News from Moscow by Arthur Lookyanov

Today I met my new client, Bob from Los Angeles, at the airport. Over the next two days we have two great countryside trips to the Golden Ring of Russia planned. On Monday, August 16, 2010, we are going to visit Sergiev Posad and Perslavl-Zallesky and on Tusday, August 17, 2010 we will visit Vladimir and Suzdal. When I met Bob at the Sheremetyevo airport we hugged like friends and recognized each other easily due to Skype's amazing service. After he checked into his hotel this evening, we met my wife Olga and drove to the Red Square to see it illuminated at night and had drinks in a local cafe.
I want to thank Logitech Support in Russia, particularly Igor Kondrashov, for his fast and efficient service in replacing a defective webcam that I purchased from the “...

Terrible smog from fires in the region have covered the whole city of Moscow again and again. From the end of June, 2010, the heat in Moscow beat all records for the last 130 years and most people weren't prepared for such extraordinary climate conditions. Many people still don't have air conditioning in their apartments or private houses outside the city, so as you can guess, it is very hard times for millions of people here. Many families are trying to move their kids to safer areas where there are lower temperatures and no fires.  For example, they are trying to go to the Kalinigrad Region, which is the western point of Russia that is between Germany, Belorussia and the Baltic countries, but no airplane or train tickets are available.  Nor is anyone able...

The next morning, April 8, 2010, was sunny and pleasant. I got up early, saw my wife, and checked the mail just in case, but there were no more letters from Nancy. I checked the flight status of flight 964 on the United Airlines website and found out that the plane was early. So I set out early for the Domodedovo airport to allow time for the traffic jams in our capital, which are normal for Muscovites, but frightening for guests. After coming in to the international flights arrival hall at 10:45, I thought I would have to wait 30-60 minutes depending on the number of arriving flights and the timeliness of passport control services and baggage claim.
Our first meeting at the airport
Before I could write the name "Artem Hansen" on a plate, I saw a little boy in a ye...

I would like to set the record straight about how I became involved in this horrible story of an 8 year-old boy whose American parents abandoned him. I am working with overseas clients as a private English speaking tour guide and professional driver for many years. I am regularly contacted by Americans asking that I meet them at an airport. I had no idea of the circumstances surrounding this particular pick-up. Frankly, I'm still in shock. I will remember the feelings I experienced for a lifetime.
Email exchange with Nancy Hansen. Booking transportation from an airport to Moscow city.
On April 6, 2010 I was contacted via e-mail by U.S. citizen Nancy Hansen, the adoptive grandmother of the now well-known Artem Saveliev (Justin Hans...

On March 29, 2010, another tragic event happened in Moscow that shocked not only the citizens of the Russian Federation, but also many people from countries that oppose the threat of terrorism. In the early morning rush hour, two women bearing suicide weapons blasted themselves in the subway trains of the Moscow Metro, considered one of the most beautiful, clean, fast and reliable subways in the world.

During the past 2 days after the bombings in Moscow, I received several messages from my former clients and friends who wanted to check if everything is OK with me, and my family & friends. They expressed their sadness about the terrible things that happened in the beautiful city of Moscow. I was touched, and I appreciate the care from my friends in America and Euro...

Over the last couple of weeks before the upcoming winter holidays the traffic in Moscow became worse and worse. This was especially true after several heavy snowfalls and sudden changes in temperature: from +5 to -25 and then back to 0 today. Today, I provided my clients from Hong Kong with a one day city tour showing the best sites of Moscow. During this one day tour I was able to show Jueeun and Suisse the major highlights of Moscow in addition to providing them with lots of historical background and taking many pictures. In spite of the bad traffic we were able to visit the Red Square, Lenin's tomb, GUM, Alexander Gardens, Moscow Metro, Cathedral of Christ the Savior, and see a beautiful panorama of the Kremlin from the Patriarchy Bridge. Next, we took a driving...

Obama will visit Moscow on July 6-8 to meet with President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin. So now if you walk through the Red Square and Kremlin areas or any tourist attractions or crafts markets Vernisazh in Izmailovo you can see the ubiquitous nesting doll with Obama on them and also the American flag! These nesting dolls called Matreshka are one of the national souvenirs of Russia and are hand made from wood and hand painted (cheap ones have photo copies on it).

The history of the Matreshka doll started at the end of the 19th century. There are several legends about it's origin. The most popular says that the idea to make the traditional handicraft shaped like a woman in the local costume were taken from Japanese bold funny figurine representing a wise man ...

Today I was in Vladimir and Suzdal with my repeat client and great friend from NY, USA, who came to Russia again to see more sights in Moscow and to discover St. Petersburg. I work with my current client from June 25-29 and again from July 3-7, after her return from the “Venice of the North” . I am currently very busy and sorry for any delays with my replies to your messages.

We completed an amazing day of sightseeing of the two most famous town on the Golden Ring: Suzdal and Vladimir. In only one day we were able to visit the historic and scenic towns of the Golden Ring. It was a 500 km (312 miles) trip that lasted 14 hours and included sightseeing, visits to a museum of wooden Russian architecture and numerous cathedrals and monasteries, lunch in a local resta...

Holy Trinity is one of the major religious and popular festivals in Russia. On this festive and holy occasion, I provided a tour to Holy Trinity St. Sergius Lavra for my British clients, Christine and Hugh. It is difficult to explain our emotions and sense of excitement during this tour because we just happened to be located exactly at the hub of the festivities during the celebration of this great holiday and religious event. But to understand the majesty of this day and the place, it is helpful to learn at least some of the background history.

The Holy Trinity of St. Sergius Lavra (the monastery subordinate only to His Holiness) was founded by one of the most revered and venerable saints in Russia, St. Sergius of the 14th century. Tatars and Mongols ruled o...

Today on May 9th, 2009, the weather in the capital of Russia was a real treat for both citizens and visitors of Moscow during the celebration of one of the main holidays in our country, Victory Day. This is the date of the final surrender of Nazi Germany to the U.S.S.R. in 1945, marking the end of World War II. It is a day of memory and sorrow because millions of people died during this terrible war (only in the U.S.S.R. approximately 27 million people of different nationalities perished). This war became a harsh trial for our country and a great test of our national spirit, our unity, and our armed forces.

Almost every family in the U.S.S.R. lost relatives during the Great Patriotic War (as WWII is called here). We know about this war from hearing real sto...