Places to go, things to see the HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by RWD members list

[ecr844]

Hello Everyone,

  I have been thinking about this for awhile. Since I have never seen this done anywhere else I figured this would be a great place to start! Here is a question for those of you who are expereinced FSU travelers and natives. If there were a list of 'must see things to do in XYZ FSU city' what would yours be? Where are the places that if your going you just can't miss? I guess we could also throw restraunts, etc.. into the mix as well.

Kindly consider the romance factor, the cultural immersion and learning, beauty, etc...

Since I will be spending some more time in Moscow the next time I go. What are the members recommendations for places to go and see there?

Thanks,
ECR844

[Jack]

Since I will be spending some more time in Moscow the next time I go. What are the members recommendations for places to go and see there?

The train station, bus terminals and the various airports.

[Phil dAmore]

Yeah, Moscow's nice. But when in Petersburg:

1) The Russian Museum.  You can get through it in a day, and you won't see anything like it anywhere else.

2) Peterhof.  Over 150 fountains, some shooting water over 70 feet in the air.  Entirely gravity fed, not a powered water pump in the place.  Skip the palace, just do the fountains.  Try not to stare at the young ladies in the wet t-shirts.  Take the bus from Petersburg, not the hydrofoil.  It's cheaper and believe it or not, faster.

3) A canal boat ride.  During the white nights season, it just doesn't get any more romantic than that. Private chartered boats are available.

4) The Hermitage theater.  No, it doesn't have the grandeur of the Marinsky, but it's a very intimate room. that has the same  productions. It's also cheaper.  An ideal place to propose to your lady.  Extroverts can even do it during intermission for the entire audience to hear for an additional charge.

5) The Peter and Paul fortress.  Just so you can truly understand the definition of 'over the top' when it comes to gold trim. 

6) Nevsky Prospect on any summer's day.  Sit down at a sidewalk cafe' and enjoy the greatest free fashion show on earth, period.

7) During white nights, a stroll along the river to watch the bridge openings is a must.  The spit of Vasillevsky Island is also an ideal place to propose.  Check out the fountain in the middle of the river with it's choreographed light and music display.  Not quite as good as the Bellagio in Las Vegas, but close!

8.) Kuntskamera.  Just so you can see Peter had a few quirks. Warning: it'll be a while before you get the smell of formaldyhide out of your nose.

9) The Defenders of Leningrad monument and the cemetary in Piscaryovska.  Best seen on a cold winter's day.  Probably the most moving memorial in Petersburg.  The perfect place to go when you get frustrated with Russians.  Go there, and you will understand.

10) The museum of the secret police.  I'd tell you where it is, but then I'd have to kill you.

Notice that the Hermitage proper is NOT on this list.  That's because it's just too damn big.  Unless you have a specific interest, it is futile to go.  At 1057 rooms, you will be exhausted before you finish the impressionists. 

True fact:  If you spent one minute looking at everything in the Hermitage, 24 /7 without any breaks, it would still take you 5 years to see everything!

[Turkey]

10) The museum of the secret police.  I'd tell you where it is, but then I'd have to kill you.

[KenC]

Phil,
Do you get an extra 3 hours during the white nights? (27/7)
 
KenC

[Kuna]

A truly magical moment for My Girl and I on my first trip happened in Kiev.

We were walking past the Gold Domed Cathedral and I sensed her hesitation as we walked past the gate... as if she was being drawn inside.

I asked if it would be OK for us to go in and these words literally bounced from her lips, "You want to go in??? It would be very nice if we could go inside together".

With those words we were off and I immediately sensed her deep respect for her religion as she covered her hair with a scarf and took my hat from my head as we approached the doors.

It was just a few minutes... both of us in silence as she lit candles and had a private moment.  She came back to me (I was standing back looking at her and the beautiful frescos etc) and she started whispering to me about the well on the right hand side and it's purpose... explaining the artwork and other features inside the church.

It was VERY beautiful by the way....

There's so many churches in FSU and I can't promise you the same experience but it is a realy special moment that sticks in my mind.

Romantic... yes... and it showed me a side of My Girl that I didn't expect to see. (She's religious but not practicing regularly... and this might have had an impact at that very moment).

[Phil dAmore]

OOPS!  Error corrected... sorry...

You get the point though!

[Phil dAmore]

There's so many churches in FSU and I can't promise you the same experience but it is a realy special moment that sticks in my mind.

Speaking of churches, the island city of Kronschdat has more churches per square kilometer than any other place in Russia.

[groovlstk]

With those words we were off and I immediately sensed her deep respect for her religion as she covered her hair with a scarf and took my hat from my head as we approached the doors.

Hah, it may not be as much respect as simple survival instinct. If any female enters an Orthodox church without a scarf covering her hair or if you enter wearing a cap the resident babushkas will instantly chase you out with a broom. 

[KenC]

Being a product of the "Cold War" era and being of Russian decent, no sight in my life can compare to standing in Red Square for the first time.  It sent chills up my spine.  Not too bad all lit up at night either.
KenC

[Admin]

In Kyiv:

* The Peshchersk Lavra
* Golden Gate
* Perehova
* Andreevsky Spusk
* Maidan Nazelezhnosti
* Mariinsky Palace
* Kreschatyk on Sunday

In Lviv:

* Opera House
* Churches all over the city (walking tour)
* Center Park

Crimea:

* Chersones in Sevastopol
* Livadia Palace - site of the Yalta Conferences
* South Coast Road
* Swallows Nest

In Yaremche (near Ivano Frankivsk)

* Unique Hutsul architecture - churches and homes.
* Hiking trails throught the Carpathian (Karpaty) mountains.
* Skiing in winter at Slavske and Tysovets

In Mariupol:

* Nothing


Enjoy!

- Dan

Oops.... just re-read the original post and see the request was restricted to Moscow. Sorry for the extraneous info.

[Jack]

or if you enter wearing a cap the resident babushkas will instantly chase you out with a broom. 

Exactly what happened to me my first trip to Russia. Yea, those babushka's are not shy about knocking your hat off.   :burnedup:   I thought "damn, what the heck did I do?"    :noidea:




hey Phil, with regards to ecr's request about where to go in Moscow, the train station was to take him to St. Pete.    

Your right about seeing all of the Hermitage.  9 trips to the Hermitage and I not even close to seeing everything. They keep moving things around. I go to new areas where I have not been before only to see they have moved things from other areas where I have been to these new areas.    

Phil is the Hermitage still closed on Monday's?  If so it would be good to let members know so they can plan their trip accordingly.  I had to find out the hard way.  Wondered why their was no line.  


With regards to Moscow I found once I saw Red Square and St. Basils, toured the Kremlin, went to Old Arbat and New Arbat, did the river boat tour, made a trip to the Duck (and few other places), visited the museums and ballet, walk Tverskaya, took photos of the Stalin sisters and going in a few of them, do the KGB tour, had dinner in the TV tower and visted Moscow Univeristy that was it, not much more to do in Moscow.

[Jet]

When in Moscow, definitely check out the "ring stations" of the Metro, very very cool. If you're into military stuff or planes at all, check out Monino Air Force Museum

[philb]

I could spend days at the Tretyakov Gallery.

[KenC]

Jet,
Did you know it was illegal to take photos in the metro stations?  I took some too, but then I knew of a guy that actually got arrested for taking the photos.  The stations are considered of military importance.  Just beautiful though.
KenC

[Jet]

With regards to Moscow I found once I saw Red Square and St. Basils, toured the Kremlin, went to Old Arbat and New Arbat, did the river boat tour, made a trip to the Duck (and few other places), visited the museums and ballet, walk Tverskaya, took photos of the Stalin sisters and going in a few of them, do the KGB tour, had dinner in the TV tower and visted Moscow Univeristy that was it, not much more to do in Moscow.

Don't tell me you "took a pass" on the Kuklachev's Cat Circus!

[Jack]

Don't tell me you "took a pass" on the Kuklachev's Cat Circus!

da, da, da, I did take a pass on the cat circus.  But you mentioning circus did remind me that I did go to the Moscow circus, it was neat.  Snuck my camera in,  not allowed to take photos but I took a few, have them filed away somewhere. 

And speaking of cat's reminded me of the trip I took to the Moscow zoo.  After this trip I told myself I did not want to see anymore FSU zoo's.  I'm to much of an animal lover and this visit really did not do my heart any good.

[Lily]

Jet,
Did you know it was illegal to take photos in the metro stations?  I took some too, but then I knew of a guy that actually got arrested for taking the photos.  The stations are considered of military importance.  Just beautiful though.
KenC

KenC, this is a very interesting issue.

There are Rules on using the metro in Moscow saying that video and photo recording in the metro stations are prohibited unless a written permission from the metro management is issued ( item 2.11.13). The Rules are visible in every waggon of the metro, in Russian only, however 

Further on, there is a law of Moscow city of September 7, 1994 г. N 17-69 'On liability for violation of Rules of using the Moscow metro'. It says in its item 1 that for making photos or videos without a written permission a reprimand to a wrongdoer has to be issued, along with walking barefoot on the stations (items 1.1. an 1.2)     

A reprimand is to be issued in written.

[BillyB]

If there were a list of 'must see things to do in XYZ FSU city' what would yours be?

Do 5 star hotels, 5 star restaurants and anything with 5 stars in it! Actually if you're looking for a family oriented woman, take her to family oriented places. You could include the zoo, circus, and parks. Museums, ballet and opera are other places I would go. If you need a 5 star restaurant to win your woman's heart, then you, yourself, isn't turning her on.

[Rvrwind]

Sites to see in Tver:

Gorky Library & City Park
Monument to Pushkin
Theatrical Square: Philharmonic & Drama Theaters
Historical Museum, Picture Gallery, Monument to Kalinin
Ekaterina II Palace
Medical Academy
Himik Stadium
Obelisk (Victory Tower) & 17th Century Church
Monument & Krylov's Park
Circus, Fountain & Coffee House Street
Trehsvyackaya Street from Olymp to Lenin Square
Monument to Afanasiy Nikitin & the surrounding Park
The Mosque
Catholic Church & surrounding Park

Just a few that we include on in our tour package.

[Phil dAmore]

Phil is the Hermitage still closed on Monday's?  If so it would be good to let members know so they can plan their trip accordingly.  I had to find out the hard way.  Wondered why their was no line.

 

Yes the Hermitage (and almost all the other museums) are closed on Mondays.  FYI, the first Thursday of every month is 'free day' at the Hermitage.   If you want to try it on this day, get there early.  Like the night before.  By 8 AM the line is around the block.

[Kvinna]

Arbat, I meant not this straight line where all turists walk along, but yards
This is wow
and also Zmoskvorechje - that is the real Moscow

[SANDRO43]

It says in its item 1 that for making photos or videos without a written permission a reprimand to a wrongdoer has to be issued, along with walking barefoot on the stations (items 1.1. an 1.2)     

Do you mean that the reprimanded wrongdoer also has to take his shoes off and have his feet stomped on by the rush-hour crowd ? How cruel can you Muscovites be ? Or is Luzhkov in cahoots with the Orthopedic and Plaster-Cast Mafias ?

[Lily]

Do you mean that the reprimanded wrongdoer also has to take his shoes off and have his feet stomped on by the rush-hour crowd ? How cruel can you Muscovites be ? Or is Luzhkov in cahoots with the Orthopedic and Plaster-Cast Mafias ?

No I don't mean it. 

I mean that if someone makes photos without a written permission only risks getting a reprimand from police.
Just to illustrate the 'gravity' of this doing, I also showed that same kind of punishment may be issued if someone walks barefoot in the Moscow metro.

[SANDRO43]

Just to illustrate the 'gravity' of this doing, I also showed that same kind of punishment may be issued if someone walks barefoot in the Moscow metro.

Well, it all depends on places and times. In the 1950-60s, Milan's trolley cars and buses had signs reminding passengers that blasphemy and spitting on the floor would be heavily fined.

Our railway carriages used to have on their windowsills a little plaque in 4 languages saying:

- E' vietato sporgersi dal finestrino
- Defense de se plancher dehors
- Nicht hinauslehnen
- Do not lean out of the window

A comedian made a funny 15-minute sketch out of that, showing how that sign revealed different natioinal attitudes, the impersonal Latin approach (it is prohibited ...) and the imperative German attitude with unnecessarily minute details ("hinauslehnen" means literally to lean outside from inside, how else can one do that ?).