the most memorable item from galore of displayed items was a Bible cover made of solid gold. It was gifted to one Emperor or another and very large, decorated with precious stones all around. I remember thinking moments after I saw it: how many people would have to carry Bible covered with this?

One of my first and last impressions of the Moscow was similar to the first one: cab drivers are shady as hell, as this one apparently did not have any money to return change.

I’ll make sure to come back to Moscow whenever I get the chance and to avoid cabs there.