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Location
Province of Moscow, Russian Federation.

Dialling code
7.

Population
10,425,675 (city).

Time zone
GMT + 3 (GMT + 4 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).

Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz; round two-pin plugs are standard.

Average January temperatures
- 13°C ( - 9°F).

Average July temperatures
18°C (64°F).

Annual rainfall
624mm (24.3 inches).

Annual snowfall
132mm (5.2 inches).

Language
Introduction
Russian, the official language, can be difficult for Westerners to read as it is written in Cyrillic script. It is, however, worth taking a bit of time to learn the letters as it will make any time spent in Russia much easier. For example, the indecipherable PECTOPAH can be transliterated into RESTORAN, giving a much better indication that this is a place to get a meal. Russian has a lot of similarities to other Slavic languages, and to a degree they are mutually comprehensible, especially Ukrainian. English is not common in Moscow; it is usually only spoken by those in business or in the tourist trade.

Phrases

Yes - Da
No - Nyet
Hello - Zdrástvuitye
Goodbye - Do svidanya
Please - Pazhawsta
Thank you - Spassíba
My name is … - Minya zavoot …
How are you? - Kak vi pazhivayetye?
I’m very well - U minya xarasho
I feel ill - Ya bolyen (male) / ya bolna (female)
How much does it cost? - Skolka stoyit?
Do you speak English? - Gavaritye pa anglisski?
I don’t understand - Ya ne panimayu
Where is …? - Gdye …?
Entrance - Vxot
Exit - Víxod
Danger - Apásnost
Open - Atkrity
Closed - Zakrity
Toilets - Tualyet
Doctor - Vrach
Hotel - Gastínitsa
Restaurant - Ristorán
Beer - Peeva
Wine - Vine
Menu - Minú
Today - Sivay án
Tomorrow - Zavtra
Monday - Panedyélnik
Tuesday - Vtesday Wednesday Sryedá
Thursday - Chetvyérk
Friday - Pyátneetsa
Saturday - Suobrday
Sunday - Vaskresyénye
One - Adeen
Two - Dva
Three - Tri
Four - Chetíriye
Five - Pyat
Six - Shest
Seven - Syem
Eight - Vosyem
Nine - Dyévyat
Ten - Dyésyat
Twenty - Dvátset
Thirty - Trítset
Forty - Sorty
Fifty - Pyetdesyát
Sixty - Shistdyesyát
Seventy - Syémdyesyat
Eighty - Vightysyat
Ninety - Divyansyat
One Hundred - Sto
One Thousand - Tísicha


Cost of Living:

10 Russian Roubles (Rb10) = £0.22; US$0.34; C$0.40; A$0.48; €0.25
Currency conversion rates as of January 2009

Special Events:

Russian Orthodox Christmas, 7 Jan, churches throughout the city
Prodexpo, Feb, largest annual food and drink exhibition in Russia, Expocenter
Maslenitsa or Blini Day, first week Mar, pancakes are made to celebrate the coming of spring, throughout the city
Women’s Day, early Mar, throughout the city
Victory Day, 9 May, parades at war memorials to celebrate the end of World War II, war memorials throughout the city
Pushkin’s Birthday, 6 Jun, poetry readings and other literary events, Pushkin Monument
Russian Independence Day, 12 Jun, public holiday, throughout the city
White Nights Festival, late Jun-mid-Jul, music, theater and street events with fireworks, throughout the city
Festival of Symphonies and Serenades, Jul, open-air events, around Moscow Park
Cadillac Russian Open, Aug, golf tournament, Le Meridian Moscow Country Club (website: www.russianopen.ru)
Moscow International Outdoor Jazz Festival, Aug, Hermitage Garden
Day of the Failed August 1991 Coup, 19 Aug, to mark the turn of Communism and honor the dead, throughout the city
Fashion Week in Moscow, Sep, Andreyev Bridge (website: www.fashionweekinmoscow.com)
International Peace Marathon, early Sep, start at Red Square, finish in front of Rossya Hotel near St Basil’s Cathedral
Moscow Day, 19 Sep, a day of celebration, throughout the city
Kremlin Cup, Oct, Olympic Stadium (website: www.kremlincup.ru)
EfesPilsen Festival, Nov, blues festival, Moscow Palace of Youth
Millionaire Fair, Nov, world’s biggest exhibition of luxury goods and lifestyles, Crocus Expo (website: www.millionairfair.ru/eng)
Day of National Unity, 7 Nov, throughout the city
December Evenings Festival, Dec, Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts
Russian Winter Festival, end Dec-early Jan, throughout the city

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