Reflections on a Moscow Visit

(Tis' amazing! We are cruising down the Volga River with an internet connection!)

Having departed Moscow I find myself reflecting on the varied impressions left by the historic city. While recognizing a three day visit to a small part of a huge city cannot be comprehensive I offer these thoughtlets.

ENERGY: The place simply pulses with energy. The people, the cars, the construction cranes all suggest a city alive and changing.

FLASHY CARS: My image of Soviet era cars has been smashed. Govenment cars seem to be shiny black BMW's, Audi's and Mercedes. Ford has plants in the country and the police cars sport the blue Ford oval. Western auto makers and Russian money have come together.

A SHINING CLEAN CITY: As a whole, parts of the city we visited were incredibly well maintained. The streets and Metro stations were sparkling. Graffitti was minimal.

HOUSING: We are told housing is in short supply and expensive. But the architects have come out of hiding and new apartments eflect new directions in Russian design. For those that prefer the suburbs, billboards advertise new single famiy homes available in the region.

FASHION: Men and women proclaim the cosmopolitan nature of the city with contemporary fashion well worn. The prevalance of ultra high heels on the women even surprised our St. Petersburg based guide.

SHOPPING: In 1990 a Russian visitor to our home described Soviet era retailing for us: Few shops, limited stock, poor quality and no selection. In retailing, capitalism has been embraced. We visited well stocked, "western" style shops in many locations. Signs and billboards try to draw you into shopping malls that didn't exist 20 years ago. The retailing revolution is one of the most visible signs of change.

RELIGION: It's back! During the Soviet era churches are destroyed and religion discouraged. Some wondered if, after several generations of Soviet rule, a religious soul still existed. It appears that it does. New churches have been built on the ruins of the old. Decayed churches are being restored. Russian Orthodox Easter was last weekend and Pesident Putin was in attendance at services broadcast on TV. A remarkable change.

From what we saw during our short stay, this a truly a new Russia. Now we are off to the country. We are told to expect a different Russia, away from the big city.