Trip to Moscow

if you don't fornicate w/ multiple russian hotties, your trip = fail.

 

Be careful over there. A friend of mine was there for a week for work and was out at a bar one night and ended up getting beaten up/mugged right when he walked out.

And what SWT said...

 

I agree, especially if you are person of colour. I have heard countless stories of people of all nationalities other than Russian getting beaten up by Neo Nazi youths. I even know a medical student in St. Petersburg who was beaten unconscious by some racist youths.

 

Is it really that bad over there? Moscow is definitely one of my top places to visit. But I have no wish of getting my ass kissed.

 

Moscow always had that sort of stigma to me but I was careful to ask about it because I did not want to bring up something that I really know nothing about.

 

I didn't realize the race issues. I do know its very expensive. Go, I regret going when I had the chances.

 

You mean not going, right?

 

I was there for three months, February through April. If you're staying for at least a week, consider renting a flat. Hotel prices are crazy. I stayed at the downtown Sheraton for a weekend at $300 a night. Nice enough, but I'm not sure it was three bills nice.

Never saw a skinhead. Saw lots of Russian hotties. Have fun.

 

anchorage?

 

nice first post to help a fellow clutchfan. well done.

 

hey, they're dissolving their government, so that should be totally sweet.

 

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Bring some pepper spray with you...or buy some over there.
Thats my advise

 

Don't stay in a hostel.

 

I went to Moscow back in 1999 and stayed at the Renaissance hotel.

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/mowrn-renaissance-moscow-hotel/

Its really nice and most of the staff speaks English. They have a really upscale bar, where the "hi-class hookers" frequent. Seriously, you'll be sitting at the bar having a drink and a drop dead gorgeous woman will come up and ask you if you want any company.

About the skinheads... First of all, i'm African American. I got ugly stares from a lot of people. One guy even walked by me and called me a monkey. The majority of the people are nice, but there are a few knuckleheads (cops included) that are looking for trouble. Be aware of you surroundings at all times.

 

Not one of my top choices to visit in the future.

I would rather visit places like Paris, Vienna, etc.

 

Well, I'm currently exiled to Minneapolis, so it was no big deal. It's cold. If you make it into double digits in February, you're pretty toasty.

As for the racism thing, it's definitely something to consider if you're a person of color. As I said, I never saw a skinhead or any violence toward minorities. Beyond racial violence, though, racial ignorance is pervasive. Few of the Russians I encountered had ever personally met an African-ethnic person. As a result, they tend to have somewhat . . . backward . . . ideas about race.

Muscovites are also a bit like Texans (as a generalization, of course). There are 11+ million people in Moscow, plus a few million illegals, and the city could comfortably manage about 5 million. The Metro is crowded, the traffic is so bad its funny, and unemployment is fairly high. Everyone wants to be in Moscow, and the natives don't like it much.

Most of their animosity is reserved for "Southerners," meaning immigrants from the 'Stans and Southern republics, but it can easily be projected onto anyone with dark skin. Slavs are a very fair-skinned people in general, so you might get some looks if you have a nice tan.

On the other hand, if you're a white American and bring plenty of cash, you'll be a minor celebrity.

 

Would you perhaps be a cop?