bilboburgler

I was more concerned by the country's present lack of rule of law than the terrible historical pogromish behavior of previous generations, I used to list the unexplained deaths each year on another Blog, but given the shear numbers I gave up. But thanks for the info, you can't say you don't learn on Fodors.

Dianedancer

Thanks stu for illuminating others with your writings and for your information on the oligarch who was shot, possibly NOT for being Jewish but for other reasons.

bilbo - What is your specific interest in all of this? Definitely sounds like you've been following the rules of law in Russia for quite some time.

mendota98

Hi,
Just spent 10 days in Moscow with absolute minimal contact with Americans :I met two.
People walk the streets late at night as many stores are open 24/7. The police have a huge presence so safety is no problem.
People are as nice and helpful as they can be. English not being widely spoken.
The Metro's lack of any signs means you need to count the stations from the departure station. But they are beautiful.
Enjoyed the ballet, opera, Russian folk dancing and American r&r at several clubs.
Perhaps the cleanest city on the planet with the most efficient Metro.
Customs proved to be no hassle.
BTW horrible traffic and highly suggest AeroExpress from the airport. The latter costs about $8.00.
Metro ride is $0.70 so just ask the lady for a card with 10 or 20 trips.

Pegontheroad

I was in St. Petersburg the first week of June, and I also had a taxi driver--I think in Vilnius, Lithuania. Both brought up Obama and America's actions in Syria and Libya and had negative things to say about them.

I spent a good deal of time with the first driver, Joachim, who spoke good English. I was with the second driver for only a brief time. They both opposed Obama and American actions, but neither was hostile to me.

My exchange with the driver in Vilnius was actually pretty funny because I don't speak Russian and he didn't speak English, but we had a raging argument, which ended with me laughing because it was incongruous that we were arguing without understanding the other's language. It started with him saying "Obama, no!" and giving a thumbs down, and me saying, "Putin, no! Obama, yes!"

danon

I just left Moscow this morning...had same experience as Mendota
only ! St. Petersburg is much cleaner and tourist friendly....signs in our
alphabet and some in English.

Dianedancer

Mendota and danon - We have been to both Moscow and St.Petersburg before - in 2011. We loved Moscow and that's why we're going back. I learned the Cyrillic alphabet (well, most of it) and thus felt somewhat comfortable with signs, especially when, if sounded out, they sounded like the same word in English. As in "Pektopah" (restaurant). We were on a river tour with Viking and so only had a 1 1/2 days in Moscow and 1 day in St. Pete's on our own.

Soviet Moscow story - In 1977 or so our friend was in Moscow as a lighting technician with an American dance company. He was walking on his own trying to cross the giant traffic circles near Red Square. He saw a Soviet Policeman following him and then running after him. He was super duper scared. The policeman finally caught up with him and, to his relief, gestured to an easier and safer way for my friend to cross the crazy big and car laden street. Yes, the policeman was trying to help him.

Pegon - Do you think that if someone hated Putin and loved Obama they would have felt free to express that?

Medndota - Where did you go that you heard this great music?

danon

"For me the issue is not that people should not go, it is that they should focus on the important things, did anyone go to Bolshoy Moskvoretsky Bridge and lay any flowers down while you were there....."
If tourists focused on what various oppressive regimes have done i( and still are doing ), travel industry in many countries would not exist.
Those who know Soviet history should not expect a radical change I.e. -
openes and democracy - any time soon.

bilboburgler

Danon, I agree, however it does not mean that one should walk around saying things like "I cannot think of a reason why I should not be here", I've been to oppresive countries and at least recognised my position.

We can all be blind tourists, but it is important to lift the blindfold from our eyes, otherwise what is the point of travel?

danon

....what is the point of travel..?
Taking selfies infront of well known tourist attractions.?

I am being silly, but there were no tourists at the
Piskaryovskoye Memorial Cemetery in SP or the Museum of Contemporary Russian History In Moscow (when I visited.)
Most travellers wish to " see" only the beauty of art or nature in a particular place
and move on .
Although it is not my way ,I cannot blame them. It is their holiday!

Dianedancer

I think if one goes to a country and only focuses on the negative then you are doing a disservice to the people and their culture. I think you can definitely be aware of the history and the political and social "now" as well as the art and beauty of where you are. As a matter of fact they most times overlap. I love Socialist Realism.

I am less snobby about the "average" tourist than some here seem to be. I think more ARE interested in what is going on in the country they are visiting than you give them credit for. Yes, I'm sure some don't give a damn. But many do.

We also have to realize that not everyone has a month to travel. Some have a week. They do what they can in that time.