Travel Notes in Russia —— Experience in Moscow

Wen | Lin Ai

With the improvement of national life, traveling abroad is no longer something that ordinary people expect. Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia, visited 5, yuan in eight days, and we started our trip to Russia. This trip took a Russian flight. It was 7: 3 pm from Hohhot airport, and the plane kept flying northwest. The tour guide told us that it would take about seven and a half hours to arrive in Moscow. Because of the long flight for the first time, I feel wronged and look forward to arriving in this mysterious country as soon as possible.

As a China native who grew up watching movies of the former Soviet Union such as Lenin in 1918 and Battle of Stalingrad, Russia is my first choice for traveling abroad. I want to experience the vast and straightforward country and nation in this territory at close range. My seat is near the window of the engine room. There is not a cloud in the clear night sky. I look at the distant land from time to time. It has been flying for more than three hours and should be in Russian territory. Occasionally, sparse lights flashed outside the engine room, and the vast land became darker. Unlike our country, which passes by street lamps like golden necklaces from time to time, or cities as bright as burning flames.

after the rice was sent to stir-fry at about eight o'clock in the evening, most of the passengers were sleepy and closed their eyes. After twelve o'clock at night, the stewardesses handed boxes of hot noodles to people. Everyone opened their eyes and looked at each other. There was really no habit of eating food taken late at night. This incident also fully shows that Russia is a nation that acts according to the rules. No matter whether you eat or not, what you should do must be done.

At last, an endless light appeared in front of us. The Chinese broadcast in the cabin told passengers to fasten their seat belts. The plane will land in about twenty minutes. People are extremely excited, and they are sorting out their things and preparing to set foot on the land of Russia. I looked out the window at the house that was gradually parallel to the plane, and I didn't feel any friction with the ground. The plane had landed, and after a certain distance of taxiing, the plane stopped smoothly. The tour guide said that most of the pilots of Russian large passenger planes are retired fighter pilots. They were skilled and transported us safely to our destination, so that everyone applauded and thanked us, and then the passengers filed out. There are signs in Chinese in the aisles from time to time. It seems that the domestic legend that President Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Abe compete for tourists from China is not groundless. Japan still needs to apply for visas and other procedures, and Russia is exempt from visas. A large number of tourists have an inestimable role in stimulating the local economy. Russia and we are both friendly countries in the Belt and Road, and this year it has become a strategic partner, so there must be more tourists coming to visit. We are all from China on this flight, which shows how attractive Russia is.

when going through the entry formalities at the entry-exit gate, I found some foreigners with blue eyes and white skin wearing shorts T-shirts. Isn't that to say that the temperature here is lower than that in China? What's the matter with foreigners dressed so thinly? Before leaving, my wife coughed, and my daughter found all the thick clothes, a wool shawl, which I pulled out before leaving. How much can I wear in cold weather?

I feel chilly when I leave the terminal, and the sweater is just right for me. It seems that "Vienna" is really not afraid of cold, and it is really unusual for people to exercise without drinking hot water. When the bus headed for the city, it was exciting and novel not to pass by European buildings. There are more than 3 people in our party who are not sleepy at all. There is a five-hour time difference between Moscow and Beijing. At this moment, the sun in our country is a pole high, and it is high time to get up for breakfast.

This four-star hotel has 5 or 6 rooms, and the huge lobby is full of tourists who handle accommodation. They listen to Guangdong, Hebei and Shanxi accents, and ask each other. Their tour fee is not much higher than ours. I really don't know how the travel agency can make a profit at such a price.

It is hearsay that Russia is inefficient, which has been really verified at this moment. There are only two staff members in the counter. Because it is visa-free on arrival, tourists need to mortgage their passports in their hotels, but it still takes some time to process them. Fortunately, there are many young people with blue eyes and high nose drinking beer at the bar and open bar, and there is no snacks should we have on the table. Friends meet and hug each other, and the atmosphere is warm but not loud. The tour guide said that President Putin had ordered that liquor should be banned after eleven o'clock at night. Although Russia is an alcoholic nation, no one wants to break the bottom line and try the law by losing their freedom. Although I went through the registration formalities for nearly an hour, I have been enjoying the nightlife of Russian young people, and I didn't feel that it was too long.

After breakfast at eight o'clock the next morning, the bus pulled us to visit the Dongzhengda Church in Sergey town on the outskirts of Moscow. The church was as magnificent as a manor, with brightly painted roofs and some walls decorated with gold foil like the Winter Palace, Summer Palace and Amber Palace in St. Petersburg. Religion occupies an important position in this country, and heaven and hell play a very important role in restraining people's moral behavior.

having lunch in a Chinese restaurant in Moscow, with the sharp increase of tourists from China, Chinese restaurants have mushroomed. There is not only rice cooking, but also hot water. It's not like the legend in China that cold water makes my bowels run loose, but I never dare to "try my best" to cool milk in western food. Russian toilets charge fees, and some of them are automatic coin-in. These jokes will be stated later.

In the afternoon, the bus pulled us straight to the Red Square in Moscow. The Red Square is much smaller than Tiananmen Square in Beijing. The ground is paved with a stone half a foot square. The tour guide said that this stone is inserted into the ground for more than one meter and can withstand the crushing of heavy equipment such as parade tanks. On the Red Square, a group of children interact with people dressed in national costumes, as if to inspire children's imagination with fairy tales. Russia is vast in territory and abundant in natural resources, sparsely populated, and there are not many tourists in Moscow's Red Square, which is quiet and peaceful. Two soldiers on duty beside the purple Lenin's Mausoleum strolled leisurely. Lenin's Mausoleum didn't look outside, but silently missed the leader of the first socialist country in the world.

Every city in Russia has World War II monuments and memorials, as well as sculptures of famous generals. The most shocking thing is the burning torch under the red wall in Moscow. During World War II, 27 million Russians gave their lives, and only one head was buried here. Burying this nameless head here symbolizes every Russian who has shed blood for his country. The flame here will never go out, no matter day or night, windy or rainy. In sharp contrast with Lenin's Mausoleum, there are soldiers guarding the tomb with straight body and eyes in front.

There are as many as 36 military festivals in Russia every year, which is unique in the world. Russia also held a military parade in Red Square on Victory Day. The parade teams entered from the left and broke up after passing through Red Square, which had little impact on traffic. The grand and solemn military parade has played a positive role in the national defense and patriotic education of the whole people.

In sharp contrast to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, although the soldiers on duty in Red Square wear military uniforms and carry guns, they walk leisurely, which is not terrible and fierce at all, but more like ceremonial soldiers. The Kremlin, which covers an area of 26 hectares, has stood resolutely on the west side of Red Square for more than 8 years. There are many palaces, churches and office buildings here, displaying thousands of treasures accumulated by czars of past dynasties. Exquisite church architecture is an elaborate masterpiece of Italian Renaissance style and Russian Dongzheng spirit.

The wall of the Kremlin is red, and so is the Russian History Museum, which is separated from it. In the historical process of Russia, Red Square has always been called "new open space" or "burning place", and later gradually developed into the center of the city. There are many magnificent buildings with unique shapes here, and the largest shopping store in Europe is opposite the Red Square. Unlike our domestic tourists, the streets around Red Square are sparsely populated. On the grass not far from Red Square, there were two men who looked like vagabonds sleeping soundly, and no police came to interfere with them.

The sparkling moscow river, like a blue ribbon, quietly flows by the ancient Red Square. The spire of the Kremlin and the huge golden domes of churches shine in the sun. The ancient buildings and modern buildings are addicted to the birch trees, and the exotic customs are all unforgettable. The largest country in the world is still worth visiting by friends. (to be continued)