Since the era of the cold war, and the Iron curtain, the mystery about Russia always kept me intrigued and the more it appeared in the news, the more interesting it became.The Kremlin, the Red Square, St.Petersburg, the Vodka, the Russian circus, the Space station, Yuri Gagarin,and the valve vs semi conductors debate and how Russians thought of pencils in space than ball points always made me come closer to them.On top of it the escrow accounts, the biggest trading partner and the Sukhoi's and Migs made me develop an affinity for these Russians.
Just a few days back my dreams came true and so did reality dawn on me that how a place can get effected when capitalistic traits take over the communistic territories.The rich became super duper rich and the poor remain there with struggles that are more tedious.Every other person tries to exploit the situation be it with a tourist or local.My journey started with Russian immigration authorities at the Vnukovo Airport where inspite of being the only 2 Indians there , arriving first at the counter had to wait for 30 minutes due to lack of an interpreter.The questions...."Your first visit to Russia? I said yes.Why Russia?Well, its was my dream to see this beautiful place that's why!!Where do you stay?I gave them details.How long?6 days , I said.Where to next?Told them that.Hmmm was the reply .Ok .And then the authorities disappeared for 5-7 minutes.I asked them to return my passports, and he said , oh!! I forgot.then he collected the passports , got them stamped and we stepped into the Cold/Warm Russia.While going down the escalator , he wished us a good trip.How encouraging!!!
At the arrival,stone cold Russians , smoking away to glory ,and no english sign boards.Taxi with some information i had collected over the net was the only option due to the long flight , though we wanted to experiment with the Aero express and Moscow underground combo.The rate was fixed and we drove to the hotel , through crazy, slightly undisciplined traffic for 45 minutes without a word shared with the non English speaking cabbie.The match box structures from the airport reminded me of the communistic regime as I had seen the same in Prague and Berlin,but was getting disappointed not seeing what I had heard of, except for the Tulip flower beds alongside the pavements.
Landing at the Hotel, we saw fireworks which I assumed Mr.Putin organised for our welcome maybe, which however turned out to be the victory day celebrations where Russians were out on the streets with flags, beers and Vodka.The biggest Mac Donalds in the world was flooded.Thank you America.
The receptionist spoke English but limited and we were certainly unwelcome or may be that's the way they exhibit their emotions.Plain stone cold. The food and stay was cool and then as we traveled through Moscow and St.Petersburg the beauty unfolded.SPECTACULAR in capital is the only way to explain these places.Wish the Russians promoted the same in a better way and gained popularity and improve the economy.The older generations still struggling and wanting the good old days back.They still keep large bouquet of flowers at the feet of Lenin and the communistic regime idols wishing them good and praying for their return.The youngsters some of them are learning english .Caviar etc available but out of reach for the common man.The fear of being spied upon still exists.The local authorities, can play pranks and extort good sums if you are technically not in possession of the relevant documents anytime , anywhere out of the hotel premise.The passports are kept with the Hotel in St.Petersburg as a rule during the entire stay!!!!Middle east rules!!!
I wish the place could develop into the most sought after tourist place and with some help from the Government made a more tourist friendly place than a suspicious country , eyeing every body visiting from under a microscope.Da......or Nyet!!!Russia we love you .
Just a few days back my dreams came true and so did reality dawn on me that how a place can get effected when capitalistic traits take over the communistic territories.The rich became super duper rich and the poor remain there with struggles that are more tedious.Every other person tries to exploit the situation be it with a tourist or local.My journey started with Russian immigration authorities at the Vnukovo Airport where inspite of being the only 2 Indians there , arriving first at the counter had to wait for 30 minutes due to lack of an interpreter.The questions...."Your first visit to Russia? I said yes.Why Russia?Well, its was my dream to see this beautiful place that's why!!Where do you stay?I gave them details.How long?6 days , I said.Where to next?Told them that.Hmmm was the reply .Ok .And then the authorities disappeared for 5-7 minutes.I asked them to return my passports, and he said , oh!! I forgot.then he collected the passports , got them stamped and we stepped into the Cold/Warm Russia.While going down the escalator , he wished us a good trip.How encouraging!!!
At the arrival,stone cold Russians , smoking away to glory ,and no english sign boards.Taxi with some information i had collected over the net was the only option due to the long flight , though we wanted to experiment with the Aero express and Moscow underground combo.The rate was fixed and we drove to the hotel , through crazy, slightly undisciplined traffic for 45 minutes without a word shared with the non English speaking cabbie.The match box structures from the airport reminded me of the communistic regime as I had seen the same in Prague and Berlin,but was getting disappointed not seeing what I had heard of, except for the Tulip flower beds alongside the pavements.
Landing at the Hotel, we saw fireworks which I assumed Mr.Putin organised for our welcome maybe, which however turned out to be the victory day celebrations where Russians were out on the streets with flags, beers and Vodka.The biggest Mac Donalds in the world was flooded.Thank you America.
The receptionist spoke English but limited and we were certainly unwelcome or may be that's the way they exhibit their emotions.Plain stone cold. The food and stay was cool and then as we traveled through Moscow and St.Petersburg the beauty unfolded.SPECTACULAR in capital is the only way to explain these places.Wish the Russians promoted the same in a better way and gained popularity and improve the economy.The older generations still struggling and wanting the good old days back.They still keep large bouquet of flowers at the feet of Lenin and the communistic regime idols wishing them good and praying for their return.The youngsters some of them are learning english .Caviar etc available but out of reach for the common man.The fear of being spied upon still exists.The local authorities, can play pranks and extort good sums if you are technically not in possession of the relevant documents anytime , anywhere out of the hotel premise.The passports are kept with the Hotel in St.Petersburg as a rule during the entire stay!!!!Middle east rules!!!
I wish the place could develop into the most sought after tourist place and with some help from the Government made a more tourist friendly place than a suspicious country , eyeing every body visiting from under a microscope.Da......or Nyet!!!Russia we love you .
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