anybody ever visited Russia?

I ask because my son(in his 30's) is going to visit in Sept. to see an old foreign ex-change friend(girl)

what I would like to know is in these airports(he has to wait at Moscow 8 hrs.then to St Petersburg to the final one.

do they speak English?.....are the screener or guards really hard on Americans and in general;..how do the Russian people treat Americans?

a few years ago. She was in her late 60's then. She had a lovely time. Stayed in B&B's, took a boat trip down the Volga. She does not speak Russian.

They speak English, a lot of the signage is in English. I doubt the guards will diplay any prejudice against Americans. The important thing is to be confident, respectful and polite. That applies to any country in the world. Don't look nervous, edgy or lost.

Bring plenty to read - and something to eat. In the women's bathrooms the sinks were yanked off the wall, etc. Terrible.

Your average Russian doesn't hate United Statesians, though the customs folks can be pretty rough. Be prepared for that. DON'T go expecting it to be like any other lousy European airport. It's been about six yeas since I've been there, but it always was incredibly unpleasant on a lot of levels.

If he's got eight hours he might consider taking a reputable-looking cab into the city to see Red Square or something. There's also the Aeroport bus that goes between the Airport and the Airport stop on the green line subway. I'd actually do the latter before the former.

Moscow has several airports, including two that do nothing but domestic flights. Not all of them are toilets in which planes land.

I agree about the bus v. subway. Subway wins.
Even after the (counter) revolution, the subway is still incredible. Easy to use, gets you everywhere and classic looking.

Moscow is rather a grey city, even now, but Sankt Pietrsburg is wonderful. The museum alone - well, it is beyond comparison with many cities in the world.

And it's a rathole by western standards.

The Moscow Subway is fantastic. It's amazing to think that it used to be even better. It's something to see on its own. Ride the ring!

Moscow was ALL grey when I first went there in 1980, it's still pretty damned grey.

Most older people don't speak English but they are the friendliest. Anyone under 30 speaks enough English to communicate what is needed. The Russians enjoy Americans, they for some odd reason are pretty cool with Bush too. A sharp contrast from Western Europe. All guards with badges (lower-level employees might not) should be able to do the whole English thing. Lastly I found Russians love drinking, more than the Fins (How are they still alive?) So post up in a bar start chatting by the end of the night you'll have a bud.

The LAST thing he wants to be is a foreigner who doesn't know the area, getting drunk in a bar. Especially if he doesn't know Russian. In Moscow it is v e r y easy to fall in with the wrong element who go hunting for guys like that. ESPECIALLY a confused foreigner at the airport.

I lived in Moscow and saw this kind of thing happen a lot.

Men will bully other men into drinking and I've known folks that got really sick off of drinking very little. Don't take the chance. If he lived there and knew his way around the people, neighborhood and language better, fine. But not under these circumstances.

But yes, your average Russian does like United Statesians. Don't bet on them liking Bush.

the local leave you alone.
There are some pretty hot nightclubs with great entertainment on stage.

and I'm of the impression he's by himself. So, no, don't go to a bar or nightclub.

And the uninitiated shouldn't go to nightclubs they're not familiar with. The husband of one of my neighbors when I lived there had her husband killed in a mob hit in a nightclub. He was a musician and was 'collateral damage'. "Nightflight" was a hot club and was where some US folks got into very big trouble.

Besides, you can go to a bar or nightclub ANYWHERE. Go see Red Square, or Novedevichy cemetery (where Khrushchev is buried and it has some very cool monuments).

the so-called wild wilde west.

I assume that anyone who travels understands the 'risk' like anywhere use your damn head man! If you sense something funky, get out. I found Moscow much less scary then many of the other places I've been, but I suppose if one is uncomfortable being somewhere foreign, then by all means avoid.

very well, just some expressions are worded differently. I was married to a 2nd generation Russian immigrant and his family was GREAT_he was a huge woman chaser so he's an ex. Remember Reagan said people don't wage war, their governments do.

Airport people were great under the old Soviet system. I was surprised they let me take my "International Herald Tribune" into the country. A relative of mine tried to sneak a Soviet flag out of the country by hiding the flag in her coat. She was embarrassed when the airport screeners found the hidden flag and said, "It's not illegal to take the flag out of our country." LOL. American paranoia is amazing.

Russians were (are?) very interested in Americans, so I met tons of people who speak English.

And Russians met so many greedy/oversexed business people and oversexed graduate students. In other words, they met a lot of the wrong kind.

I found Russians very warm and welcoming - if you knew them and in their homes. On the street the results were mixed, just like anywhere else.

The number of folks who speak good English increases every year.

Asians got mugged more often than westerners.

So, you inteligence types lurking here, relax. I'm not a commie. Anyway, it was a good experience. #1- I forgot my suit in the airport and two Russsian girls gave it back to me, when they could have easily stolen it; #2- When we accidentally went down a one way road (with no traffic that night, thank god) the Moscow police didn't hassle us, just let us go; #3- Most of the Russians did not speak English but they were still "polite"; and #4- the "Russia House" movie was being filmed on our hotel steps, so I saw Sean Connery up close and tried to talk to Michele Pfeiffer. The only negative things were, the hotel food sucked (cold and unappetizing) and I'm quite sure the KGB was keeping tabs on us.

for all the replies.....his final and end stop Orinburg..I believe thats on the Asian border.......it should be quite an experience for him.......and yes.he is traveling alone.......and doesn't drink........hes going to check in a hotel that gives a letter to the American consulate.