Today we offer some experiences in Moscow, from our trip in 2006. We started with a flight from Stockholm to Moscow, and then we continued with the Trans-Siberian railway through Russia, to Mongolia and China. It will be a series of these I think... But as I said, we start in Moscow!
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Backpackers in posh hotel
We were equipped with two backpacks each, like two backpackers, when we landed in Moscow in the middle of summer 2006. We were travelling by train throughout Russia and needed to be able to carry our luggage! "Are you a punk rocker?" asked the taxi driver when he saw Peter's jewellery. Maybe that kind of jewellery was not so common on a man in Russia?
Possibly backpacks were not common as the only luggage in the magnificent Hotel Ukraina either. The hotel staff looked a little disappointed when they didn't get a bag to drive in their shiny gold trolleys ...
Red Square and Vasily Cathedral
We had of course planned some time for experiences in Moscow, before we would travel on. Red Square is perhaps one of the most famous places in Moscow and in 1991 the square was also designated by UNESCO as a world heritage site, so of course we wanted to go here.
Why is it called Red Square? Actually, it has nothing to do with the red buildings on the square or with communism. Long ago, the Russian word for red was also the word for 'beautiful', so this was originally the 'beautiful square'. Red Square is also home to the beautiful Vasily Cathedral, built in the 16th century on the orders of Ivan the Terrible.
Metro in Moscow
If we are to say one thing that must see in Moscow, it's actually the metro. We've seen some beautiful castles over the years, but the idea that a metro can be like a castle -... that is fascinating! You can spend many hours in the metro just looking at paintings, stuccoes and chandeliers.
The Moscow Metro consists of 206 stations built from 1930 onwards as one of the Soviet Union's most extravagant architectural projects. The stations were designed in a classicist style to spread the message of the Communist Party.
Personally, we were glad that we actually took an evening course in Russian. Learning the language takes time, of course, but learning the alphabet is affordable. And by knowing the Russian alphabet you can read the names of the stations!
Shopping and food
What else did we do during our day in Moscow? Well, we had time to look around in shops and eat sushi. All in all, we could conclude that the offer in this city was excellent, even if the prices were high.
On to Siberia!
Then it was time to get on the train that would take us to Siberia and then to Mongolia and China, i.e. the Trans-Mongolian railway. We would spend around four days on the train, before arriving in Irkutsk in Siberia. Hello adventure!
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åsa in åsele says:
Such a wonderful experience. Looking forward to reading the continuation 🙂
I like the architecture in Russia, well several of the "eastern states" have the same theme 🙂 A bit of an Eastern Disney fantasy 😀 waiting to see Aladdin come on the flying carpet....
06 February 2018 - 7:29
Helena says:
I would love to say that we saw Alladin as we continued eastwards but ... well, no. But it was exciting anyway! 🙂
06 February 2018 - 15:54
Kenneth Risberg says:
Aha, exciting. I want to read more about this. The Trans-Siberian railway is an adventure.
Moscow is not wrong either.
06 February 2018 - 8:29
Helena says:
This trip was a real adventure actually! Will be fun to look for more pictures for the next post! 🙂
06 February 2018 - 15:54
Mr Nils-Åke Hansson says:
Exciting Moscow metro was nice,
When we've been to Berlin we've used the underground, but it was mostly concrete as far as I remember.
06 February 2018 - 9:33
Helena says:
The metro in Moscow is special! 🙂
06 February 2018 - 16:04
Ama de casa says:
What an exciting journey 🙂 Fun info there that Red Square is actually Beautiful Square. But it is doubly true - the square is beautiful and red is a beautiful colour 🙂.
06 February 2018 - 10:13
Helena says:
Right? It came out a bit wrong, but kind of right anyway 😉.
06 February 2018 - 16:05
Mr Steve says:
Exciting post, I will continue to follow your journey. Also learned why Red Square is named as it is.
06 February 2018 - 10:14
Helena says:
Glad you are following Steve! This was an exciting journey! 🙂
06 February 2018 - 16:06
Ditte says:
Nice to have a day in Moscow before you leave. We have been discussing back and forth whether we should take the Transmongolian railway to Beijing this spring. Or not. We haven't quite decided yet. Are a bit torn. A comfortable compartment is quite expensive and so are some of the stops along the way. But we are going to Beijing this spring by plane or train.
We are also keen on South Africa, Antarctica, Galapagos, South Georgia and Costa Rica, though not in the same trip, but the amount of money comes into play. And flying is significantly cheaper. But then there is the experience itself along the way. But what should we choose from the other.... Difficult enough.
It will be fun to follow your journey.
06 February 2018 - 15:29
Helena says:
Wow, what a lot of exciting destinations and destinations you are considering! Can recommend the transmobgolian railway, but on the other hand, your other ideas for destinations also sound extremely exciting! It will be very interesting to see what you choose!
06 February 2018 - 16:08
Ruth in Virginia says:
Our trip to Yalta and Uzbekistan ended in Moscow.
Unfortunately, I had a stomach ache, when the group did the metro,
but husband was impressed. Also saw Lenin's tomb.
As I wrote earlier, this was a
time when Russia was struggling. In Moscow, there were long queues at
the grocery stores. We also visited GUM, the big department store;
showed long empty shelves; there was nothing to buy.
The hotel was lousy. Also - on each floor there was a (big)...
matron, who checked on us every time we came and went. You felt
under inspection everywhere. Felt a sense of relief as we flew away.
06 February 2018 - 17:14
Helena says:
Very interesting to hear about your trip Ruth! The fact that it was so poor and so empty on the shelves was very different from what we experienced. However, we recognise the "matrona" on each floor, maybe not from Russia but from Ukraine! We would probably have visited Lenin's tomb if the queue had not been so long ...
06 February 2018 - 20:22
None says:
Wow, the train looks really cosy, what a trip!
06 February 2018 - 18:35
Helena says:
The train was cosy and it was a fascinating journey!
06 February 2018 - 20:29
4000mil says:
Trans-Siberian is a journey we dream of making!
06 February 2018 - 19:36
Helena says:
Recommended! 🙂
06 February 2018 - 20:29
Lena - good for the soul says:
Never been to Moscow, but to Leningrad/St. Petersburg. Such impressive and powerful buildings. What riches!
Can very well imagine going to Moscow as well. Looking forward to the continuation of your trip!
Hug Lena
06 February 2018 - 20:03
Helena says:
St Petersburg we want to go to! 🙂 Continuation of the trip will come tomorrow ...!
06 February 2018 - 20:30
Ruth in Virginia says:
4 days on a train doesn't sound very appealing.
But at least you can walk around.
Did you meet any interesting fellow travellers to talk to?
06 February 2018 - 20:07
Helena says:
I actually think the trip was relaxing. We read, listened to music, went to the restaurant car... On this first leg we didn't meet many people actually, although we spent one evening drinking beer with the Russian train hostesses 😉 On a later leg we met a big bunch of Norwegians.
06 February 2018 - 20:32
Isabel says:
Wow, I think the Stockholm metro is nice... haha! Fun post series too! Is very hungry for the Trans-Siberian Railway so will be fun to read about your experiences.
06 February 2018 - 21:27
Helena says:
I also like the Stockholm metro, but it's hard to compete with the metro in Moscow ...! Glad you're keen on the Trans-Siberian, it's a cool trip 🙂.
07 February 2018 - 7:10
BP says:
Wonderful to join you on another interesting journey! I always thought that Stockholm's metro stations are the world's longest art exhibition. I have a feeling that it compares very favourably to Moscow's subway....
Looking very much forward to your series about Siberia, Mongolia and KIna:-) So much fun not to have to sit several days on a train;-)
PS. Russian men are quite macho and would probably never wear such cool jewellery as Peter. You could mistake him for a "punk", especially in Russia.
06 February 2018 - 21:35
Helena says:
Haha, you "avoid" the train journey itself 😉 (Although I must say I enjoyed it - great way to unwind ;)) And I think just like you when it comes to Russian men...
07 February 2018 - 7:12