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.
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.

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.

A free walking tour of Red Square brought us to St. Basil’s Cathedral, which is actually nine chapels, hence the many domes.

These living soldiers stand, unflinchingly, in all weather….except that their duty period is only one hour long!
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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!