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A Moscow Survival Guide 2008

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A Moscow Survival Guide 2008 A Moscow Survival Guide 2008 for students and short term residents Created by ANO Pericles, Moscow © Pericles International, 1997 11th Edition © ANO Pericles, 2008. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means other than by the written permission of the copyright holder. However, you are welcome to link to this page without seeking prior permission. This Survival Guide was most recently edited March 2008. Please be aware that political, economic and bureaucratic changes in Russia occur frequently. Although ANO Pericles strives to keep its information up to date, we do not warrant the accuracy of any information contained herein. None of the advice herein is intended to be legal advice, nor to be relied upon in lieu of contacting legal counsel. None of the firms mentioned or recommended herein are affiliated with ANO Pericles, and we do not warrant the quality or availability of their service on any particular matter. To inform Pericles of changes or inaccuracies, or to obtain further information, please contact us at one of the addresses below. ANO PERICLES PERICLES AMERICAN BUSINESS & LEGAL EDUCATION PROJECT PHONE (7-495) 649-2273 E-MAIL: [email protected] WWW.PERICLES.RU INTERNATIONAL MAIL: C/O IPS BOX 210 511 AVE. OF THE AMERICAS PMB 572 N.Y., N.Y. 10011-8436 Table of Contents Introduction to a Successful Visit ........................................................................................... 3 Preparing for Your Trip.......................................................................................................... 5 Visas....................................................................................................................................... 5 Visa Agencies ........................................................................................................................ 7 Arranging Hotels.................................................................................................................. 9 Things to Bring................................................................................................................... 11 Things NOT to Bring ......................................................................................................... 14 Money .................................................................................................................................. 15 –CURRENCY EXCHANGES......................................................................................... 17 –CASH MACHINES....................................................................................................... 17 –TRAVELERS’ CHECKS (Don’t Bother)..................................................................... 19 –BANKS & WIRE TRANSFERS ................................................................................... 19 Arrival Formalities................................................................................................................. 21 Passport Control ................................................................................................................... 21 Clearing Customs ............................................................................................................... 22 Sheremetyevo II Airport.................................................................................................... 24 Domodedovo Airport ......................................................................................................... 27 Checking into a Hotel......................................................................................................... 28 Visa Registration.................................................................................................................. 29 Your Visit Itself ...................................................................................................................... 31 Identification....................................................................................................................... 31 Water--–Hot and Cold and Sometimes Drinkable.......................................................... 32 Apartment Hunting............................................................................................................ 34 Getting Around the City.................................................................................................... 37 Getting Outside the City.................................................................................................... 40 Finding Things.................................................................................................................... 41 English Language Reading Materials .............................................................................. 42 Keeping in Touch ............................................................................................................... 43 -MAIL .............................................................................................................................. 43 –E-MAIL/WEB................................................................................................................ 44 –LONG DISTANCE........................................................................................................ 45 –LOCAL CALLS ............................................................................................................. 46 --CELL PHONES............................................................................................................ 47 Food ..................................................................................................................................... 49 Bars...................................................................................................................................... 55 Health Clubs & Fitness Centers........................................................................................ 58 Religion................................................................................................................................ 59 Shopping.............................................................................................................................. 61 Dry Cleaning....................................................................................................................... 63 Weather............................................................................................................................... 63 Dispelling Some Common Mythology .................................................................................. 65 Crime and Safety................................................................................................................ 65 Disease and Medicine......................................................................................................... 66 Departure Formalities............................................................................................................ 67 Conclusion............................................................................................................................... 68 Introduction to a Successful Visit The first thing to learn about Russia is that there are no bears walking down the streets of Moscow. Whether or not there are bears in the Kremlin is beyond the scope of this guide. That being said, not a whole lot else about Russia is ever certain. Visiting Russia for the first time can be both exhilarating and frustrating. By the time you are ready to board the plane you will have probably been told stories about visits to the country from half of your friends and relatives, probably relayed from half their friends and relatives. You will find that some of these stories are as crazy as finding bears walking down the Moscow streets, while others have a grain of truth. Hardly any Westerner is neutral about Russia. Some are convinced that Russians are warm, giving people, willing to welcome Americans into their homes with food, drink and deep conversation. Others are sure that all the Russian women wear high heels and too much lipstick and are waiting to lure in men with foreign passports, while all the men are modern Mafiosi. Although you may realize that both pictures are a little slanted, the Western media still isn’t very interested in showing current events in Russia in the kindest light. So in short, you probably don’t know what to expect. The truth is that the opinion you come away with depends on you, your expectations, and the people you meet. Whether you find Russian people to be oil-barron capitalists, Pushkin-loving poets, scoffing nationalists, bureaucratic communists, or folks who watch The Sopranos for business tips, depends on with whom you choose to associate. If you try, you can find all those types of people here, but, more often, you will find people who don’t fit any of these stereotypes. On the main streets of downtown Moscow you can shop at Escada, or you can go to the suburbs and visit a big shopping mall, while 10 minutes away people can still buy their staples from street traders in makeshift kiosks. Some Westerners find it easy to adjust to Russia’s complexities, and others throw up their hands in frustration at dealing with a cultural, political and economic system that only native Russians can truly seem to manage. So how do you become one of those with a successful visit and happy remembrances? First, don’t take as gospel everything you have heard about Russia from casual visitors
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