Springtime in Russia: My Remarkable Journey – Day 9: A Leisurely Day in Moscow

Country: Russia

Today is Saturday. Why do I need to tell you this in such a hurry? The reason I need to tell you this in a hurry is because the colors of the weekend are the same no matter which country you're in. If it's Saturday or Sunday, the best activity for sightseeing is to go to the market. That's right, if you go to any country, don't forget to find out what kind of flea markets they have in that city. Markets like these are a much more charming tourist attraction than shopping in a mall because sometimes they have good, beautiful, good condition items at affordable prices that we can afford. Sometimes, if we see them in a mall, we might not even dare to glance at them.

The prominent statue seen before exiting the station

This outfit looks familiar.

This area offers Russian cuisine. Please try it.

A Russian watch shop for collectors

This market used to be open every day, but it was most lively on Saturdays and Sundays. Now, it is only open on Wednesdays and Saturdays and Sundays, leaving fewer days for people to visit. The market closes around 6 pm, but by 3 or 4 pm, the crowds start to thin out. Some vendors start packing up because shoppers are also leaving gradually. When there are no buyers, the sellers have no reason to stay.

We spent almost the entire day here because our departure was approaching, so we had to frantically prepare souvenirs. We visited shop after shop, browsing through the merchandise. Our visit coincided with the release of products related to the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which further heightened our excitement. With an exchange rate of 1 RUB equaling 50 satang, everything seemed incredibly affordable. As a result, everyone ended up carrying a significant amount of souvenirs back to their accommodations.

After shopping, we walked back the same way to take the subway back to our accommodation at the same station. We stopped for lunch at a fast-food restaurant near the station, as it was already late afternoon and we had been too busy shopping to resist the temptation. With our hands full of shopping bags, no one was keen to go anywhere else, so we headed straight back to our accommodation to rest and check what we were still missing. As the market would be open again the next day, we could come back and buy anything we needed.

Beautiful buildings along the road when exiting the station

Walk through this garden to the water's edge.

This is also possible.

The image is shaky because they are dancing non-stop.

Another station with beautiful lamps.

Standing amidst the gentle breeze, bathed in the soft glow of streetlights, Moscow's imposing daytime demeanor softens and sweetens. This atmosphere reveals a hidden sweetness within the city's seemingly rigid exterior, a charm that ultimately captivates all who encounter it.

After standing there for a while, realizing that there was nowhere else to go, we decided to head back to our accommodation and enjoy the evening lights. It was better to save our energy for the next day's adventures.