Exchanging Money In Moscow

[eekee 182]

Do you guys think it's possible with the Olympics coming and all that someday Moscow will join the rest of the world and have a modern airport, complete with free shuttle service that leaves straight from the terminal to the other terminal? (Going across the field, not around town?)

Or is it going to always be "it's Russia" and things will have to be done the most expensive and inconvenient way possible?

SPb has the same thing (two airports just far away enough that you can't walk) and I had honestly never considered the possibility that they would have a shuttle service. It just never crossed my mind--"It's Russia."

I can see them doing that for the Olympics though, or simply rerouting the flights from Sochi to leave from the International airport rather than the within-CIS airport (i assume that's what the two SVOs are?). A lot of people are going to be flying through.

[mox 298]

There's a LOT of construction going on at SVO. When I say I crossed an active construction area, I'm not talking about a little hole in the ground. This area was HUGE. I read somewhere (English version of Pravda I think) that all this construction is going to modernize SVO, and one of the things they did talk about was a train going between the two terminals. Of course, a lot of things get talked about, and even fewer things actually get done, so I won't hold my breath. But there are some modernization efforts already underway.

[Neonred 3,518]

There's a LOT of construction going on at SVO. When I say I crossed an active construction area, I'm not talking about a little hole in the ground. This area was HUGE. I read somewhere (English version of Pravda I think) that all this construction is going to modernize SVO, and one of the things they did talk about was a train going between the two terminals. Of course, a lot of things get talked about, and even fewer things actually get done, so I won't hold my breath. But there are some modernization efforts already underway.

Yes, I saw it too. I was also told about the train and saw it's construction. It does, so far, parallel the road going to SVO1. Also part of that construction I was told was terminal 3 and the rail station.

On my last visit a few months back I was planning to take the free shuttle as I usually do and waited for a while at the pick up spot (furthest lane outside the downstairs arrival area) when a couple of Russian girls told me they had just asked inside and found out the shuttle was running at least a half hour late. While I was willing to wait, a Russian taxi driver had been hounding me on and off while I waited. I had told him I was taking the free bus, but since it was cold and I wasn't excited about waiting outside for a half hour more I said "OK, how much?". He took me to SVO1 for $20 US. I know it's a lot for the short ride but I was cold and tired and glad to get going.

Edited February 16, 2008 by Neonred

[eekee 182]

There's a LOT of construction going on at SVO. When I say I crossed an active construction area, I'm not talking about a little hole in the ground. This area was HUGE. I read somewhere (English version of Pravda I think) that all this construction is going to modernize SVO, and one of the things they did talk about was a train going between the two terminals. Of course, a lot of things get talked about, and even fewer things actually get done, so I won't hold my breath. But there are some modernization efforts already underway.

Yes, I saw it too. I was also told about the train and saw it's construction. It does, so far, parallel the road going to SVO1. Also part of that construction I was told was terminal 3 and the rail station.

On my last visit a few months back I was planning to take the free shuttle as I usually do and waited for a while at the pick up spot (furthest lane outside the downstairs arrival area) when a couple of Russian girls told me they had just asked inside and found out the shuttle was running at least a half hour late. While I was willing to wait, a Russian taxi driver had been hounding me on and off while I waited. I had told him I was taking the free bus, but since it was cold and I wasn't excited about waiting outside for a half hour more I said "OK, how much?". He took me to SVO1 for $20 US. I know it's a lot for the short ride but I was cold and tired and glad to get going.

when i was a student at SPbSU we didn't have paper for like two months because someone stole 20 million dollars from the university that was earmarked for construction which was supposed to take two years which was now going on eight or nine. so who knows whether anything will actually be built.

[slim 1,514]

when i was a student at SPbSU we didn't have paper for like two months because someone stole 20 million dollars from the university that was earmarked for construction which was supposed to take two years which was now going on eight or nine. so who knows whether anything will actually be built.

I'm in the wrong business!

[eekee 182]

when i was a student at SPbSU we didn't have paper for like two months because someone stole 20 million dollars from the university that was earmarked for construction which was supposed to take two years which was now going on eight or nine. so who knows whether anything will actually be built.

I'm in the wrong business!

well, we eventually did get paper, so i'm assuming this guy was caught, and uh, dealt with, although we never heard what happened exactly. i just know that one day we went to school and there was paper and free wifi.

[slim 1,514]

well, we eventually did get paper, so i'm assuming this guy was caught, and uh, dealt with, although we never heard what happened exactly. i just know that one day we went to school and there was paper and free wifi.

"Igor, we know you take money for construct. You must now give to me 10 million Euros and then buy for school paper and make works this wi-fi systema. You can keep money not used. If you don't do this, we must take Kalashnikov to your house."

[KGSodie 0]

well, we eventually did get paper, so i'm assuming this guy was caught, and uh, dealt with, although we never heard what happened exactly. i just know that one day we went to school and there was paper and free wifi.

"Igor, we know you take money for construct. You must now give to me 10 million Euros and then buy for school paper and make works this wi-fi systema. You can keep money not used. If you don't do this, we must take Kalashnikov to your house."

This Kalashnikov guy must be pretty popular - I keeping hearing about him! ;-)

[visaveteran1 33]

well, we eventually did get paper, so i'm assuming this guy was caught, and uh, dealt with, although we never heard what happened exactly. i just know that one day we went to school and there was paper and free wifi.

"Igor, we know you take money for construct. You must now give to me 10 million Euros and then buy for school paper and make works this wi-fi systema. You can keep money not used. If you don't do this, we must take Kalashnikov to your house."

This Kalashnikov guy must be pretty popular - I keeping hearing about him! ;-)

I was on the receiving end of a "Kalashnikov" (aka, AK-47 assault rifle) in 1968. Still have problems from it. The AK is a strong symbol to many GIs and other combatants...it has been the weapon of choice for all of our recent historical enemies...The Soviet Union, N Korea, Vietnam, the Sandinistas and other Latin American guerrilla movements, the Balkans, Somalia, the middle east, etc. etc. You can see photos of Osama Bin Ladin carrying his personal AK-47 in many photos. Mikhail Kalashnikov is still alive and enjoying a lot of notoriety for designing the most prolific combat rifle known to man. It's known for reliability and cheap to make...but not accuracy. But, in my case, it was accurate "enough."

[KGSodie 0]

My army days were in the mid to late 80s, so other than the tail of the cold war, and just missing the middle-east nonsense, all of my duty was during peace times. So I haven't had to face a Kalashnikov, though during training they were fired often for us so that we could recognize their sound.

[Jason-Sasha 1]

Only in the Russian threads does the subject change constantly. I love this place....

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

Hey, where's Kirk? Me too! :lol:

[slim 1,514]

it has been the weapon of choice for all of our recent historical enemies... It's known for reliability and cheap to make...but not accuracy. But, in my case, it was accurate "enough."

As in your case, accurate "enough" is what counts when it comes to throwing lead downrange. The biggest argument against the AK is almost always it's lack of accuracy out to and past 300 meters. If you look at modern warfare, (and even back in '68) how much rifle shooting is done out to and past 300 meters? Sure the M-16/AR is going to kick the AK's tail in that department, but being someone who was actually trained by the U.S. military to use an AK, I can tell you the training takes all of five minutes to be accurate "enough" and with the cost-effectiveness (nearly free) of the AK, it's going to remain the most popular rifle in the world for a long time to come. Especially since getting accurate past 300 meters is something that requires a lot of training, even with the M-16. None of that matters anymore. At least not to those who wield AKs.

"It's so easy a 12-year-old can use it. And they do."

Kalashnikovs are popular in Russia just like they are everywhere else for the same reasons.

Price and availability

Ease of use

Accurate "enough"

Not saying Kalashnikovs are super popular in Russia and everyone has one, but they're out there just like everywhere else.

I haven't had to face a Kalashnikov, though during training they were fired often for us so that we could recognize their sound.

This "training" is always a funny thing to me. Like you really need to know what a particular gun, any gun, sounds like to realize that it belongs to the bad guys. Usually the impact of rounds hitting things (and people) on your side is enough. To actually utilize a weapon in "sound familiarization training" is a waste of ammo. Almost everyone in the U.S. military shoots one type of pistol, one type of rifle, one type of light machine gun, and one type of heavy machine gun. So basically, anything that's not a "familiar" sound already should sound like the bad guys' guns. (Although "wasting" ammo is always the best training!)

[mox 298]

Hey, where's Kirk? Me too! :lol:

Been visiting the kids in Denver, so haven't had much online time. Good to see the thread continues to evolve and mutate.

As in your case, accurate "enough" is what counts when it comes to throwing lead downrange. The biggest argument against the AK is almost always it's lack of accuracy out to and past 300 meters. If you look at modern warfare, (and even back in '68) how much rifle shooting is done out to and past 300 meters?

Yes, especially when modern warfare seems to be trending towards close-quarters urban conflicts. These days if you need to go beyond 300 meters you either go shoulder-launched or remote detonated.

[visaveteran1 33]

it has been the weapon of choice for all of our recent historical enemies... It's known for reliability and cheap to make...but not accuracy. But, in my case, it was accurate "enough."

As in your case, accurate "enough" is what counts when it comes to throwing lead downrange. The biggest argument against the AK is almost always it's lack of accuracy out to and past 300 meters. If you look at modern warfare, (and even back in '68) how much rifle shooting is done out to and past 300 meters? Sure the M-16/AR is going to kick the AK's tail in that department, but being someone who was actually trained by the U.S. military to use an AK, I can tell you the training takes all of five minutes to be accurate "enough" and with the cost-effectiveness (nearly free) of the AK, it's going to remain the most popular rifle in the world for a long time to come. Especially since getting accurate past 300 meters is something that requires a lot of training, even with the M-16. None of that matters anymore. At least not to those who wield AKs.

"It's so easy a 12-year-old can use it. And they do."

Kalashnikovs are popular in Russia just like they are everywhere else for the same reasons.

Price and availability

Ease of use

Accurate "enough"

Not saying Kalashnikovs are super popular in Russia and everyone has one, but they're out there just like everywhere else.

I haven't had to face a Kalashnikov, though during training they were fired often for us so that we could recognize their sound.

This "training" is always a funny thing to me. Like you really need to know what a particular gun, any gun, sounds like to realize that it belongs to the bad guys. Usually the impact of rounds hitting things (and people) on your side is enough. To actually utilize a weapon in "sound familiarization training" is a waste of ammo. Almost everyone in the U.S. military shoots one type of pistol, one type of rifle, one type of light machine gun, and one type of heavy machine gun. So basically, anything that's not a "familiar" sound already should sound like the bad guys' guns. (Although "wasting" ammo is always the best training!)

I think that in the chaos of firefights, it could be useful to determine who is shooting what...and at whom. And with the distinct "pop" sound of the AK, it's easy to target the enemy position(s).

For accuracy, it was hard to beat the old M-14 which did see action in Nam. The Marines carried them longer than the Army did. Our squad (Army) had one guy carry a M-14 with a scope and he came in handy under certain situations. And that weapon never jammed...something that was a serious issue with the M-16 from the Nam era. And if it came down to hand-to-hand and "fix bayonets"...the M-14 was a good rifle to wield.