Freezing? Yes. Even in May.

Red Square is the heart of Russia, but being there does not mean you have seen Russia. I think it’s better to see all the other places in this vast country and then finish your trip here, at the Red Square. Then you would have a different experience for sure!

I like Moscow first of all because it’s a 24h city, there’s something open at any time of the day or night. I like Moscow street food, like “Teremok” (crepes) and “Kartoshka” (baked potatoes). To me it tastes by far better than hot dogs or hamburgers. This is a huge city, busy and congested, I wonder how do people put up with waiting in traffic. I would definitely recommend taking the Airport Express trains from any airport in Moscow instead of driving. Sometimes it can take up to 3-4 h to get to the center, no joke, especially from Domodedovo.

That is Bolshoi Theater on a winter morning. Nights are long in winter, at 7 – 8 am the light bulbs are still ablaze. It is a challenge to wake up, uff!

The country’s zero kilometer is just outside of the Red Square.

You can meet up some historic figures in the zero kilometer area. They look pretty much like their characters. I’ve met some Lenins, some tsars and some Pushkins every time I was passing by!

Maybe the Russian folklore statues nearby the Kremlin Park will make you curious about Russian fairy tales…

Do you know the story of the golden fish?

I’m guessing that you must have heard of Onegin, the Evgeny, and this is Evgeny’s author, Pushkin. Many places in Moscow are named after famous writers.

   

Kazan Cathedral on the Red Square

Red Square in summer

And some winter magic … In Moscow it can happen to snow too early in autumn, but also long after the winter is gone, in April. With the first snow in late October everybody would be happy and joyful, as they must have missed it since last winter … but in April nobody would be amused anymore, waiting for that summer forrrrrever.

The Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed on Red Square contains some of the very unique expositions in the upper level museum.

     

State History Museum on the Red Square

    

   

“Na Varvarke”

The big mall on the Red Square/ Some tulips on Prospekt Mira

    

Some lil shopping …. Next thing she did was hailing that car. In Moscow it is pretty common to hail any car as a taxi, it’s not hitchhiking, as you would have to pay for the ride.

Moscow never sleeps! You might find it expensive and posh, communist and provincial, yeah, up and down controversial. People would seem rude and straightforward, but they might turn out to be your best friend after some shots. Vodka is there to break the ice. Russians don’t have those easygoing social skills which you grew up with so naturally. So do accept the invitation, they just want to know you better!