Within sight of the hammer above the sickle at Smolesk station, breakfast was supplied by the Attendant and It seemed to consist of a big marsh mallow and a wafer Vanila Biscuit (See pic)
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A visit to the samovar provided a coffee courtesy Portishead Waitrose.(I had bought two boxes of coffee with milk sachets to mix with hot water -they proved to be a good investment as the trip progressed.)
Precisely on time at 1145 we arrived at Moscow Belarus terminal station. And a bit of culture shock it was too! This was nothing like a big station terminus in a UK city. There were no shops on the concourse and security guards were everywhere. We had not been able to get any Roubles (Russian money) outside Russia so plan was to get underground tickets by credit card and travel to the hotel and to change any further money there. However, the underground ticket machines had no provision for credit cards so we had no Russian money and needed another plan. There was a sign up outside a building Which said "money exchange" so I ventured inside with some US dollars. Immediately I was challenged by a security guard and asked what I wanted. I held up the US dollars and was then waved through. I followed another woman through corridors, rooms and doors until I found myself outside again in a courtyard. Not wanting to become lost or locked out I retraced my steps back towards the entrance. On passing through one of the high ceilinged rooms I had noted a metal box A large metal box 3m x 3m about 3m x which looked like a giant free standing cash machine. I inspected this A bit closer and saw a small silver button about 2/3 of the way up one side. I pressed it and immediately a panel swung open revealing a woman sitting behind a cash desk! I Held up the dollars and she gave me Roubles and I left the sliding shut door behind me! I was beginning to wonder what we had got ourselves into coming here to Moscow. It seemed an austere angry looking city with security guards on each street corner and very little to help the foreigner just ariving.
Undeterred and with some Russian money we made for the underground got our tickets and made the hotel no problem. The hotel was great and staff very helpful and the receptionist spoke English. Feeling a bit better about the place we had a walk out this evening amongst the sights of Moscow but Red Square was cordoned off as a parade is due. The old Gum store, which I always used to remember being mentioned in Soviet days, is now transformed into a impressive shopping arcade.
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Precisely on time at 1145 we arrived at Moscow Belarus terminal station. And a bit of culture shock it was too! This was nothing like a big station terminus in a UK city. There were no shops on the concourse and security guards were everywhere. We had not been able to get any Roubles (Russian money) outside Russia so plan was to get underground tickets by credit card and travel to the hotel and to change any further money there. However, the underground ticket machines had no provision for credit cards so we had no Russian money and needed another plan. There was a sign up outside a building Which said "money exchange" so I ventured inside with some US dollars. Immediately I was challenged by a security guard and asked what I wanted. I held up the US dollars and was then waved through. I followed another woman through corridors, rooms and doors until I found myself outside again in a courtyard. Not wanting to become lost or locked out I retraced my steps back towards the entrance. On passing through one of the high ceilinged rooms I had noted a metal box A large metal box 3m x 3m about 3m x which looked like a giant free standing cash machine. I inspected this A bit closer and saw a small silver button about 2/3 of the way up one side. I pressed it and immediately a panel swung open revealing a woman sitting behind a cash desk! I Held up the dollars and she gave me Roubles and I left the sliding shut door behind me! I was beginning to wonder what we had got ourselves into coming here to Moscow. It seemed an austere angry looking city with security guards on each street corner and very little to help the foreigner just ariving.
Undeterred and with some Russian money we made for the underground got our tickets and made the hotel no problem. The hotel was great and staff very helpful and the receptionist spoke English. Feeling a bit better about the place we had a walk out this evening amongst the sights of Moscow but Red Square was cordoned off as a parade is due. The old Gum store, which I always used to remember being mentioned in Soviet days, is now transformed into a impressive shopping arcade.
I am so sorry that you 'sold' me your rubles and had difficulties getting more, but I'm grateful for them; they got me out of a pickle!!
ReplyDeleteWasn't a problem Sonia; we had got some by the time we met.
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