going to moscow. any suggestions?

[slim 1,530]

The only place that I ever felt "in danger" in Russia was while trying to cross the street. Any street. (And a couple of times on the sidewalk too, but that's another story.)

[PurrSuede 0]

At least they didn't laugh ....a very serious country. I think I rarely saw anyone laugh or even smile.

In PUBLIC, this is not considered polite. So if you walk around smiling at everyone, they will think you are either an idiot, or you are making fun of them.

In fact, as Americans we often smile when we meet someone. This is considered almost to be Rude in Russia, like the person you are meeting is humorous to you in some way.

Go spend time with the people in private and relax with them and you will see lots of laughter and smiling...

-- Dan

[Turboguy 6]

As far as things to see in Moscow one of the things we enjoyed the most was the Moscow Circus. It is very awsome. As of the last I heard the Bolshoi Ballet is closed for renovations. There is a theater that is to the immediate left of the Bolshoi that is open and quite nice. I can't remember if it was an opera house but it is nice.

Gorky park will probably be closed when you are there and it is not exactly awsome but it is somewhere to go if it is open. The Zoo is fairly nice and they have some extra shows such as the Dolphin show that was nice too. If it is time to eat the Elky Pelike a few doors away is nice and resonable and there is a very nice Pizza place a few blocks from there.

Gum is interesting and the (I am going to mis-spell this) Oxhotny Ryad underground shopping plaza a few blocks away is also very nice (and expensive like GUM.) If you go to the VDHK metro stop they have a nice but small space museaum, You see a concrete rocket going way up in the air over the entrance. There is also one of my favorite shopping areas just behind it. You can wander through small stores and past Kiosks for along time.

I have never done it but I believe there is a tour through the former KGB headquarters or if you don't want to spend $ 1500 a night for a hotel room but want to blow some money you can get a ride in a Mig at Mach-3 in Moscow.

One of the nice things about this world is the diversity. There are many people who feel spending $ 1500 a night for a hotel room is treating themselves to something special. I could afford to stay at those rates but I would be more miserable than sleeping on a park bench. I am just sort of a plain simple guy. The worst meal I had in Moscow on my last trip was at a seafood restaurant with a tab that came to about $ 600.00 for two. The food tasted terrible, I can do without the extra services like when I asked where the restroom was and the waiter walked me to it and stood outside the door waiting to escort me back. I enjoyed the Elky Pelky, Sbarros and Mickey d's a lot better. Everyone has their own style and there is nothing wrong with any of it.

[slim 1,530]

Well said, Turboguy!

[Barry2005 0]

At least they didn't laugh ....a very serious country. I think I rarely saw anyone laugh or even smile.

In PUBLIC, this is not considered polite. So if you walk around smiling at everyone, they will think you are either an idiot, or you are making fun of them.

In fact, as Americans we often smile when we meet someone. This is considered almost to be Rude in Russia, like the person you are meeting is humorous to you in some way.

Go spend time with the people in private and relax with them and you will see lots of laughter and smiling...

-- Dan

lol. I must have looked like an idiot! That does make sense. I know there are a lot of things olya did that would considered rude in America.... like cutting line and standing too close to people.

[ronnielee67 2]

well, i think i'm prepared now. i applied for my passport june 10th, and just this week finaly got my visa, hotel, and plane ticket. ilyana has her train ticket from stavropol. i have never been to russia, and ilyana and i have never met in person. just a web cam. we have been together for 7 months now. i'm very excited now about meeting and spending 4 nights together. we are checking in to the izmailova delta on sept 8. 3 more weeks. i don't speak any russian and ilyana's english is not the best. but, it is enough. we talk a lot on the phone, and icq every day. i would appreciate any suggestions , advice , or warnings from anyone with experience in moscow. i do want to see the sights of this beautiful city , but i don't want it to be the least bit stressful for the woman i am crazy about. we are the same age (39) and share many of the same interests. so please, if anyone is interested, i would appreciate any experience that you care to share. have a great day, ronnie

other than the i-129, what forms and or documents should we bring to each other to be helpful with the k-1 process? how can i take advantage of this trip in that way. my flight is this thursday sept 7. thanks to everyone for all the information

[Chuckles 0]

other than the i-129, what forms and or documents should we bring to each other to be helpful with the k-1 process? how can i take advantage of this trip in that way. my flight is this thursday sept 7. thanks to everyone for all the information

You should read this guide if you haven't already http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;page=k1guide it is helpful and gives you all the info you need.

If you follow through with a K1 the most important document to bring is the G-325a form. There are 4 pages (all the same info). Your fiancee will have to fill them all out and sign them all. It is also helpful to collect 2 (or more) passport style photos if you are there, as well as a letter of intent from your fiance to marry you. This must be signed.

Be sure to save all your reciepts, and take lots of pictures together! I wish you luck, and enjoy Moscow!

[slim 1,530]

You're not leaving til the 7th..... in the mean time:

Make about 5 copies each of the I-129 and G-325A to take with you.

Then, fill out what you can while you're here (if you can complete the G-325 for her, so that way you can just take it to her and have her sign, that would be awesome. But, kind of hard too. Possible though.) and take those papers with you along with the letters of intent.

Best case scenario: You have in hand a filled in and completed copy of; I-129F, G-325A (for her and you), Letters of Intent (for her and you) so that all you have to do is get there and have her sign them.

What's probably going to happen is she's going to have to help you fill in where she's lived and what she's done, etc. That's fine too. Just make sure that you guys make plenty of copies and that her G-325 answers all match her (eventual) Packet 3. (DS156K?)

Another thing that you should do while you're there is to take plenty of photos and be sure to save your dated tickets (plane tickets, trains, etc., hotels, restaraunts, etc.,) so you have "evidence" of meeting in person. One helpful thing that I did (by accident) was to snap some photos in front of billboards (like for shows or concerts) with dates on them. If the C/Os at the embassy can plainly see the two of you in front of the Bolshoi Theater and a picture of "the Nutcracker, now playing through Dec. 21st." Then they know you were there during a certain time frame. (Think hostages holding up newspapers to verify that they're still alive on a certain date!) And of course, ensure you get the obligatory photo of the two of you in front of St. Basil's.

HAVE FUN!!!