Moscow Notes
GUM, Red Square, Moscow
In October 2019, the Doman International Team conducted appointments in Moscow, Russia. Despite the unpredictable, cold weather in Moscow this time, we still managed to enjoy a lot of things Moscow has to offer. We asked some of our staff to share their impressions of this city, some of which might sway you to visit it too!
Favorite place to bring tourists
by Natasha Lunkina
Red Square
“The Kremlin and Red Square were together recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1990, due to their inextricable links to Russian history since the 13th century”
Zhostovo painting
by Jagjit Kaur
Zhostovo painting (Жо́стовская ро́спись) is the Russian folk handicraft that goes back 200 years old, to the 19th century. It shares its name with the village it originated in - Zhostovo, located in the Moscow region. This form of crafts is most recognizable by the distinct flowers hand painted on metal trays.
Izmailovsky flea market
by Alex del Rosario
Stop by Moscow’s most famous and largest flea market where you will find a lot more than just shashlik and some Russian dolls - you can scour through many interesting items from the Soviet era and bargain with the real dealers.
You have to get here on a weekend before noon to pick up the authentic and non-authentic treasures of all kinds.
Get swept along with the crowds and explore the stalls that offer items ranging from Russian hats for tourists to old Soviet records, crockery, postcards, books, unique paintings, dials and watch straps from the Soviet era, some seriously shabby, moth-eaten clothing, and much more.
“Follow the smell of burning charcoal to the fake Russian wooden village that cater to the hungry tourists with freshly grilled meats and good old Russian beer. ”
After a bite and a beer, try to find your way out of the maze of this wooden village that has an endless display of typical Russian embroidered bags and scarves, mass produced espresso cups, fabergé eggs and earrings.
I picked up locally designed bags and shirts to gift my relatives back home. Remember to try your hand at or brush up on your bargaining skills! The sellers here start with sky-high prices for tourists and foreigners.
first time in Moscow
by Emma Esperanza
This was my first trip to Moscow and we visited the Red Square area that houses the Kremlin, the famous Saint Basil’s Cathedral, GUM (a large mall that has high-tier luxury stores), the Tomb of The Unknown Soldiers, and has the river running adjacent to it. I saw even more sights when we went on a boat ride up and down. We saw the Alonka headquarters that is no longer functional and has instead moved to the outskirts of the city.
The food scene in Moscow is quite varied as well. Russia offers more than just pickled vegetables and vodka. Georgian food is abundantly available in Moscow. Hearing about past trips from my coworkers, I was excited to try Korean food in Moscow and it did not disappoint.
We also ate at Torro Grill, a restaurant that has American barbeque foods - pork ribs, burgers, salads, etc. and the food was amazing.
Moscow is a city with diverse activities. My first trip to Moscow led me to experience the famous Bolshoi theatre, different sights around Khamovniki district, Rossiyskaya Gosudarstvennaya Biblioteka (the biggest public library) in Tverskoy, and some malls and stores.
Here, you will realize that the city of Moscow, contrary to popular belief, is very modern and well connected with good streets and roads. The highly punctual trains are clean and run very frequently.
Nightime walks around the city are a must. The brightly lit-up buildings provide a stunning backdrop and are sure to get more likes than any other photo your Instagram has.
Gaelic football
by Spencer Doman, M.Ed.
On the weekends, Melissa and I practiced with the Moscow Shamrocks, a Gaelic football team who invited us to join and play. The team has international players including Russians, Americans, Irish, British, and other countries. They were a welcome and kind group of people to invite total strangers to come play with them. It was chilly and it hailed during one practice, as temperatures were close to freezing. We all braved the weather, though, and enjoyed our time together.
Radisson Blu like a second home
by Rosalind Doman
How truly wonderful it is to get off the Airplane in Moscow and to take a 15-minute walk to one’s home for 2 weeks. The Doman International staff and I spent two weeks in the Radisson Blu in Sheremetyevo Airport.
It is always wonderful to get off the Airplane in Moscow and take a 15-minute walk to one’s home for 2 weeks. The Doman International staff and I spent two weeks in the Radisson Blu in Sheremetyevo Airport. You may think this is an awful way to spend two weeks but it really is not.
The staff at the hotel fights over who takes care of us. They have fallen in love with our families, our work, and especially the kids. The staff knows it is an honor to be able to take care of Doman International team. They make it easy for us to come to Moscow.