Thread: Only The Beginning

IMO 1992 was probably the worst time to visit Russia ever (at least during my lifetime) for a tourist. Although, it was the time of a major historical turnpoint -- the collapse of a huge empire. Something to remember. It was bleak though.

Originally Posted by Ramil

IMO 1992 was probably the worst time to visit Russia ever (at least during my lifetime) for a tourist. Although, it was the time of a major historical turnpoint -- the collapse of a huge empire. Something to remember. It was bleak though.

My best friend and i wanted to travel there in '93 (to Moscow, to visit a guy we knew who was temporarily living there, doing some wheeling and dealing... ). My dad (and hers) who are usually quite relaxed and don't mind much what we do, got absolutely livid and forbade it. We ended up not going, because we actually got quite scared ourselves - endless shootouts and stories about blackmail, human trafficking and scary stuff. The same year, I think, I was in Israel that was packed with newly-arrived Russians who swore that Russia was hell on earth and starting from scratch in Israel was a better prospect than remaining where they were. I did not get the impression that religion or ethniticity had anything to do with their decision to emigrate, just a desire to get away. Not inspiring!

I agree that it was considered practically suicidal to travel to either Moscow or St Petersburg at that time! It's only just recently that regular people are really beginning to get their head around the fact that those crazy days are over. Whereas end 1980s, going to Leningrad for a weekend or short trip was considered rather chic and avantgarde. People went there for all sorts of reasons, and the idea was that it was absolutely 100% safe. I have heard it said here that it was required that tourists had a guide, but this was not strictly enforced when i visited, at least.

Early 90s - such a sad time too - I remember TV showing people standing at the pavements and selling their personal possessions like medals, jewellery and even kitchen utensils! And you all lived right in the middle of the drama and danger!
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, I guess. But it must have been nasty, at least for some. Frankly, i simply can't imagine how tough that must have been.

But as a result of the supposed danger of going to Russia in the early 90s, I have been several times to St Petersburg, but NEVER to Moscow! And last summer, i AGAIN missed my chance to go to Moscow, because I messed up the situation with visa, and didn't get a visa to Russia. blah!

And as a contrast to the 1990s: My grandfather used to tell a story about how, mid 1980s, he travelled to some Central Asian Soviet republic to visit some factories for carpet production. I think the place was callled Turkistan, or something like that. Later, he stayed a couple of days in Moscow, before returning home. As it turned out, he had forgotten some item of clothing at the hotel in Central Asia, but not noticed. However, the hotel in Central Asia noticed it, tracked him down in Moscow and had his gloves, or whatever it was, SENT to him in Moscow.... All this happened in only a couple of days. Just to give him back his gloves (I think it was gloves, forgot the details). He was simply impressed that they went to so much trouble for a visitor, for a rather insignificant piece of clothing. Although he was not massively keen on the USSR, he like this aspect of it.