In Moscow, Tourists beware the uniform

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Opinion
Barry Artiste, Now Public Contributor

A US Journalists perspective on his visit to Moscow, certainly makes me wonder if there is another Moscow out there somewhere, perhaps in Idaho.  Certain biases on  Moscow and the Russian people  fill many US published  Tourist  Books, rampant crime, gunfire in the streets,  long lines for food, bring your own water and toilet paper and other non sensical ramblings making North Americans think that perhaps the outdated notion that Moscow and Russians today are the same Russians during Communist times. Nothing could be further from the truth.  Moscovites by an large, though poor salary wise, make do and are happy, preferring not to dwell on their situation and will give you the shirt off their backs when they show you hospitality, giving you the largest portion of food or drink.  A heartwarming tradition.

For sake of argument I will concentrate on Moscow and the People, and dispute what this reporters observations are based on his story, letting Now Public readers know this reporters observations were certainly an exception to the rule, and itemise subject by subject my version based on his version. 

My observations having lived and worked for a time in Moscow is certainly different than his biased observations.  First off, I have been to Veterans parades, and granted drinking in public is allowed in some circumstances such as parks, not streets (though I have seen it on occasion) Public drunkeness is forbidden with Militias and Police ever present will curtail your warpoling activities pretty quickly regardless if you are drunk in uniform, there is a  modicum of pride in their armed forces, though a few bad apples will  spoil it for others.

In  approaching Police or Militia  as a tourist,  I had many times, only to be greeted in friendly terms, including photo ops of Guards with machine guns (I will post later when I scan them) at the ready within Red Square, who were all too willing to have their photos taken, of which upon photo developing duplicates in the  Arbut district, I gratefully gave them copies.  As for the many red stars, hammers and sickles, well for the most part when I was there (a few years ago) most were removed except the odd iron gates and fences outside some building, most likley due to cost.  There are none in Red Square or in the Kremlin.

On Cleanliness, Moscow is one of the cleanest cities I have ever been in, smog is a problem, but so is it in most major cities. 

The only long lines I ever encountered during my time in Moscow, was at Arbuts MacDonalds, and the Alfa banks, staffed with what only can be described as (Married with Children) Peg Bundy style tellers disinterested in helping anyone until their nails dried, gossiping amongst themselves and what seemed to be them taking 15 minute coffee breaks every hour, this much to the outrage of Muscovites and tourists alike.

For ease of travel, I have piloted a rather large russian yacht down the Moscow River which runs beside Saint Basils Cathedral and Russian Parliament at Red Square, taken gypsy cabs mostly, because legit cabs break down frequently, one time I had to push a cab  along  on my way to the Puskin museum for a 1/4 kilometer and paid for the privilege as I felt sorry for the cabbie.

Gorky Park was an eye opener as I had read spy books, seen spy movies where  murder and intrigue were common in the secret agent world.   Imagine my surprise to  see a PNE style amusement park and  not the dark and isolated park scenes portrayed in spy movies.

On the subject of the underground metro,  it was stunning, though  post world war I  architecture, it was nicer than  most  art-sculpture museums I have attended in Canada or elsewhere.  Some metro art pieces were stunning, yet the metro was relatively clean, though the train cars left a lot to be desired as they looked right out of the 1960s, but were functional.

As for personal safety, though crime is a serious problem as it is in any metropolitian city worldwide, I have walked the streets alone day and late at night and at no time did I fear for my safety whatsoever. I saw no visual crime or gunfire on the streets. The old adage of "Where is a Cop when you need one", certainly does not apply here, as they are virtually everywhere and within your line of sight the whole time.  Of course you do not flout your status and dress as someone with money regardless if you are a Muscovite or tourist, that is just asking for it, regardless if you are in Moscow or New York. Do Police and Militia take Bribes, sadly most certainly, due to their  100 dollar a month salary, though I have never given a bribe and  had been stopped a few times for a document check, once they saw my Canadian Passport, a handshake followed, some dialogue in broken english, about Canada, though I speak Russian (Badly), but good enough to get into venues and pay Moscovite prices, as there  is a price  (Higher)  for  Tourists and a price for  Moscovites, which is a mere couple of rubles, say, for instance to attend the Bolshoi Ballet.

True some Police, Militia and Citizens will stare suspiciously at you, but most likely if you stand out, as I am certain this reporter must have. If you as a tourist stare at someone in disgust or amusement at someone either a babuska selling flowers, a gypsy performer, beggar or someone obviously drunk on the street with your notebook and camera in hand, you will certainly be treated differently, you need to show empathy and smile. Maybe it is Canadian versus American thing.

Another reason this reporter may have aroused suspicion could be their dress e.g: Bermuda shorts, baseball cap,  sandals,  Loud shirts that yell to the world that you are different.   The mode of dress among Russian men is casual mostly versus Russian women who dress like Supermodels even if they are only going out to get the newspaper.

I think the most unfortunate part of Moscow Culture is the War on Terror, recent bombings and terrorist acts against Muscovites certainly have them on edge. One thing that is certain is that anyone not visibly White in appearance and who has dark mediteranean features will certainly get you stopped more often by Police, Militia or seen by Moscovites with suspicion more so than anyone  who otherwise looks Nordic in appearance.  Perhaps that may explain the American reporters indifference, his skin colour, though not certain as I have not seen a photo of him.

Traffic and Drivers in Moscow, my only comment is, Pedestrians beware. Walking across the streets of a busy Moscow intersection, is akin to walking across the lanes of a Nascar Speedway in full swing. 

My Final Thought

Upon leaving Moscow for Canada, my experiences were nothing but positive, I have partied with Moscovites, Laughed and dined with Moscovites, recieved parting gifts from them, and truly miss Moscow and the historical and culture that is Russian. Granted Moscow has social problems much like any other city in the world, it is just some Western Countries love to dwell on the negative of Russia, instead of the positive. But then this story is about the Tourists and not of the citizenry which is whole different story.

Perhaps my time was made easier in Russia due to my motto that when in another country either as a tourist or recent immigrant you should do as the ancient romans declared to all, that when in Rome.... do as the Romans, assimilate, embrace and be one with Russians, something Canadians and Americans and Immigrants can take a page from. 

Once I scan some of my photos of Moscow I will post them on here.

Sorry for the long story here, but felt this was important to me to write about.