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Alright it is high time to write about MOSCOW.
Currently I live there, and it offers a safe relief from Africa's savannahs and nearly same lever of savagery whenever needed. I live about 30 km from center, south west in calm quiet county get away, behind a nice guarded wall. Naturally it takes me a while to get to the city, but all in all its fairly easy as all of my offices are located along the way to Center (crafty life management). So to be throughout here is the break in:
Weather: Weather is horribly predictable. You get about 6 sunny days a month. If you expect weather change, expect the worse. Generally best to visit during autumn - its relatively cool and sometimes a bit rainy, but quite beautiful in auburn colours... February is worst month to visit, you are garanteed extreme cold and extremly dirty streets. Summer is very hot 30C+ and its intolerable in a huge city. So weather wise Moscow is particulary not so nice. Spring can be rather cold and whats worse VERY dirty as all the snow melts. May is a VERY nice month though.
Architecture: Russian architects were always world famous. Thus the best buildings were traditionally built by Italian architects. All in all, its diverse and wierd. But there are very nice parts around Kremlin.
People: Russians are grim, moody and passionate people with heavy inner angst seeping through their determined eyes. This is true for men. Women tend to be rather pretty. All in all there are plenty of english speaking people, so it should be easy for you to find someone to communicate with. Do not venture too far from Center unless your going to Barviha or to visit county residences of your friends (be they dachas or mansions on Rublevka) - unless you seek adventures. Remember in Russia trouble looks for you. If you venture too far from center at night all decked in nice Guidi and Rick Owens, there is a good chance to get in a nice fist fight with roaming alcoholics taking their white bears for a walk (kidding about white bears).
Law Enforcement: It is still a disputed question if they are actually protecting someone and not a hazard. Technicly if they aproach you they probably do not speak english, and will try to get a bribe from you for violating one of various russian laws (imaginary or real). What my japanese partner does usually - he goes samurai blank on them till they go away. If they don't he calls his driver.
Transportation: Russian metro is epic. In terms of look and amount of people there. Haven't been there for a long time, but my assistants reassure me daily that it stayed the same. It can be a quick and cheap means of transportation. (Not sure on the prince but its def. <1$). On other hand you can just walk out on a road and extend hand. Gypsy cabs are cheap and reliable, do not put your wasted friends in them however. Finally taxis are same as everywhere else in the world I can recomend a few numbers where you get a nice mercedes with a english speaking driver.
Fun: Casinos are about to close up as Mr. Putin believes that gambling is bad. There are PLENTY of nightclubs and they can be extremly fun. For me they are angst incarnate as they fall into three kinds:
- Elitny Russian Club: currently Soho Rooms, The Most, Forbes and whatever crazy name that gives off wealth and coolness. What you can expect there is TON of very attractive women seeking mostly rich sponsors or dolce vita. Its very boring places unless your drunk or with lots of friends.
- More Bohemian clubs: like Simachev or Solyanka, filled mostly with more intellectual and fashionable crowd. You can meet people in Rick Owens or Julius there sometimes. Also can be very boring unless drunk, but the hot women there are mostly available and not object to monetary negotiation.
- Other places: Can be very dangerous and not so nice.
Restaraunts to visit:
- Pushkin: Russian cousine, if it exists. (this priceless advice will be given by anyone)
Part II:
More restaraunts:
MariVanna - now this one is nearly impossible to get into unless you have a reservation. It reminds of a intellectual dacha kitchen in soviet russia in interior and menu.
Luch - very busy bar/restaraunt at night. You can encounter anyone from Presidential administration to creative directors there. Lots of pretty women included. Better get reservation for night. For Friday-Saturday a few nights in advance. Highly recomended place.
Part III: Moscow important to know symbology:
Cars with headlights: They denote owners of life in here. Don't mess with guys who drive around in black BMW 7th, S-Class mercs and Audi A8s with blue headlights and carplate numbers like AMP, OOO, CCC - they tend to have world spanning connections of outmost seriousness.
If you see a relatively modest car like black ford focus with headlights and number like EKX following you - you must be doing something VERY wrong.
(Will continue to expand this later... Stupid meeting)
Currently I live there, and it offers a safe relief from Africa's savannahs and nearly same lever of savagery whenever needed. I live about 30 km from center, south west in calm quiet county get away, behind a nice guarded wall. Naturally it takes me a while to get to the city, but all in all its fairly easy as all of my offices are located along the way to Center (crafty life management). So to be throughout here is the break in:
Weather: Weather is horribly predictable. You get about 6 sunny days a month. If you expect weather change, expect the worse. Generally best to visit during autumn - its relatively cool and sometimes a bit rainy, but quite beautiful in auburn colours... February is worst month to visit, you are garanteed extreme cold and extremly dirty streets. Summer is very hot 30C+ and its intolerable in a huge city. So weather wise Moscow is particulary not so nice. Spring can be rather cold and whats worse VERY dirty as all the snow melts. May is a VERY nice month though.
Architecture: Russian architects were always world famous. Thus the best buildings were traditionally built by Italian architects. All in all, its diverse and wierd. But there are very nice parts around Kremlin.
People: Russians are grim, moody and passionate people with heavy inner angst seeping through their determined eyes. This is true for men. Women tend to be rather pretty. All in all there are plenty of english speaking people, so it should be easy for you to find someone to communicate with. Do not venture too far from Center unless your going to Barviha or to visit county residences of your friends (be they dachas or mansions on Rublevka) - unless you seek adventures. Remember in Russia trouble looks for you. If you venture too far from center at night all decked in nice Guidi and Rick Owens, there is a good chance to get in a nice fist fight with roaming alcoholics taking their white bears for a walk (kidding about white bears).
Law Enforcement: It is still a disputed question if they are actually protecting someone and not a hazard. Technicly if they aproach you they probably do not speak english, and will try to get a bribe from you for violating one of various russian laws (imaginary or real). What my japanese partner does usually - he goes samurai blank on them till they go away. If they don't he calls his driver.
Transportation: Russian metro is epic. In terms of look and amount of people there. Haven't been there for a long time, but my assistants reassure me daily that it stayed the same. It can be a quick and cheap means of transportation. (Not sure on the prince but its def. <1$). On other hand you can just walk out on a road and extend hand. Gypsy cabs are cheap and reliable, do not put your wasted friends in them however. Finally taxis are same as everywhere else in the world I can recomend a few numbers where you get a nice mercedes with a english speaking driver.
Fun: Casinos are about to close up as Mr. Putin believes that gambling is bad. There are PLENTY of nightclubs and they can be extremly fun. For me they are angst incarnate as they fall into three kinds:
- Elitny Russian Club: currently Soho Rooms, The Most, Forbes and whatever crazy name that gives off wealth and coolness. What you can expect there is TON of very attractive women seeking mostly rich sponsors or dolce vita. Its very boring places unless your drunk or with lots of friends.
- More Bohemian clubs: like Simachev or Solyanka, filled mostly with more intellectual and fashionable crowd. You can meet people in Rick Owens or Julius there sometimes. Also can be very boring unless drunk, but the hot women there are mostly available and not object to monetary negotiation.
- Other places: Can be very dangerous and not so nice.
Restaraunts to visit:
- Pushkin: Russian cousine, if it exists. (this priceless advice will be given by anyone)
Part II:
More restaraunts:
MariVanna - now this one is nearly impossible to get into unless you have a reservation. It reminds of a intellectual dacha kitchen in soviet russia in interior and menu.
Luch - very busy bar/restaraunt at night. You can encounter anyone from Presidential administration to creative directors there. Lots of pretty women included. Better get reservation for night. For Friday-Saturday a few nights in advance. Highly recomended place.
Part III: Moscow important to know symbology:
Cars with headlights: They denote owners of life in here. Don't mess with guys who drive around in black BMW 7th, S-Class mercs and Audi A8s with blue headlights and carplate numbers like AMP, OOO, CCC - they tend to have world spanning connections of outmost seriousness.
If you see a relatively modest car like black ford focus with headlights and number like EKX following you - you must be doing something VERY wrong.
(Will continue to expand this later... Stupid meeting)
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