Dear Participants of the XXIV ESC General Assembly! Please be advised some information about the city, hotels and other useful travel information. Moscow During hundreds years Moscow has been the center of National Russian cutler. Here the most precious historical memorials are gathered: The Moscow Kremlin, New Maid Convent, Fili Church, Moscow State University, Triumph Arch, Victory Park on Poklonnaya hill. Revival Gates of the Kremlin with Iver God’s Mother Chapel, Kazan God’s Mother Icon cathedral, Christ the Savoir Cathedral have been restored and this process is going on. At present Moscow is the largest economical, political and scientific center of Russia. The basis of Moscow economy makes the richest scientific, technical and industrial potential of the city. Moscow is the cultural and scientific center of universal importance. The Russian Academy of Sciences and 90 scientific institutions are located in Moscow including 78 research institutes, and also particularized Academies of Sciences. The world-famous Moscow theatres are the Bolshoi theatre, the Maly theatre, the Arts Theater, Theatre named after Y. Vakhtangov, theatre in Taganka Street. Painting, graphic and sculpture collections of the Tretiakov gallery, Museum of Fine Arts named after A. Pushkin are able to content with collections of many famous museums of the world. There are 72 theatres, 109 cinemas, 31 concert halls, 78 museums and 142 exhibition complexes in Moscow. Moscow is the largest educational center of the country. Among 85 institutes and academies – 31 university and 19 academies including the well-known Moscow State University named after M. Lomonosov, Russian University of Peoples Friendship, Moscow State Technical University named after N. Bauman, Russian State Medical university and many others. Airport Meeting in the airports will be organized for participants of event. Here some information about Moscow airports: Moscow Domodedovo Airport is an international airport located on the territory of Domodedovo Town Under Oblast Jurisdiction, Moscow Oblast, Russia Sheremetyevo International Airport located in the Moscow Oblast, Russia, 29 km (18 mi) north-west of central Moscow. Vnukovo International Airport is a dual runway international airport located 28 kilometres (17 mi) southwest from the centre of Moscow 1 Addresses of the Hotels 1. Hotel «Renaissance», (18/1 Olympiyskiy Prospekt) Nearest Metro station – «Prospect Mira», 5-10 minutes by foot. 2. Hotel «Slavyanka», (2 bld. 3 Suvorovskaya square) Nearest metro stations – «Prospect Mira», 5 minutes by tram #7 or by minibus taxi #7, metro stations «Dostoevskaya»: 3 minutes by foot. How do you get center of Moscow? The heart of Мoscow is Red Square. If you want to go there by public transport you should reach metro station “Ploshchad Revolutsii”. This is the main part of Moscow, where you can find a lot of sights, such as: Kremlin, Armoury Chamber, Diamond Fund, Alexandrovskiy Garden and so on. You can find on Red Square lots of souvenirs shops and shopping centers like “Tsum”, “Gum”, “Okhotnyy Ryad”. Please see information how you can get the Red Square from your hotel. 1. Hotel «Renaissance» You should get metro station “Prospect Mira”, 5-10 minutes by foot. Then go to the station “Turgenevskaya” (2 stops), change station to “Chistye Prydy” and go to station “Okhotnyy Ryad” (2 stops). 2. Hotel «Slavyanka» You should get metro station “Prospect Mira”, by tram #7 or by minibus taxi #7. Then go to the station “Turgenevskaya” (2 stops), change station to “Chistye Prydy” and go to station “Okhotnyy Ryad” (2 stops). Or you can get metro station “Dostoevskaya”, 3 minutes by foot. Then go to the station “Sretenskiy Bul`var” (2 stops), change station to “Chistye Prydy” and go to station “Okhotnyy Ryad” (2 stops). 2 Travel info meeting for accompanying persons Office of organization committee will be in the conference hall “Aldan” on 4th floor of «Renaissance». Security 1. As with most other major cities in the world, avoid traveling alone at night, and do not get into altercations with drunks. If traveling at night, it is recommended to stay on the main sidewalks and avoid any dark alleys or yards. 2. When walking in the City please look for use underground passes wherever possible and be careful when crossing streets. 3. You will be absolutely in safe if you follow the obvious precautions: do not carry more cash than necessary and try not to display large sums in public places, keep large sums in a money belt or sealable inner pocket, keep credit cards separately, and don't carry valuables in a backpack or easily opened bag. 4. Russian policemen have the right to check your passport, visa and migration card at anytime. Please carry them around at all times. Public transportation The network of public transportation in Moscow is quite extensive. The resources of public transportation are quite over-stretched, and most public transport is not particularly user-friendly. Nonetheless, the metro is a very reliable and cost-effective way of medium and long-distance transportation. It is also good for journeys within the downtown area. For the shorter trips you are more likely to use trams, buses and trolleybuses, or taxis. METRO The Moscow Metro is a rapid transit system serving Moscow and the neighbouring Moscow Oblast towns of Krasnogorsk and Reutov. Opened in 1935 with one 11-kilometre (6.8 mi) line and 13 stations, it was the first underground railway system in the Soviet Union. As of 2013, the Moscow Metro has 188 stations and its route length is 312.9 km. The system is mostly underground, with the deepest section 84 metres (276 ft) at the Park Pobedy station. The Moscow Metro is the world's fourth most heavily used rapid transit system after Tokyo subway, Seoul Metropolitan Subway and Beijing Metro. Note the changes in the metro opening times: the Moscow Metro is open from about 5:30 am and until 1:00 am. The precise opening time varies at different stations according to the arrival of the first train, but all stations simultaneously close their entrances at 01:00 for maintenance. The minimum interval between trains is 90 seconds during the morning and evening rush hours. On the circle line rush hour interval has been further reduced down to 65 seconds in 2012. To enter the metro you should buy a card in the ticket office. Such card cost 30 rubles for a ride. You can be purchased at special counters or booths located at every station. These booths also sell monthly metro passes and passes which allow you to use all forms of public transport. 3 On 2 April 2013 Moscow Transport Department introduced smart card based transport electronic wallet called Troika. There are also three more smart cards has been launched - Ediniy card, a universal card for all city-owned public transport operated by Mosgortrans and Moscow Metro, 90 minutes card, an unlimited 90-minute card and TAT card for surface public transport operated by Mosgortrans. To enter the metro do the following: place your card on the special place on the entry gate (with your right hand), wait until you see green light, then walk through. TRAM Tram stops are marked with signs above the tracks (with a letter "T" on them). You should pay in cash to a driver, unless you have a monthly pass, and go through the entry gate. Entry realize through the first door. BUS The bus network of Moscow is extensive, but can be a bit confusing for a foreigner. Bus stops are marked by signs with the letter "A". TROLLEYBUS Trolleybus stops are marked with signs letter "T". Pay in cash for your ticket to the driver and go through the entry gate. MARSHRUTKA A «marshrutka» or «marshrutnoe taksi» is a privately owned minivan or small bus that follows a fixed route, collecting and depositing passengers anywhere along the way. Anyone who has traveled in the Middle East or Asia will be familiar with the concept, although they are particularly widespread in Russian cities. The most common are yellow or white Gazelle vans - a Russian knock-off of a Ford Transit - that seat up to fifteen passengers. Route numbers, usually prefixed with the letter 'K', are prominently displayed on the front and side of the bus, often alongside the most important stops along the route. To stop a «marshrutka» for boarding, stick out your arm in the same way as you would to stop a taxi. The driver is unlikely to stop even at official bus stops unless flagged down. There is no standing room on the typical «marshrutka», and most drivers wait until their vehicle is full before setting out, so don't be surprised if one or two pass you by before you get a seat. It is the norm to pay as soon as you have entered, passing money to the driver through the passengers in front of you. For this reason, it is best to avoid the seats at the very front of the cabin, otherwise you will find yourself passing money backwards and forwards throughout your journey. Unless you are traveling to the end of the route, you will need to request the driver to stop at your destination. If you have the language skills, then explain exactly where you wish to be dropped. Otherwise, just shout "as-to-na-VI-tye, pa-ZHA-lu- i-sta" - "stop, please!" - when your stop comes into view. TAXI Moscow does not have as many taxis as New York or London, but there are still plenty of taxis in the street. Perhaps to confuse you, taxis are marked in a very diverse fashion. Here is how you can identify a taxi: some taxis are painted bright yellow some taxis have an orange checkered light on the roof some taxis have green lights in the upper-left corner of windshield and the light is on when the cab is available the more expensive taxis might have yellow "taksi" signs on the roof.