Moscow in motion

Credit to the Moscow Metro, which keeps this metropolis on the go. It’s no nonsense, it’s expansive but not expensive, the map is easy to read, and it just does everything really well. Except that there is a dearth of signs. 

The same can’t be said of Moscow’s roads, which are not themselves to blame – fine roads they are – but there are just too many cars, and everything moves slowly at best. 

The building goes up faster than the traffic moves along.

There’s more to Moscow’s motion than the transport system; there are more ice-rinks than you can shake a stick at, keeping people on the move albeit without actually going anywhere; and there’s also a lot of construction work. You definitely get the feeling that things are happening here; that Moscow is going somewhere. I think that’s what the Guide book means by vibrant, and I have to agree in this case. 

We skated on an ice rink that was huge, outdoors, flood-lit and over-looked by a big Orwellian/Soviet apartment block, with some great large graffiti on the walls. It was colourful and atmospheric and great fun; and it was accompanied by music such as the Backstreet boys.