The Metro (subway) Map of Moscow
The Metro (subway) is Fantastic in Moscow
Moscow is a big, modern city. The subway system is enormous and far more convenient and efficient than Washington’s, and probably even New York. An example? We walked to the metro on a Sunday morning and got on a train in about 30 seconds. There was another just a few minuets behind that. In DC, this Sunday trip would most likely have taken 15-20 minutes. The subway stations are also grand and over the top palace-like structures deep, deep underground. The Soviets took great pride in the metro system and used it as a showcase of how their system could work and provide great things for its people (of course, the subway worked, not much else did).
A Moscow Metro Station
The Malls and Stores Are Shiny
Aside from the fact that communication for me is nearly impossible, going to the mall by the Kievskaya metro station is exactly like going to a mall in DC…or rather, LA. Perhaps even nicer. It is very modern, very clean and very expensive. The mall is so huge and extensive that instead of a static map display to help you find you way, there is a large interactive touchscreen device that lets you search for stores by name, type, etc and then guides you there via a series of zooming maps and pictures.
No Change for You!
Like a lot of countries around the world, Russians hate making change. I’m not talking about a cashier giving you the eye for trying to pay for a $5 item with a Benjamin, I’m talking like enduring a 5 minute argument/discussion when trying to pay with a 100 RUB note for something that is 42 RUB. Keep in mind, this is the equivalent of trying to pay with $3 for something that is $1.30 or so. Also, credit cards are still not universally accepted. USA takes the cake when it comes to making change…we seem to love it.
Moscow is Clean!
This is a very early comparison to make, but the limited areas of Moscow we have walked through so far have been very clean. Just as clean as any nice American city, and far cleaner than NYC or similar metropolises. It sounds strange to say a city is “clean”, but not after you’ve been to capital cities like Cairo. Many major cities across the world are disturbingly filthy. Moscow, so far, is not. What were you picturing?
America, Meet Russia 