Russia's barometer shows a country fast coming in from the cold.
Moscow is the barometer and nucleus of the changes sweeping through Russia. Nowhere are Russia's contrasts more apparent than here - ancient monasteries and ultra-modern monoliths stand side by side, and 'New Russian' millionaires and poverty-stricken pensioners walk the same streets.
Moscovites now prefer international name brands to monolithic department stores, and the beautiful churches vandalised or abandoned during the Soviet era of hardline atheism are being lovingly restored. But the real flavour of this city is in its nooks and crannies, each of them unique.
8,300,000
Name: Russian Ruble
Code: RUB
Symbol: Rbl
220V 50Hz
Official: Russian
GMT/UTC +3
+7
Metric
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article by Dean Starnes, June 2007
Let your prudishness melt away - or you might get it slapped out of you with a birch stick. Read the full article ›
Tags: Moscow
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