The things they don’t tell you about Russia

So there I was in 2019 on my midnight web browsing and suddenly I came across a very good deal on a plane ticket to Russia. So, without thinking too much, I took a leap towards the unknown (and improbable) prospect of visiting that country. And then I immediately thought to myself: God, what have I done?

The fear of the unknown

It’s well known for us in the west that Russia is well associated as the boogie man of countries due to its past history and role in global politics.

I must admit that I was scared to even conceive the possibility of going to a place like that, where I couldn’t speak their language or understand their manners and views.

How do you plan for such a trip?

Well, the first thing I decided to do was to start learning pretty much the essential ammount of Russian to be able to communicate properly. That meant the numbers, usual questions like “where is this place?” or ” how much is it?”, and cordial expressions like “thank you”, “you’re welcome”, good morning”, etc. That is a very good tip for those who want to travel to a country whose language they don’t speak.

After that, I began searching for testimonies from other traveleres. Places to visit, places to avoid, means of transportation, the best budget hotels, the documentation required to enter the country… Then I began to make a simple spreadsheet with my places of interest, their opening hours, prices, commutes and other important observations.

My first impressions of Russia

I arrived in Moscow in a cold, snowy evening, feeling like I was in a different planet. A very dynamic, cosmopolitan, but also a paranoid and uneasy planet.

People there have the habit of being really suspicious of others, especially tourists. They even have a famous proverb that says “trust, but verify”, and I don’t think there is a more “Russian-esque” saying than this one, to be honest. So, if you want to blend with the local populace, keep in mind two things:

1. Russians are hard to open up, so be patient and don’t expect a warm and inviting stance from them at first.
2. You must know how to speak their language, because it’s really hard to find a person there who speaks English.

A blend of modern and classic styles

So I got into a cab and headed to the hotel. And that was when I got the first real taste of what Moscow really looked like. It’s definitely a city that is proud of its history. You can find the many lagacies from the soviet era mingled with modern features in such a harmony that I would never expect to find anywhere.

Broad streets, cultural landmarks, the increadibly decorated subway stations are among the best things that called my attention on this trip.

Downtown Moscow is definitely the place to explore on foot. So the tip is to stay close to it, like I did. That’s why I managed to see in detail the lifestyle of the people there. Also, the emblematic soviet Hammer & Sicke symbol was still everywhere, always followed by a statue of Lenin here and there.

Soviet pride is a thing in Russia

A worthy mention out of the soviet era is surely the VDNH Park (I won’t even bother you with the name in Russian). Near the suburbs, there is an enormous park with soviet thematics and several pavillions honoring the former soviet republics. A very well alive statement that the Soviet Union once existed and that it had a huge role among the eastern civilization.

There you can also find many exhibits of famous soviet rockets, including one real-scale model (or is it the real thing?) Soyuz rocket suspended by a special platform that allows you to walk right beneath its engines. Cool!

How about Brazilian pride?

I think it’s a good thing for a country to acknowledge its past achievements in a patriotic and heroic way. Maybe a lesson from all this is that Brazil could seek (and value) its own identity, culture and legacy instead of submitting to our main countries of influence. After all, our country has definitely the size, complexity and relevance as those from the other side of the iron curtain.