Is Russia that bad?

[edward_ce]

I was surfing for some information on Russia. I stumbled into a very interesting web site. It has a very interesting article for would-be travelers.

The site is
http://www.russiadirect.org/russiantravel/pageone.html#Appearance

What do you think of this article?

[Dr_Woland]

>> What do you think of this article? <<

It was poorly-informed rubbish when it was written.

Now it's OUT-DATED poorly-informed rubbish :-)

Dr W.

[virato]

Most of this article is right on. I spend about 4 to 5 months a year in both Moscow and St .Petersburg and I run special tours for single people. With the exception of exchange rates, most of the cultural stuff is right on.

Being in Russia today is no big thing. There aremoneyexchanges allover (U.S.dollars and German marks). The exchange right now (January 24, 2001) is 28 rubles to the dollar. Going the other way you get less than a dollar for 28 rubles.

If you would like to know anything else, just ask me.

You need to tak anything that Dr. W. says with a grain of salt. He is a jaded angy man. He more needs a doctor than is one. I have no idea how he got to be a moderator!

By the way, does anyone know what sort of doctor he is??

[Dr_Woland]

Virato

If you knew ANYTHING about Russia at all, you'd know who "Doctor Woland" is. Ask all the mafia friends you claim to have - even they might know? The fact that you don't rather undermines your claims to know so much about Russia. And you talk about "cultural stuff"! It's pretty sad.

It's also in my PROFILE, which is only a click away - you don't really have to go back to November to find old messages of mine to rubbish, y'know!

By the way, Edward was asking BEFORE his trip. He's been, gone, and come back, and doesn't really need your "help" any longer!

Dr W.

[glock_girl]

I heard only the part about the busses being like a sardine can. But these days, it's like that around here too sometimes.

Well, darn. I guess I can't bring a souvenir samovar back then.

[edward_ce]

I guess it was normal to get apprehensive about a strange place. But the particular web site mentioned here is rather too harsh about its criticisms on Russia.

Dr. W's posts were very authoritative. Whatever doubts I had before coming to Russia, Dr. W's expert advices made me finally decide on the trip.

If anybody wants to ask me some specifics about my Russian experience you are most welcome to do so.

For those who have second thoughts about visiting Russia, I assure you guys that you're going to have a grand time. Let me quote what the duty-free shop at the Moscow International Airport says: "It's a different world".

Yes, it is a different world. And may I add that it's a nice world.


-- Edward C. Evangelista




[Edited by edward_ce on 25th January 2001 at 22:02]

[glock_girl]

Hi Edward!

I am going as well in May this year. Oh, and people have been trying to scare me into not going. But, the opinions of those people were based upon what they saw about Russia from CNN, etc. In other words - the MEDIA. It's like going to a movie, I suppose. Some people will love it; others will hate it. It's best to go and make your OWN judgement. For me, I can't wait! Of course too, I suppose it helps if you know someone there!

Happy travels! Will you be visitng Russia.com during your trip at all? Where do you plan on going?

Amy