Quote Originally Posted by ReDSanchous
Yet, you'd better have a guide. Most of those who speak no Russian whatsoever and go to Russia exclusively as tourists normally travel in a group with a guide. .
I absolutely agree with ReD... get a guide. There are many reputable guides available, and not very expensive. I know several in Moscow that I would trust with my life, and if you're going to Petersburg then one of my closest friends is a well-established guide there, not very expensive, and I HAVE trusted her with my life! Tanya can even teach you some Russian. She's an excellent teacher. PM me if you want contact info and her website. Oh, and no I have no financial gain at stake.

Anyway, echoing ReD and most everyone else, you're going to have a very tough time all alone if you don't at least have a basic grasp of the alphabet, and a few well-chosen phrases. The Metro alone will have you crying when you try to navigate it's tunnels and signs. Petersburg is fairly straight-forward, but Moscow... whoa, doggies!!! And if you run into the Moscow militzia within the central ring, oh no! Ouch! I've written about them before. You need a native with you.

The alphabet isn't that hard to learn... the problem is probably the "instant Russian" course you got. If you tell us the course we can probably steer you in the right direction for what you need.

Learn at least the basic words and phrases for common courtesy, and for navigation. You'll get a lot farther, and the people will warm-up to you much more, if you at least make the effort. Biggest problem for you, and there's no way around it, is that many people will start speaking high-speed to you and you won't have a clue what's going on.

Get a guide... a good one will not only show you the sights, and watch over you... but also will be priceless in introducing you to the culture and life of a Russian. "Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore!"