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Moscow � Russia

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Food & Water  Russia now has normal food stores with buggies and cashiers, with a good selection of food to choose from. Russia now also has many nice cafe's to have a bite to eat and  prices are reasonable, even cheap in comparison to the prices in US and food is good usually.

Russian's love Ice Cream and it can be purchased just about on every street corner no matter what time of year. Most Russian ice-cream is good.

Healthcare You can take some usual medicines with you as you would take on any trip. Nowadays you can find in Moscow plenty of European service drugstores which sell same good quality medicines as anywhere else in the world.

Homeless & Panhandlers are very abundant in Russia and it can be a little despairing at times to see this (mostly in the Metro). It is up to your discretion what you give if any, be  warned there are professional panhandlers who are too lazy to work and find it easier to take money from tourists, or some other bleeding heart. You will see the one's who are in real need, the war veteran's with no legs, the very old who get no pensions etc., etc. Remember, if you give something the majority head to the nearest liquor Kiosk and spend it on cheap Vodka. But many are in true need, you even see young soldiers asking for money now, as they are paid so little, when they are paid. Watch out for the Gypsies, they are everywhere and not to be trusted at anytime, stay away from them.
 
Hospitals  In Moscow there are three Hospitals that have assistance for foreigner's. They are the American Medical Center (Tel: 095-251-9799) and the International Medical Clinic and the European Medical Center. They have medical supplies, good doctors  and up to Western standards and yes they take Visa / Credit Cards.

Markets / Shopping can be an interesting experience in Russia. They have markets for old used stuff, food markets, clothing markets, record markets, computer software markets and so on. One market of good interest is the Exhibition of Economic Achievements of the USSR (Metro:VDNCh), it has a large market inside of electronic equipment, cars, new age items, etc.; and the Park it self is very large and beautiful, with huge gold fountains (that actually work, most fountains in Russia have long since been turned off), a must see in Moscow. Another must see in Moscow is Izmalovski Park (Metro: Izmalovskaya), it has a market there just made for tourists, and it will take you all day to see it. 

But be warned most items you purchase there can not be taken from the country as they are considered antique or made before 1945. Don't be fooled into purchasing some antique unless you don't plan  to claim it with Customs. But if Customs finds it, they will just take it away if you claim ignorance, Hopefully!

Best days to go to Izmalovski Park is on Saturday and Sunday, on weekdays there is much less to see and buy.

If you want the Russian Shopping Mall experience then head to the Moscow GUM department store next to Red Square, there is lots inside but most Russians can't afford what they sell, and very little merchandise inside for sale is from Russia. Or you can go to New Arbat St. (Metro:Arbatskaya) which has numerous large shops with lots of interesting stuff, lots of Russian items for sale. In Moscow by the entrance to Red Square there is now a new underground mall, but it is strictly high end merchandise, very expensive!!

If you are looking for a good souvenir, purchase a Black Lacquer box. They are the most beautiful thing you will ever see in Russia. And there are so many to choose from, the hardest part will be deciding what one to purchase or how many you can afford. Izmalovski Market is the best place in Moscow for this or in  Saint Petersburg behind the Church of the Resurrection of Christ.

There is three kinds, one is handpainted in regular paint, then some which are done in Mother of Pearl and the most expensive is hand painted in gold and sliver with great detail.

If you are looking for Soviet items, or  the Red Army or Lenin, Stalin  material go to Izmalovski  Market or Old Arbat street ( Metro: Arbatskaja), or the Museum of Revolution (Metro:Pushkinskaya), all in Moscow. If you can't find it there you won't. In Saint Petersburg try in front of the Peter & Paul Fortress or behind the Church of the Resurrection of Christ or by the Tzar's Aurora Battle Ship.

Russia now has very many normal Western style food stores, with buggies, cashiers and an excellent selection of food products.

As for cigarettes and alcohol, it is cheap and most likely  copies of the real product. Russia has no copyright protection laws. So those cheap American cigarettes were made in Russia. As for buying Russian Vodka, be sure the seal is not broken and the bottle has a Russian Government paper seal over the bottle cap. As vodka labels can be purchased in mass and then stuck on old vodka bottles with home made vodka put inside, and sold as the manufactured vodka. Purchase vodka in the larger shops, it will be the real thing, and safe to drink. But don't purchase the real cheap Vodka as some of it is very harsh to drink, Russian beer is quite good, just check for sediment in the bottom of the bottle before buying. And yes, you can drink alcohol in public!!!

Buying clothes that have designer labels in the markets are not made where they say they were. Russia's neighbor Turkey mass produces copies of designer labels and Russian merchants go there to buy them along with numerous other clothes that are copies of  Nike, Adidas etc.,  then return to Russia to sell them in the markets.

Again the same applies to buying anything, is BUYER BEWARE! If it sounds to good to be true, it is. If possible, have russian to haggle price for you.
You will end up paying much less.
 

Metro/ Subway in Moscow and Saint Petersburg is amazing. It takes you just about anywhere you could want to go, and quickly. It is in need of some air-conditioning, as it gets quite warm down there in the summer. It is cheap to use, but they no longer use the Metro tokens 

Metro has a card system.(this one is good for 10 uses for 35 Rubles) The price varies depending on which one you purchase. They are the same size as a credit card and pushed into a feeder that stamps them on recording each use. Be sure to look at the amazing architecture, marble stone works, and statues through out the Metro. Most of the Ring Stations are the ones of real beauty, with a heavy influence of Soviet Propaganda  of course. But there is no English in the Metro so use a Russian metro guide unless you can understand how to translate English to Russian for the different Metro stops. Try to get a metro map that has both Russian and English. The Moscow Metro can be very over whelming as it is so large, but after you use it a few times and understand what stop or station you want to get to, it becomes fairly easy to use. In Saint Petersburg the Metro is much smaller and easier to use, but still is very useful.  Do push on when boarding  a subway train, Just do not get angry, imagine you are pushing thru the bushes in the woods. Also it is still customary to give up your seat for elderly and women with children. Children under 5 are free.
 

Money is best in American currency and exchange to Rubles 

in small amounts ($100 US at a time). Remember it is illegal to take Rubles out of the country and you can't purchase Rubles outside the country either. You can get a higher rate of exchange if you use the Black Market, but it is best to use the Money Exchange outlets (they are everywhere). No Russian language required, just shove your passport and American Money in tray door and they will exchange it, they may ask you if you want a document noting the exchange, but it is not necessary for you to have, but it is for them.

Photography  is permitted just about everywhere except power plants and military bases. Also the police don't seem to enjoy being photographed, do it when they are not looking. At Museums taking photos is extra and video is even more expensive. You can hide your camera if it is small and not pay, but don't get caught by  the Museum

Taxis / Private Cars. Taxis can be expensive in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Be sure to discuss the price before getting in and don't get in a taxi with other people in it, unless they are tourists also. Try to share the ride with people you meet on the plane if possible. Never get out of the taxi before the driver if you have bags in the trunk.  Never pay the driver before you have your bags out of the trunk and try to have exact change.

Russia now has mini van buses that seat about 11-13 people and they only fill with people the number of seats available, cost is about two times more than the bus but much more comfortable, less stops. All buses, and mini vans are numbered, so once you know the number of the bus or mini van that gets you to where you going, it will also be the same one that gets you back to where you came from.

Children under 5 are free on all public transportation.

Telephones  no longer use tokens and you must use a phone card.

Theatre in Russia is a cultural event you should not miss. The Big Theater (Bolshoi Theater, Metro: Teatralnaya) is the best but most expensive, and Bolshoi ticketsare almost impossible to buy at the ticket booths throughout the City. You can go to the theater before the show starts and purchase from a scalper but expect to pay at least $50 US and Up. Box seats that seat 6,  regular price is only $8.00 US. Most of the other theaters are quite inexpensive, some cost as little as 25 cents. All Russian theatres are good and worth seeing, as are the ballets. They don't allow photography or video in most theaters so be discreet and use high speed film and no flash.

Tipping  is generally not done in Russia or required, although my  American neighbors seem to have brought this to the attention of the Russian hospitality industry. Only tip in the American style Hotels and Restaurants in the Moscow, and Saint Petersburg area. Don't tip if the service is unsatisfactory.

HELPFUL WEBPAGES:

Russian Federation Consulate Locator

Russian Federation Embassy Washington DC, USA

Kremlin cam

Russia Yellow Pages