I've been barricading myself in bed the past week with some pretty intense tonsillitis; browsing the internet I decided to price up a long weekend for next month.
I've been to the Malmo and Copenhagen about 4 times in the last year (for various lengths), so decided to try somewhere a bit further. I looked at Stockholm, then I even considered doing a "
Charlton Special" - flying in to Copenhagen, getting the train to Gothenberg and then on to Oslo. (See the Charlton link?
)
Out of nowhere I decided to look at the prices for Moscow or St. Petersburg, and found an absolute bargain on Expedia - a really well rated hotel right by The Kremlin and flights (w/ 30 minute stopover in Zurich) for about £320. With visa prices added on, I'd be looking at £400 or so.
Has anyone any experience of Moscow? The thought of Moscow (well, Russia.) worries the hell out of me, but it's somewhere I'd love to go - and I fear with the current diplomatic situation it may get trickier in the future.
Edit;
I should probably add, I'm early twenties and would be travelling alone. I've asked a Russian girl I knew who is studying medicine in Moscow for advice, hopefully she may have some advice.
Comments
The people I went to see were very welcoming and friendly, but everyone else wasn't interested. Made the three days I was there quite difficult to be honest, wouldn't hurry back.
Being in the hotel bar and clearly being treated differently to more local people - it was a business hotel. The taxi system is a bit strange, unless I misunderstood then it is basically getting into anyone's car and hoping they are not a nutter... I am sure traveling with other people makes it a bit easier but having travelled to a number of places it felt more unsafe than many other places, maybe I just bumped into the wrong people like you get everywhere, do you live in Moscow?
Of all the people I know and have spoken to who went there for our (England) qualifier in 2007, they all to a man said they would never return. Good place for a WC then
People I know who have otherwise been seemed to enjoy it, but it will be a culture shock and I'd expect a miserable/rude welcome from a lot (not all) of the people, like a lot of places in Eastern Europe up till recently.
I'd happily go and Russia is on my 'to do' list so keen to know how you get on.
I have also heard that St Petersburg is a much nicer place.
I think I'd go for St Petersburg, given you are travelling alone. Even if the people were friendly as in, say, Portugal, Moscow is a big and cumbersome city.
http://forum.charltonlife.com/discussion/64501/charlton-athletic-moscow-amateur-fc/p1
I don't know if Moscow is an expensive city or not, but I do know that you'll be getting almost twice as many rubles to the pound as you would have got a year ago.
Was about to say, if you go Moscow you've GOT to see one of their games and do a match thread.
The council would go mental if I tried that over at Swanley rec! Mentalists.
Have you tried suction?
Being of Bison heritage I can offer no further support or sympathy. Good luck.
Just to re-iterate, I have no ties out there. There is a mutual friend who (as a Russian speaker with a Russian family, albeit growing up in Dartford) is studying Medicine in Moscow, I'll fire her off a message and try and get some more advice and possibly a rendezvous.
I guess what's worrying me is that I know if I went to any of the other places mentioned, I would feel safe and it would be relatively easy to find a nice bar in the evening and strike up conversation with fellow English speakers. (Most likely expats too going off past experiences)
And they both alright. If you only go to one then St Petersburg is the best choice but they are connected by a 4 hour train journey so getting to both is possible. You will know or easily find all the obvious places to go so no need to get into all that. In Moscow, visit Workshop bar on the first floor of an unmarked building opposite the Matreshka Hotel down a side alley. Go to the Bolshoi, you can probably buy a ticket on the day despite what the website says. info@moscowfreetour.com for info on good tours. Torpedo Moscow play their games in a glorified local park, quite funny.
And Prague is spot on, there are many many blokes batting well above their average.
Moscow is impressive and atmospheric though and I have had two good weekends there. The Kremlin is well worth a visit and there are some good markets, parks etc. It can be a bit intimidating though, so I'd keep a low profile. The people don't always seem that friendly and the police can be corrupt.
That said, St. Petersburg looks just as incredible - the architecture in the cities in Russia just looks stunning.
Russia is definitely on my to do list, and if I don't do it next month then I will see if I can drum up support from a mate or two and give it a go over the summer.