Moscow inthe Fog: A Student's Survival Guide
so i just got back from... actually, let's start with the weather. i just checked and it's... there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. 6.97 degrees, feels like 3.59. yeah, your nose hairs freeze before you even step outside. the air smells like wet concrete and something vaguely metallic. honestly, it's the kind of day where your breath hangs in the air like a ghost story. if you get bored, st. petersburg is just a short train ride away, but honestly, who has the energy? the metro here is like a sauna in winter, but honestly, i just love the smell of old metal and desperation. someone told me that the best borscht is hidden behind a dodgy door in a back alley near the red square hostel. i heard that from a guy who looked like he'd slept in a dumpster. i mean, he probably had. but hey, it's cheap, right? budget student life. i stayed at this place called 'the soviet bunker' hostel. it's basically a converted bomb shelter. the walls are thick, which is good for insulation, but the showers... let's just say you learn to appreciate lukewarm water. the reviews on tripadvisor are mixed. one person said 'it's like sleeping in a coffin, but cheaper.' another said 'the bedbugs are friendly.' i guess you take your chances. yelp has a review that says 'the staff are grumpy but the vodka is strong.' strong enough to make you forget the lack of hot water, i suppose. i found this little market near the komsomolskaya metro station. it's called 'the bazaar of broken dreams.' it's chaos. people shouting, old ladies selling potatoes that look like they've seen better days, and this guy selling fake designer bags. it's a sensory overload. the food stalls are a gamble. i tried this thing called 'pelmeni' once. it's like tiny meat dumplings. i heard they're supposed to be good, but honestly, i just ate it because it was cheap. the best part? the map. here's a map of the area. [embed map] it's useful if you get lost in the fog. [embed image] this is the view from my hostel window. it's basically grey. [embed image] and this is the market. it's a mess. [embed image] so yeah, that's moscow in a nutshell. it's cold, it's grey, and it's full of surprises. if you're a budget student, you'll survive. if you're a budget student with a sense of adventure, you'll thrive. just bring warm socks and a strong stomach. oh, and maybe some hand sanitizer. lots of it.
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