Arbat Street: what's nearby, how to get there and when to go · 2026

ККириллEztaZzZy · Oct 13, 2011Read

So, my epic journey has begun! Here I will describe not only my successes with the USA, but also other events on the path to my dream) It all started with the fact that I love to travel wildly, and one fine day it hit me that I want to visit the New World, walk through the hills of Hollywood, take a bite out of the Big Apple, see the fogs of San Francisco, and much, much more. So I decided to sign up for the program. I sent an application, but I received a message that recruitment would only open in the fall, and there were still 2 months until autumn. So I kind of gave up on my obsession. After some time, I decided to go to the IEC website, and something prompted me to send an application to participate in the program, quite spontaneously, since by that moment I had already pretty much forgotten about the program. And to my surprise, they called me from the office and invited me to register. I was wildly excited; after all, it's the USA, a world-famous country, difficult visas, and the cradle of liberal society and the rule of law and freedom) A few days later, I went to the office. A nice girl conducted an interview in English, where I didn't encounter a single difficulty. The interview is truly elementary. And from this moment, the most interesting part begins. I went to pay the first installment) I wandered around Novy Arbat for half an hour because the IEC representative gave me the wrong address, but in the end, with great difficulty, I got there and paid everything. The wait took another half hour. So the first part of the program resulted in the following figures: Registration fee: 2700 + 60 rubles commission Payment for the first part of the program: 300 dollars + 20 dollars commission for the currency transfer SEVIS Fee: 35 dollars Having paid everything, I went back to the office in high spirits, and the world sparkled with new colors; even the people on the streets seemed like good Samaritans))) Arriving at the office, they made copies of all my payment receipts and handed me an excellent guidebook with maps of the USA. A small thing, but nevertheless a useful and pleasant one. Very useful and fascinating reading. A couple of days later, a letter arrived with instructions on further actions. I had to fill out a questionnaire, prepare a recommendation letter in English, take photos, and perform other simple manipulations. In the end, these simple manipulations turned into a 2-week nightmare for me. My printer died, and I had to run around to friends to print everything out, and the questionnaire, as luck would have it, wouldn't print or printed with incomprehensible symbols. In the end, with great difficulty, having printed it and collected everything necessary, I went to the office. I thought, now I'll hand it in and for a while I can forget about everything and focus on myself and my studies. Not so fast. They found a typo in my recommendation letter, and I had to redo it, which took me another week. Finally, I handed everything in, and I could breathe a sigh of relief. But it's not as simple as it seems. Read about my adventures with the program, how the trip almost fell through, and much more in the next post.

TPTatsiana PalchankaTanechka_for_you · Apr 12, 2010Read

We hopped on the bus, I ate a couple of cookies, and we went for a walk!) Me, two Olyas from the Linguistic University, and Katya) We went for a walk around Moscow, and Olya gave us a full tour!!!!))))))))) I'll say it publicly right now - I'm the biggest fool ever! I went to Moscow in HEELS!!! Seriously, a total fool! I rubbed my feet so badly, it was hooooorrible!!!!!!! Just dying!!!! At first, I had the energy to walk somewhere, but then I only had one desire - to crash in the bus... But the bus was closed until 6:00 PM, and the drivers were sleeping!!!)))) Moscow makes an interesting impression. It feels like you've ended up in the times of Tsarist Russia, the 18th or 19th century)))))) It also seemed like everything was in some kind of fog) At first, I thought it was from exhaustion, nerves, and lack of sleep. But in reality, it was all dust!!!))))) First, we went to Old Arbat)))))) The street is cool, but looooong))) There are homeless-looking guys walking around with signs advertising various restaurants, and women in their 50s running around in traditional Russian outfits with kokoshniks, calling people into souvenir shops! I thought it was a joke that there are many non-Russian people in Moscow, but there really are a lot of them!))) At least I met many)))))) And also a lot of foreigners) We found a McDonald's (as they jokingly wrote in the newsletter, a "chain of free toilets"), although we struggled to find the restroom there)))))))) Well, we are provincials after all))) Then we went to the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour (though I might be confusing the name already))))) It was so beautifuuuuul!!!))) Then I hobbled (can't find another word) to the Peter the Great monument)))) God, I thought I wouldn't make it back...) It was warm outside, great weather for a tour of Moscow, but I was already dying here... The girls started to give up too) We trudged back, but a different way! Through the Kremlin! That Kremlin wall is so looooong!!!!)))))) But the impression is really cool) Like a castle! We came out to Vasilyevsky Spusk (though we were going uphill), and when I saw that the road was COBBLESTONE, I thought about taking off my shoes and walking barefoot!!! But we somehow managed to reach St. Basil's Cathedral (again, afraid to mix up the name)))))). Well, yes, it's beautiful, but the other buildings impressed me even more! They looked like they were drawn from a picture! I especially liked one red one, and it felt like it had snow on it!)) (Remember those old glass Christmas ornaments in the shape of a hut covered in snow? Well, it felt like it was one HUGE ornament)))) We came out to GUM, to Manezhnaya Square (so I don't mix it up again), and my state became like a sick penguin that ended up in Africa. Because I was already stopping to understand what was even happening! It was only 3 PM, and my feet were falling off! (And you're wondering why I'm telling you all this??? I just want to describe the huge route I trudged and hobbled!) We trudged to Old Arbat, went into Il Patio, wanted to eat something hot, and rest wouldn't hurt. We ordered pasta (mmmmm, so delicious) and juice))))) The waitress couldn't leave us alone) She either brought a discount coupon (if the order is over 1000 rubles - 450 discount, almost 50%), or tried to push some card on us) And we, pale and tired, didn't need anything anymore)))))) We probably looked pathetic from the side)))))))))))))) But after eating, we started smiling, and (oh my!) remembered that a few hours ago we were given our visa!!!!))) We went into a store, bought vodka (well, as a gift)))), we didn't want to drink on the bus anymore )))))) Standing at the checkout. Olya: "I wonder how we'll explain that we don't have our passports"))))) And everyone is smiling, everyone remembered that the passports are at the embassy! WOO-HOO!!!))) The saleswoman looks at me and asks: "Are you 20?", and I start digging in my wallet, "No" - I say - "Only 50" (rubles)) )) She says "I meant your

SSanSIDORSSR · Oct 14, 2009Read

Moscow greeted us with the Kazansky Railway Station. Those who have been there will understand what I mean. It is a kind of specimen of Russia in the mid-90s of the 20th century. Gypsies, beggars, illegal immigrants, scammers trying to "palm off" a gold chain or a brand-new phone on you, the smell of an Uzbek shashlik stand, etc., etc. For my friends who were in Moscow for the first time, it was a slight shock. But that was just the beginning! Then we went for a walk through the very center of the capital, framed by the Garden Ring. Expensive hotels, restaurants, cars, stunning parks, ponds, and memorials. Moscow is a very worthy city! A very rich city! Passing by the Kremlin, each of us was overwhelmed with patriotism! We wanted to do something good for our country. We wanted to feel the brotherhood of the entire nation. Perhaps these were just the emotions that provincials experience when they find themselves for the first time in such significant places, which they have only heard about since childhood, seen on TV, and only dreamed of visiting. We were exhausted and ran all over the narrow streets of the center. We were at Patriarch's and Chistye Prudy, on Arbat, by the White House, Red Square, etc. It was a very entertaining, exciting tour before our flight. One that gave us the opportunity to appreciate the difference in cultures in the near future. I highly recommend that all newcomers and veterans definitely stop and linger at all transit points on your way. After all, you may never find yourself in this place again, be it Moscow or any other city. The issue of obtaining a visa is a trifle compared to what you can see, feel, and experience. After all, you might meet love, or find the job you dreamed of, and who knows what else might happen. I dispelled the opinion floating in my head that Muscovites are very busy, angry, and boring individuals. On the contrary, they seemed very friendly to me, ready to help and give advice. Many even smiled! The most difficult thing in Moscow for a Work and Travel participant is perhaps finding temporary housing and transportation to the airport. This issue is especially acute for those who, by their nature, do not orient themselves well in an unfamiliar space. We were in Moscow for only a day and were flying out of Domodedovo the next morning. Therefore, we decided not to stay anywhere and spend the night at the airport terminal. You can get to Domodedovo by commuter train from Paveletsky Station (Paveletskaya metro station) - this is perhaps the most acceptable and simple way. But we chose a cheaper one - a trip by bus. Buses and marshrutkas to Domodedovo depart regularly (even at night) from Domodedovskaya metro station. The road takes somewhere from 40 minutes to + infinity if there are traffic jams in the city. They cost 80-100 rubles. You are unlikely to find anything cheaper.

Gguest_16007Oct 1, 2009Read

Santa Monica One of the most chic places in LA. It is a tourist area, so there are many hotels here and everything is created for us. The area near the beach is a shopping district, where you can find a variety of all kinds of shops. The most famous beaches in California are located right here. Venice is the most party-oriented place. It is always full of people, souvenir shops are set up everywhere, and street artists draw portraits of people passing by. Nearby is the famous Old Muscle Beach—this is exactly where Arnold Schwarzenegger started his career. You can always meet athletes and just fans of an active lifestyle here. Rings, parallel bars, ropes, etc. Everything for you and your figure! There is also a space allocated for extreme sports enthusiasts. Special structures, like those found in competitions, have been built for skate and bike lovers. And if you drop by Venice, let's say, on the weekend or on a Friday (although, undoubtedly, Saturday evening is the best time), you will run into a crowd dancing to the famous rhythms of DJs. Santa Monica Beach is known for its Santa Monica Pier. Pacific Park and souvenir shops are located on it. Oh yes, Bubba Gump is here too. And if you wish, you can take a picture on that very famous bench from the movie Forrest Gump, trying on his huge shoes on yourself))) By the way, having been to almost all the beaches of Los Angeles, we concluded that these two are the best. I don't know why, but it's always hot here and the water is warm. So, even spending an hour in the sun, you will get a chocolate tan. What else is Santa Monica known for? The central office of the Yahoo! company is located here. You will see it immediately if you go up to 20th Street. A huge beautiful building with a large front garden and a famous sign! Of course, one cannot ignore the 3rd Street Promenade! A favorite place for all shopaholics, along with Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive. It is similar to our Old Arbat. There are all kinds of shops on the sides, and a walking area in the middle. You can go to the cinema here; there are two on the Promenade. Also, next to them, they usually hand out invitations to closed film screenings in Beverly Hills, so don't pass by.))) And if you suddenly need the internet, there is an Apple Store there, from where no one will ever kick you out, so the most avid internet users can safely stay there all day. They make delicious pizza here, it costs relatively inexpensively (relatively, because there are cheaper options) $12 for a whole pizza. You can eat it outdoors or in the restaurant itself. 20th Century FOX and the famous globe from Universal Pictures are located on Pico Blvd. You can book a studio tour in advance and enjoy the sets from your favorite movies or see exhibitions of actresses like the incomparable Marilyn Monroe.

ЭКЭкономист, Кризис, США или Джамшут в Америкеguest_15638 · Sep 21, 2009Read

Day 2 I woke up in the fancy apartments of the Institute of Environmental Engineering and Anya and I immediately went to meet our Moscow guide Maria (an acquaintance of mine from Barnaul who moved to Moscow to study). The first 2 hours of our trip were spent looking for the Work and Travel office. We approached a security guard with a map and asked where the office was because we couldn't find it; he turned the map around and showed us where to go—aha! That was the reason. We went into the office to pick up our T-shirts. They asked us, "Where are you from?" "From Barnaul." "From where??" "Altai Krai." "Damn, let me see what we have." He gave us the T-shirts and we continued our journey. After that, we walked along Arbat, collected a bunch of flyers, and threw them away. I saw Tsoi's wall and mentally sang Kino's song "Stuk". We went to Alexander Garden and sat on the lawn, not waiting for the mounted police to kick us out. We went to Red Square where a "Rock Against Cancer" concert was happening, hosted by Malakhov—not the one who heals fractures with plantains, but the one who would have made a decent career as a telephone operator. When we walked past this "rock concert," they were announcing the group Tutsi. We went to the bridge and saw a pink pile of people (because the concert T-shirts were pink) moshing like crazy. We walked through GUM and went to MSU, sat at the bus stop in front of the building, and walked to Sparrow Hills. We looked at Moscow and decided to go down to the embankment. We walked along the Moskva River embankment; it's a pity I didn't see any three-eyed fish. We got on the metro; how that phrase in the carriage ate my brain: "Dear passengers, please be mutually polite, give up your seats to the disabled, the elderly, and passengers with children." We went to VDNKh to see the Museum of Cosmonautics, sat in front of the monument, and saw a balloon tethered to the ground. Masha said if you pay them a certain amount—I don't remember exactly how much—they will let it go into the air. I am an aristocrat from Sitnikov, but not that much. We walked around VDNKh. My legs were already like cotton, so we said goodbye to Masha and decided to take the monorail home. We bought some poison at the market, like pies and other junk, and went to our suite.

ЕЕкатеринаSunny_Sophie · Jun 5, 2011Read

Hi. So. Moscow. The Embassy. But first, about the train to Moscow. Fun. It turned out that 9 out of 13 people in our carriage were going to the interview. Two more in the next one. We just slept, ate, and talked. We ate, oh my god, so much. Moscow didn't exactly welcome me with open arms. I didn't have time to put on makeup or have breakfast. I bought a metro ticket and went through the wrong gate, so some guy slipped through using my ticket. What's it like when everyone is waiting for you? Well, I snuck in as a stowaway too. We found a 24/7 place on Novy Arbat. Went in, had some tea. Managed to get myself together. So. June 2nd. The Consulate: The last chance to get a visa this year for full-time students (June 7th in Yekaterinburg for part-time students). There were about 650 people standing in front of the consulate. Our city was 23rd in the list—the middle. Ulan-Ude were the last—42nd, poor things. Damn it, I should have worn a sweater instead of just a t-shirt to the consulate. It was cold. At least there was some food and toilets. We went through the metal detectors without any problems. We were filling out, or rather signing, the DS-2019 form, and I made a typo in the word 'Moscow'. I thought, 'That's it, I'm doomed.' Then waiting. Fingerprints. I said hello loudly, which made everyone laugh; in short, I made everyone laugh that day with my conversations with foreigners. And the agonizing wait for the consul. Feelings: cold, fear, fun, chatter, silence, more chatter, concentration, jokes, shaking knees—apathy, concentration, anger—joy! We waited 8 hours for the interview. During that time, I taught the Nizhny Novgorod group how to pronounce our city correctly. And a lot more. It's a middle city, damn it!!!! Approaching the consul, I was smiling. Sweet guy. I liked him. It was more like a conversation on a train. We just chatted. C: Hello. Me: Hi. Me: How are you? C: Fine. How about you? Me: Good, just a bit tired. But the weather is super. C: Where are you from? Me: From Perm. C: How did you get here? Me: By train. C: How long is the trip? Me: About 24 hours. C: (shocked) Where do you study? Me: PSU. C: Where are you going? I answered. And what is this? - A restaurant, with very sweet employers. - And why are they so sweet? - (here I hesitated while formulating the phrase) Because I was supposed to leave on the 23rd, and today is the 2nd, and they are still waiting for me. C: I see. C: He rummaged through the documents, scanned them like in a store. Signed them and said the cherished 'have a nice summer!!!' Hooray! Thank you, Sir! Goodbye! Have a nice day. I said it loudly and joyfully again, which made the whole audience laugh. Result. 70 percent rejection rate. From Perm, 3 out of 13; from Yekaterinburg, 8 out of 20; Rostov (they went after us), none out of three. Moscow, almost everyone! Damn it! We snuck through without soap! Hooray!!!! We walked around with the girls from Perm and ate. Threw away half of the spoiled food from the train. At 4:30, we came to the consulate and unexpectedly met our people. And more people were coming out. !!!!! We walked around Red Square and the park. I saw the girls off to the train, and I wandered around Moscow for another 2 hours. I was charmed by it. On the way back, the strap on my sandals broke. I sat at the station for another hour waiting for the train. In sneakers. :) I mean, I was in sneakers, not the train. Killed my feet. The return train—we traveled with guys from Yekaterinburg. A ballroom dancer, her boyfriend, and 3 other guys. I didn't talk to the 2 Perm girls who were in the same carriage. During all this time, I realized they were sour. The only thing I wanted was to finally take a shower. The train, compared to the branded Kama we took on the way there, is crap. Drafts from the windows. Sanitary zones and other delights of life. And now I'm waiting for Monday and the booking. Don't be afraid of anything!!!! Consuls aren't that scary. The main thing is a smile and a