travel to moscow

[drboombender]

Im not new here, but my account had not been used for a few years.
Some of you may remember my screen name as cranehand.
We are going on 5 yrs married and have 2 beautiful daughters 3yo and 6mo
Katrina and Lydia
My life is full.
My mother in lawwill be making her first tripto visit us for mar, apr and may.
While she(mil) is here we want to go and visit a longtime friend of my wifes living in moscow.
Has anyone here traveled there recently, i see a travel advisory on us state department site.
Was wondering what the atmosphere is like there at the moment.
Media will say tentions are high between us and russia, but i will take feet on the ground info over lamestream media any day.

Btw, im Texan and she is Ukrainian.
Any info would be greatly appreciated.

[Doll]

There is no tension. Get the tickets and go.
I was there in summer. I am Russian but have the US citizenship and used my American travel passport.
I didn't  see or hear anything  "anti-American"

[Anotherkiwi]

There is no tension. Get the tickets and go.
I was there in summer. I am Russian but have the US citizenship and used my American travel passport.
I didn't  see or hear anything  "anti-American"

Yes, Doll, but how much English did you speak while you were there?  Any at all?

[Doll]

Moscow is stuffed with foreigners.

[drboombender]

Thanks Doll, that confirms what we have been told.

[JayH]

Moscow is stuffed

Agreed

[calmissile]

Agreed

 

[Doll]

Thanks Doll, that confirms what we have been told.

Don't even think of anything "anti-American". Russians , especially in big cities will not pay attention to you at all.

[BillyB]

Russian approval ratings of America are at a record low of 4% according to a gallup poll. American flags are being used as doormats. Keep your mouth shut and you should be fine in Moscow.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2886329/The-stores-stripes-Russian-shops-anti-sentiment-putting-American-flag-doormats-customers-wipe-feet-on.html

[sleepycat]

As long as you scrub the words "Putin Huilo" from your vocabulary while over there you should be fine. 

[Anotherkiwi]

Yes, Doll, but how much English did you speak while you were there?  Any at all?

Moscow is stuffed with foreigners.

Yet again, Doll, you haven't answered a serious question.  How much, if any, English did you speak while you were in Russia?  You must surely see that it's relevant to the reactions of ordinary Russians to those foreigners that are "stuffing" Moscow.  And possibly even more relevant - how many foreigners did you see in Krasnodar?  There must have been SOME there since my trip!

[mendeleyev]

I am based in Moscow and have seen lots of changes in attitude over the past twelve months. That being said, it is a large international city with lots of expats and tourists. Mind yourself as you would when visiting any other large city, and you should be okay. I would tone down any spoken English on the Metro and after dark.

The months you mentioned are great with one exception: May. This May marks 70 years since victory over Germany and patriotic fever will be near an all time high. Security will be higher than normal, and sometimes it may be more difficult to get around Moscow during the first two weeks.

Whenever you go, daytimes are best to be out and about. Moscow now has a division of tourist police who are English speakers. Their job is to promote safe tourism and be helpful to visitors. I have a hunch that your wife and her friend will know the ropes--just follow their lead and you should be safe.

[Belvis]

Russians view Americans as competitors in some parts of world, not as enemies. English talk will provoke curiosity, at least in places where tourists are rare species.

[Anotherkiwi]

Russians view Americans as competitors in some parts of world, not as enemies. English talk will provoke curiosity, at least in places where tourists are rare species.

True enough, in most cases, but there are always nutcases around who blame the evil USA for everything that's wrong in the world.

[ML]

True enough, in most cases, but there are always nutcases around who blame the evil USA for everything that's wrong in the world.

And they are not found only in Russia.

[Muzh]

Russians view Americans as competitors in some parts of world, not as enemies. English talk will provoke curiosity, at least in places where tourists are rare species.

Are you saying that Putler's propaganda machine is NOT that effective?