Moscow, Russia

 

The capital of Russia, this is a popular tourist city. The city has much to offer and plenty to do. Russia's earliest roots are in Moscow: the Kremlin still shows off the splendour of Muscovy's grand princes and St Basil's Cathedral still recounts the defeat of the Tatars. Moscow also recalls Russia's more recent past, still fresh in our memories. On Red Square, the founder of the Soviet state lies embalmed. And only a few kilometres away, a future leader rallied outside the White House, leading to the demise of the same state.

 

Moscow continues to make history. It is unfolding on every street corner, as Muscovites move into the 21st century, embracing the global culture of the modern era. With the same purposeful optimism that their predecessors looked 'forward to communism!', Muscovites today are looking forward to the opportunities promised by the New Russia. They are breaking down the barriers of generations past - political boundaries, cultural taboos and ideological stricture - and exploring the possibilities of consumerism, creativity and career.

 

Moscow is the epicentre of New Russia and everything that it represents. It boasts commerce and culture that most provincial Russians can only dream about. Plagued by soaring prices and riddled with corruption, it also epitomises the seamier side of postcommunist Russia. Nowhere are Russia's contrasts more apparent than in Moscow: ancient monasteries and ultramodern monoliths stand side by side, and New Russian millionaires and poverty-stricken pensioners walk the same streets.

 

The city is magnificent in late spring (May or June) and early autumn (September or October), when the city's parks are filled with flowering trees or colourful leaves. Moscow is spruced up for the May holidays and City Day, both festive times in the capital. But if you want to delve deep into the Russian soul, come in winter, when snow, cold and darkness muffle the modern noise.

 

Any time of year, Moscow evokes wonder. Even today, you will appreciate the words penned by Pushkin almost 200 years ago in Eugene (Yevgeny) Onegin: 'Already gleaming/before their eyes they see unfold/the towers of whitestone Moscow beaming/with fire from every cross of gold./Friends, how my heart would leap with pleasure/when suddenly I saw this treasure/of spires and belfries, in a cup/with parks and mansions, open up.'

 

PICTURES

 

 

 

 

 

 

Travel Info

 

1 week Hotel Stay at Hotel Cosmos (4 Star Hotel): standard room-$819.36

 

Round-Trip flight for 1: $908

 

Please note: For prices I am choosing dates that are exactly one week apart and only one week from today's date. The flight cost is what it would take from Kansas City International Airport to the destination.

Banders, Please Note:

 

Voting in this thread will count towards posting in an activity thread for points gained through the roll call. However, in order for that to qualify, you need to post that you voted. Otherwise you won't get the recognition or the ORG points via the roll call.

 

Jeannaisais

Under Commander

Band of the Red Hand

That actually isn't bad... but I am voting stay at home. Moscow is a destination that I would REALLY like to go to, but unless I were rich, I would only go to it if traveling to Europe already-- I just have too many European destinations that are a higher priority.

stay at home its too cold there

It's Russia, a country I really want to visit, so I would definitely break the banks!  ;D

 

Oh, and this is a gentle bump! ;)

Moscow is a city I definitly will visit at some point, even if it is not on my top10 list.

I would stay at home.  I've been to Moscow, and while it was a great experience, I wouldn't break the bank to visit there again.  I'd rather break the bank and go somewhere else.

Likewise, if I were to attempt the expense of a trip across the pond, I would probably try to bunch more locations together. 

And I, personally, would also stay at home (and I wonder why I didn't post that long ago...strange)

I would not break the bank to go to Moscow.  There too many other priority visits I would like to make on the other side of the world, so I guess for this one, I'll stay home :)

*bump*