Strangers in Moscow

I have been off regular The Portmanteau duty for the last few days as I head east on my travels to Mother Russia. A combination of night trains and hostels have allowed me to spend a couple of days in one of the most expensive - and dangerous - cities in the world. From the outset, Moscow seems harsh and intimidating. It's quite difficult to navigate with no knowledge of the Cyrillic alphabet and the Muscovites we encountered spoke little English and had no time for tourists. After being shouted at by nine different people at Leningradsky Station, I finally managed to purchase a train ticket. And when one of my friends almost got knocked down by the side of a road, a passer-by just shrugged and said "It's Russia". But if you get a good map and persevere, you shall be rewarded for your efforts. The usual suspects - Red Square, the Kremlin Wall, St. Basil's Cathedral, Lenin's Mausoleum - are all amazing and I was completely blown away by the interior of the underground which is so beautiful and a must-see attraction in itself.