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RUSSIA – Language Spoken: Russian (legit only Russian) Location: Eastern Europe
Bundle up! Bring layers and bundle, bundle, bundle if you are headed to Russia in the winter. If you like cheap flights, then you are probably going in the winter.
Let’s start with the plane ride to Russia and how much the Russians love their fake heat. I am NOT A FAN of forced heat because I’m dork who gets bloody noses from dry heat. I mean full out, look like a cocaine addict with a dripping bloody faucet out of my face. So, that being said the flight had the heat up to 1000 degrees and I only had a sweater on with no tee underneath, and no tee that was accessible without taking out my entire backpack. I guess if I was really really tortured I would have done it, but the plane was packed and I didn’t want to attempt not being able to get all my crap back in my bag because of the pressure from glaring, judging eyes. That is a backpacker’s nightmare, people staring at you while you unpack your bag – especially Russians, on a plane that is packed to the brim with people. I now remember to always wear layers on a plane and always leave a change of clothes on top of all my craziness that is easily accessible if necessary.
We arrived at Moscow and there were an abundance of taxi drivers asking to bring us to the hotel. We are experienced travelers, so we were aiight… so we thought. We saw a guy that looked like a pretty legit taxi driver with a seemingly legit tag on, so we followed him after he pointed and muttered something in Russian. He took our bags and brought us to his car. I mean I understand that Russia was once a communist country, but I didn’t realize people still had very little. This car was rundown, but whatever we both have traveled to third world countries, anything goes that works. The strangeness hit when we got into the car. It was torn, filthy and as he was driving through the enter gate and the barrier slid up the windshield he uttered, “Would you like some?” holding a thermos. He said it was good vodka and to have some. Ok, so we just left the gate through the enter to avoid paying a toll, then you are drinking vodka while driving us through the streets of snowy Moscow. It’s like what you see on the videos…. people were smashing into one another like bumper cars, but it didn’t phase them a bit. Bizarre, but I liked it. All the signs were in Russian and I couldn’t understand a thing, I felt good.
We arrived to our fancy hotel, but I couldn’t seem to hydrate myself. Seriously, I don’t think Russians like to give you water… tea but not water. Whenever a server would approach the table, he would ask if you wanted tea. NOT WATER! So, my ongoing dehydration combo between the lack of water and extreme fake heat was in full throttle the entire trip.
Russia is one of kind, especially Moscow. NO ONE will speak to you in English and rightfully so, we’re in Russia. I mean they don’t even like to pretend to speak to you in English or try…. nothing. You’re in Russia. you speak Russian. End of story. I mean between my lessons to myself in the car on audio and my friend working for Russians, we could get around pretty well without looking like total rude Americans too often. What people say about Russians in Moscow is true… they don’t smile, they don’t look at you, and I can honestly say I don’t think they liked me. They do like their cabbage and vodka though… and I did too.
The one incident that sticks in my mind is when we used the subway system, let me tell you this was the longest escalator down to the train I’ve ever experienced. We went so darn deep into the ground, my ears were popping! Then when we finally jammed ourselves into the train, there was a lady peeling potatoes doing a demonstration. I’ve seen odd things on the train, but never someone peeling potatoes. We did buy a peeler though. She apparently knew that was the spot to make the moolah or should we say rubles.
F Y I
Places Stayed:
- Moscow: Golden Apple Hotel
- St. Petersburg: 3 MostA
Places Visited: St. Basil’s Cathedral (Moscow), Red Square (Moscow), GUM (Moscow),
backpackingChick 