Way to Russia Talk Lounge

blaked

1. Moscow is one of the only places in Russia where a significant percent of the people live a materially comfortable life. If you look at a road in Chuvashia, for example, you're unlikely to see more than a few foreign cars driving down the streets. Here they're everywhere.

2. You don't need one - the metro goes everywhere important enough to visit unless you have friends that live in private homes in podmoskoviye.

3. Less xenophobia against Americans/Europeans - 20% of the people here voted SPS/Yabloko and have the liberal values that usually accompany a high standard of living. In many cities I feel afraid to tell someone that I'm American.

4. Greater restaurant diversity. Sure food is cheap elsewhere, but the most exotic food that I could find in Chebokshary was pizza with mayo.

5. There's always something to do.

6. Much cheaper than all comparably sized white cities (London, NYC, Paris) - except maybe Buenos Aires. Much cleaner than 3rd world cities like Mexico City and Cairo.

7. It's almost impossible to find the same amount of money anywhere else in the country, so if you need to work to support yourself, you're SOL in, for example, Yaroslavl, even though I love Yaroslavl and it is beautiful. Native English speaking editors and project managers can make 2000 USD plus - more if they work for a western consulting firm. Rents are high but still only about 1/4 of that.

8. People here are much more likely to know English.

9. It's the gateway city for cheap flights, not only to Europe but to the Middle East and India.

10. Crazy party scene - the only place in the world where I've seen two people have sex on stage during a dance contest.

11. Good luck finding iceberg lettuce, peanut butter, or tabasco sauce in Yekaterinburg.. Have even better luck finding quality clothes and furniture. Moscow has the two largest shopping malls in Eastern Europe. You should see what passes for a mall in Chebokshary.

12. People that matter in Russia tend to live in Moscow and think fondly of St. Petersburg. As for everywhere else in Russia, they'd rather be in Sharm El-Shekh.

13. Home to the most respectable universities in Russia.

14. You can get both clove cigarettes (45 rubles) and Nat Shermans (120 rubles) here so you're not stuck smoking Donskoy tabacco posing as Kents or, er... Winstons. Wink

swp4lfe · Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 6:35 am Post subject:

You forgot to add 15. You can buy alcohol every 5 meters. (Seriously)

kiwiguy_os · Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 6:57 am Post subject:

Forgot to mention anything about the women as well Very Happy

blaked · Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 9:01 am Post subject:

Ok - yeah - you're right. Not only can you get a brewski almost anywhere, but you can drink them almost everywhere. I've found a place to buy absolutely phenomenal weed in odintsova.

The girl situation is good but maybe not by Russia-at-large standards. I'd say it's the best place to meet English-speaking university students, although Piter (www.ifriends.com , www.pornomodel.ru) and Yaroslavl (www.camcontacts.com) have it beat hands down for being the best places to meet internet porn stars. There is always a fresh crop of 18-19 year old girls standing at tochkas (ok those of you who read exile.ru are the only ones that will know what that means) for you to take home and have sex with for 100 bucks/night. Most of them have been on the job less than 3 months because there are always people coming to Moscow to escape Russian poverty.

Camrade · Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 3:58 pm Post subject:

St.Petersburg is better Razz

I don't like Moscow - people there are always in a hurry, this atmosphere is tiring Smile

Ruairi · Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 4:48 pm Post subject: Have to agree

Spent two weeks in Russia last autumn, had a great time, but I just loved Moscow. Petersburg was nice, beautiful even, but Moscow was different class. It had everything I love about great cities. Yeah, I'm sure it has things which I hate about cities too, but I always prefer to say the glass is half full. Great, great city. [/img]

mediashark · Moderator Joined: 04 Nov 2004 Posts: 1601

So, only Russian women are one of the good reasons?

I think Russian men are just as wonderful. Maybe more...

Camrade · Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 7:12 pm Post subject:

2mediashark
thank you Very Happy

blaked · Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2005 7:50 pm Post subject:

I like the Russian mentality - Russians see things as they are; they are very wise to the flaws of their leaders. Of course, I speak mainly of educated Russians. I really like the fact that Russians don't smile unless they are happy. I like it that Russians don't tell you to pray for anyone or sign any petitions. Russians would never ban smoking, and if they did, they'd never expect anyone to obey the ban. Russians are just much more in tune with human nature.

brandalpayne11 · Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2005 10:15 pm Post subject: