Charity in Moscow. Charity Shop

Nowadays charity has become very popular in Moscow.

One of the places is the Charity Shop "Lavka radostey" (The store of pleasures) near the Red Square.

The idea of the shop is the following: anyone interested may come to the shop and buy anything they like. They pay as much as they think the thing should cost. There are no prices there.
All the things sold there are gifts of different people, organisations, designers.
Remember that the shop rents a room in the gallery of dolls. To enter the gallery you should pay 150 rub. Then you save the ticket and may come to the shop any time you want without payment.
Moreover, if you come to bring things in a good condition to sell, you should not pat anything for entrance.

It is the first shop like this in Moscow.

Address: Vetoshniy Pereulok, 13. Floor 4.
The shop works from 13.00 till 20.30 daily, except for Monday and Thursday/

Observations...

6.04.13.

Weather. Moscow is still covered with deep snow. Snowdrifts are still as high as a human. 

But there is spring in the air. a bit of it. Birds start singing which is a good sign of the coming spring. 

However, weather forecasters predict there will be no spring, just summer after winter. 

We'll see. 

Metro. As we have noticed it's rather difficult to get into a metro carriage, especially during rush-hours. Too many people and almost each of the desires to get a seat. Sometimes you fail to get into a carriage because there are too many people willing to do the same.. or you are brought in the carriage as if you are surfing a big wave..because again there are too many people.. Nobody wants to let people go out from the carriage to get in there then.

To lessen the pressure in the metro, to make it easier to find the right place on the platform to enter the doors of the carriage when the train comes the Moscow government decides to draw yellow lines on the floor which are to show the position of doors. Hope, it will help.

If you are attentive you will surely notice that voices that declare metro stations differ. If you go to the center these are women voices, if you go from the center - a man declares stations. This is made to help blind people.

Streets. It is also interesting that almost on every door in Moscow, either of any shop or a cafe, there is a yellow circle. The Muscovites asked themselves what for there are so many yellow circles.. The answer is the following: these measures have been taken to help people who have a bad eyesight to orientate themselves in the streets. As doctors say, the yellow colour is best seen by such people. As far as the form is concerned, I suppose, the round form is chosen as it resembles the eye, or the pupil of the eye. 

Hotels and Hostels in Moscow. Park Kultury. Kropotkinskaya.

If you are exploring the central district of Mosow "Hamovniki", it would be very convenient to live somewhere here. Because it's almost the center of the city and you can easily reach any sightseeing in the center, on your feet!

There is a list of hotels and hostels near the metro stations Park Kultury and Kropotkinskaya.

Hotels:

Grosshotel - a min hotel providing 29 rooms for any taste.
Address: m. Park Kulruty or Kropotkinskaya. Prechistenskaya nab 15, building1

Cost: varies from 3200 rub to 6800 rub per day...

Official website: http://en.deluxehotel.ru/

NB: calls are free. 

Versal in Ostozhenka - a mini hotel.

Address: m. Park Kultury; Str. Ostozhenka 7, apt. 54

Cost: from 2900 per night.

Official website: http://en.gmhotel.ru/

Bagration - a big hotel with 46 rooms.

Address: m. Park Kultury. Sechenovskiy Pereulok 7a

Cost: from 2000 rub per night

Official website: http://bagrationhotel.ru/

NB: the site is in Russian only. It's better to write a letter to book a room and ask all the necessary questions.

Hostels:

Kolumb - a hostel providing 4 rooms for 12 and 8 people.

Address: m. Park Kultury, Zubovskiy Boulevard, 35/ 1, apt. 1.

Cost: 500 rub for one night. If you are going to stay there longer, it'll be 400 rub per night.

Official website: http://kolumb-hostel.com/

NB: the site is in Russian. 

Fabrika - a hostel and a gallery at the same time.

Address: m. Kropotkinskaya (the opposite bank of the river). Bersenevskiy Pereulok 5 bld .3/

Cost: 550 rub per night

Official website: http://fabrika-hostel.ru/

If you need any help, be free to ask Explorer.

All the information is provided by the hotels ans hostels mentioned above.

April Fool's Day in Moscow

This year mother-nature has decided to mock at Muscovites.
The winter has been "occupying" the city for 4 months already and does not seem to leave it.
Today the weather is at its best. In the morning it was snowing, which caused traffic jams.
Now (12.12 pm) it is RAINING.

Rainy-snowy Moscow.

"Weather forecasters predict there will be less snow in summer "

1. The picture # 1 is taken from the site http://svo2.ru/
2. The photo # 2 is taken from the site http://www.vluki.ru/news/2013/03/31/219060.html .

Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

The Cathedral  in front of Kropotkinskaya is Russian main orthodox church.
It is placed on the bank of Moskva-river so that its grand golden dome may be seen from everywhere.

The history of the cathedral deserves special mention.
In 1832 its first project was confirmed by architect Konstantin Ton. It took about 40 years to build this church, which was to honour the war of 1812 between Russia and France.
Unfortunately, it was detonated in 1931. Soon a new swimming-pool appeared at that place.
Only in the 80s the government decided to restore the temple. Five years later the construction was over. Only in 2000 it was hallowed.

The height of the cathedral is 102m, the width - 85 m. It can seat 10,000 people at a time.
What is interesting, is that that the gold cupolas resemble an onion which in their turn look like helmets of great Russian epic heroes - Bogatir.

Tourist may visit the cathedral, order excursions, enjoy a marvellous sight of Moscow from the cathedral's observation deck.

Address: Volkhonka St, 15
It works daily 10.00-17.00. On Fridays 13.00-17.00
Official website: http://www.xxc.ru/english/index.htm

"Bogatiri" by V. Vasnetsov, 1898

Taxi in Moscow

Sometimes it happens that you catch a taxi driver, but he, unfortunately, doesn't speak any language you understand..and there are no people around to explain him where to drive..
In this case try any of the following taxi companies with operators who understand English. It would be of great help to you in any tricky situation.

Here is the list of taxi companies from the journal "Moscow Expat Life" which we've found by chance in the American Center in Moscow.

Bee Car  +7495-579-48-10 - here you can also rent a car

Taxi 956 +7 495-956-8-956 

New Moscow Taxi + 7 495-780-67-80

Moscow Taxi +7 499-995-0652

Formula Taxi +7-495-777-8-777

But, to tell the truth, we prefer metro, buses etc. or simple walking than using taxi...just because it's cheaper)

Gogolevskiy Boulevard

Kropotkinskaya station resembles the sun with its rays which can lead you to beautiful and exciting places of interest. Directly in front of it is the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour. If we go to the left we'll see the famous Pushkin museum... and if we walk behind the station we'll find ourselves in Gogolevsky Boulevard.

Gogolevsky Boulevard is one of the tenth Boulevards of Moscow which form the famous Garden Ring (Sadovoe Koltso), or Boulevard Ring.
Gogolevsky Boulevard is one of the most beautiful historical places of Moscow. The Boulevard was opened in 1909, but had another name "Prechistinskiy". The name originated from the word "Chistiy" meaning "clean". But in 1924 it was renamed into Gogolevskiy in honour of the famous  Russian writer Nikolay Gogol. At the end of the Boulevard there is a grand monument in his honour.

Another monument is devoted to another Russian writer , Mikhail Sholokhov, and his novel "Tihiy Don" (Still Don).

The Boulevard has a so called three-level structure as once there used to be a river with the banks of different level. That is why the eminence of the boulevard varies.

The architecture of this place is worth seeing. It presents buildings which survived the Great Fire of 1812. More to it, different merchants and famous people like Pushkin or Turgenev of the 19th century.

Nowadays you can be lucky to find there exhibited photos. Sometimes even artists exhibit and sell their works of art there. You can buy anything you like, or just enjoy.

It's especially good there in summer. When it's warm and you can enjoy a beautiful day and trees around you    sitting on a bench...with an ice-cream... )

Blini, samovar, Maslenitsa in Moscow

Maslenitsa (Масленица) or Pancake Week is an ancient Slavic holiday which symbolises the end of the long winter and meeting of the long-awaited spring. It is one of the few ancient traditions which is celebrated nowadays in Russia. This year winter does not seem to give way to spring as it is still snowing here.

The celebration got its name due to the butter (maslo) which was allowed to eat during the festive week. After this week Lent follows which lasts till Easter.

Each day of the week has its name and its traditions, for example, a day of meeting, flirting, revelry, companies. The most important day is Sunday: people ask each other to forgive them. Moreover, Sunday is a farewell of winter: a scarecrow is to be burnt. The scarecrow is associated with Miss Winter who does not want to leave the country. While she is burning everyone is shouting something like "Blaze,blaze, don't go out!" or "Winter, go away!"..

Other attributions of the holiday are pancakes (blini) with jams or caviar, outdoor festivals which include singing songs or chastooshka (a very short, but funny verse accompanied by accordion) and sport games of all kinds (e.g. pulling the rope).

This year, 2013, main festivals take place in all the parks of Moscow. People can buy blini - the minimal cost   is 70 rub. - and take part in different competitions or even workshops.

The attached video in Russian shows the festival in Gorkiy  Park (metro station Park Kultury, Oktyabrskaya).

Current Exhibitions in Moscow. March'13

Recently we have found some recommendations on which exhibitions to visit during the March, 2013 in Moscow.

Here is the list of the so called best exhibitions of March.

1) What: Dior Couture. The exhibition of photos by a French photographer Patrick Demarshelje, who in his works presents the history of Dior. 
  When: 7 March - 3 April
  Where: Exhibiting Center "Manezh" (Манеж.) . Address: Manezhnaya Square, 1. Metro stations: Ohotniy Ryad, Biblioteka imeni Lenina, Aleksandrovskiy Sad.
  Admission fee: 200-300r.

2) What: Best of Russia'12. Annual photo exhibition devoted to the most relevant events of 2012.
    When: 14 February – 24 March
    Where: Winzavod Center for Contemporary Art. Address: 4th Syromyatnicheskiy Lane, 1, bld 6. Metro station: Kurskaya.
    Admission fee: 200.
    Website: http://www.winzavod.ru/eng/

3) What:  It's Paris! the photo exhibition of the French photographers of the 20-50th. 
    When: 21 February - 19 May.
    Where: Multimedia Art Museum. Address: Ostozhenka,16. Metro Stations: Park Kultury, Kropotkinskaya.
    Admission fee: 50-300r. the 3d Sunday is free!

4) What: Design Territory. The exhibition is devoted to urbanisation and the cities' improvement. 
     When: 25 February - 24 March
     Where: Winzavod Center for Contemporary Art. Address: 4th Syromyatnicheskiy Lane, 1, bld 6. Metro station: Kurskaya.
    Admission fee: free
    Website: http://www.winzavod.ru/eng/

Moscow Explorer is sure to visit at least one of the exhibitions. Follow us!

Moscow Metro. Park Kultury VS Kropotkinskaya

To reach Ostozhenka you may choose any metro station either Park Kultury or Kropotkinskaya.
We've chosen Park Kultury.

Park Kultury was opened in 1935 as a station of the first metro line (Sokolnicheskaya). It was named after the park which is situated near this metro station and has the same name. To find that park you should cross the bridge over Moskva-river. (about that Park we'll speak later))
The metro station has, so to say, two stations - the 1st one is on the red line, the 2nd - on the brown ring (was opened in 1950). (Circle line, or Koltsevaya).

Park Kultury.Circle line.

Red line

Kropotkinskaya station was also opened in 1935 as one of the 1st metro stations, it is next to Park Kultury.
There is also much to explore around it : Gogolevsky Boulevard which goes to Arbat, in front of the metro is the famous Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, near it the Pushkin Museum. 

Kropotkinskaya station. Entrance.

Kropotkinskaya station. Hall.