Moscow & Me! I Like It Just As Well As I Did At Perestroika Time!
September 22, 2016 by admin
Twenty-six years ago, I flew into Moscow rather frequently, when I planned and led group Citizen Diplomacy Tours between 1990 and 1994. When the country opened to Americans at Glasnost/Perestroika, even before the collapse of the USSR, I began leading grassroots, peacekeeping trips to the Ukraine. We entered in Moscow and took the overnight train to Kiev. What exciting travel times those were! And my best memories centered around the people we met and the families we homestayed with. Americans and Soviets simply loved each other whenever they got together!
But, it had been a quarter-of-a-century! What changes might have occurred? Would the atmosphere be different in the capital city? I found it more swishily-commercial with all of the expensive name brands in very stylish shops; but the people were just as welcoming and friendly. The ambient atmosphere within this formerly undeclared-enemy country still makes me very happy.
The Moscow Hostel Netizen is brand-new and very welcoming.
So, I had a very lovely six days at the modern Hostel Netizen in Moscow. It’s almost a hotel, but it’s still as informal as a hostel, meaning it’s easy and natural to get acquainted with fellow guests.
The lobby, as seen from the cafe area. That’s a security guard at the doorway.
My six-bunk, female dorm room. Each bed is semi-enclosed and I carry sarongs to curtain the opening.
I met Eduardo, an official with the Olympic Committee, who has invited me to visit Sochi, Russia, (site of the 2014 Olympics) in November.
Lucas and Tatiana, behind the front desk.
A free walking tour of Red Square brought us to St. Basil’s Cathedral, which is actually nine chapels, hence the many domes.
The Kremlin,
and the famous and fancy GUM Department store…
That’s a gondola on the red carpet at GUM….
GUM is a mall, under a glass roof. Very fancy.
Gum’s central fountain
See what I mean? Swishy!
And, the military, on eternal vigilance….
These living soldiers stand, unflinchingly, in all weather….except that their duty period is only one hour long!
We danced a few steps……They requested a handsome tip and swooped away!
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That’s awesome that you were able to revisit this part of the world 🙂 A farmer friend of mine made some agricultural visits to the USSR (Ukraine) back in the day… he recently sold his farm and moved to live in Kyiv full-time. He’s loving his life there!
Hey Katherine,
Thanks for your comment. I love your website, too! Right now, I’m in Casablanca, Morocco, but am thinking Ukraine in the Spring…. and will try to reunite with my host family(ies) of twenty-seven years ago. Am planning a video series for YouTube and that should be interesting with the current news on the area.