Moscow - Here I come

We are going to Moscow, Russia, with my parents on Thursday (day after tomorrow). I'm very excited. We got our visas and train tickets today, and we changed some roubles and US dollars.

Our train leaves from Helsinki at 17:42 (5:42 pm), and arrives in Moscow at around 8:30 the next morning I think.

I hope I find something interesting to buy there, and it's great to see the largest subway system in the world too, some of the stations are so great looking that you could think you're in a museum or something.. I will also try to take a picture of me in the Red Square ;)

We are going to the Bolshoi-theatre to watch the Swan Lake, I'm not too keen on it, but at least it's great to see the theatre itself, they say it looks fabulous inside.

What a wonderful opportunity, Evert! Have a great time.

You are a very fortunate person to be able to travel and enjoy so many different sites! And although I am not a big fan of Ballet the Swan Lake is amazingly beautiful and yu may find you like it.

Evert, have a wonderful time. Can't wait to see your pictures.

How wonderful, Evert! I would love to see a ballet at the Bolshoi. Have a great vacation.

OH, Evert, how amazing! I am so glad that you will be going to see Russia for yourself. Although my brother didn't live in Moscow, he visited it a few times, and has some great photos of various places.

A word of caution about money: when he lived in St. Petersburg, Russian banks would only accept for exchange brand-new US money. If it had been creased, they would not accept it. I don't know if that is still true about Moscow, at least. It was not true in the city in Siberia where my SIL went last summer. But it was true for St. Petersburg. She didn't go to Moscow that trip.

What to buy? The nesting dolls (matrushkas) are great. The true hand-crafted ones are best, they usually can be bought for a few dollars, and are worth (at least in the US) several hundred. Cheap ones are also available. And the hand-painted lacquer boxes are also out of this world! Hand-painted lacquer eggs are also wonderful. That is about the only things that they have for sale as far as tourist souvenirs. But according to my brother, those are definitely worth buying! Have a wonderful time!

Oh Evert, you will love it, I was there about 12 years ago and it was the trip of a lifetime. Enjoy and watch out for that black market!

:)

We went watching a part of the Swan Lake when we were on the 4th grade in Helsinki new opera house. It was nice.. When I was 7 years old I wanted to go watch Romeo and Juliet with my mom there, I still remember it very well, it was exciting in the beginning, but very boring in the end. I think I fell asleep a couple of times x)

I don't think we have problems with the money, we've got roubles worth of about 300 €, and 120 US $ or something, which I entered to Where's George :D http://www.wheresgeorge.com/

We've got three different mathruskas (maatuska in Finnish) already, one from my mom's or dad's trip to Leningrad, USSR in the 70s, one that is mine, from Vyborg (aka Viipuri, used to be a part of Finland) in 1995 and one from Vilnius, Lithuania from this Summer.
I'll try to find me a Russian flag for my collection there, they should be available in many places said the friend of mine.

So, tomorrow is the day, I am not sure if I can use internet there, migth be, but it's only 4 days anyway. :)

Hey Evert - Have a great time and write me when you get home !

I will :) By the way.. I have forgotten to send you the seeds I promised long time ago, haven't I?

Have a good time Evert. What is the distance from Helsinki to Moscow?

I just came home.. Pheww. I'll post photos later.

The distance, I don't know, have a look at the map: http://www.epsaweb.org/maps/russrel.jpeg

Nice to have you back;)

welcome home evert-i want to see the nesting doll! ;)

Unfortunately we didn't buy one, only flags and Vanilla coke and cheap alcohol drinks :}

Welcome home, Evert - I'll be expecting a letter soon ! And yes, you did promise me seeds ! Not that a young man like you has anything else to do !

What a wonderful opportunity to visit a place where most of us will never go. I'll be looking for those photos.

Evert, my guess with the distance between Helsinki and Moscow is 500-600 miles.

Cricket will take me to Goa next week. I will be in Panjim. Our team has to play a few matches there.