Moscow

We were told that Moscow is only good for vodka and prostitutes; unfortunately I can only vouch for the vodka.



Our 'sleeper' train from St Petersburg arrived at 5am, so there was some relief that they remembered to send a driver. Our hotel was “conveniently” located several miles from the centre of town, and the other side of a dodgy market from the metro station. At least we managed some sleep before our 10am walking tour. This was a three-and-a-half walking/metro marathon tour of the main sights in ever rising humidity. As both Kirsten and I had been to the Kremlin before, and we didn't fancy queuing for two hours to see a waxy corpse (aka Lenin), we did what many middle class Muscovites do, and took our sorry arses to the air-conditioned spender of the European mall. We bought fresh underwear from M&S (I've never been so pleased to be buying pants), and then paid over the odds for a new camera for me.


A quick metro ride took us to one of the main restaurant streets, where after careful consideration, we dined at Hard Rock Cafe, before embarking on the long journey home. I pointed out to Kirsten that the market was no more dangerous than Whitechapel, and she pointed out that that didn't make her feel safe.


We began the second day in a sculpture park, where many of the statues and busts of soviet leaders that once adored town squares, have now been dumped. Next door is Gorky Park – Moscow's answer to Alton Towers. All I can say is the Mount Rushmore ghost train was not worth four quid.


After a Marylebone High Street priced late lunch, we headed to Vorobyevy Gory, which after a pleasant walk up through the woods brings you out next to a ski jump for a fantastic view over the city. There's also one of Stalin's seven skyscrapers up there, looming like the love child of an, um, evil dictator.


Moscow didn't seem any less safe than London, and the metro is easy enough to use. There are a lot of police around, so we (perhaps a bit paranoid) tried to give them a wide berth and not talk in their earshot, to avoid any special fines.








Kirsten's Flashpacker Review
Hotel Irbis (www.moscow-hotel.ru/eng/irbis.php) - Very poorly located hotel, about 10 minutes from metro the other side of a railway line and a dodgy market. Other than that the rooms are typical of a midrange modern hotel. There was a decent breakfast, but be warned they clear it up very promptly at 10am. I would recommend trying to find somewhere more centrally located if your budget allows.