If you want to get a real idea of what is Russia about, just go a bit to the surrealistic outskirts of Moscow and it will be your adventure for this day...

Red October is a former industrial area in central Moscow that's included a chocolate factory Red October, hence the name. Today it's one of the most flamboyant altough inconveniently located cultural quarters, full of art galleries, bars, fashion stores, a design school, night clubs and edtiorial offices of magazines. The photo (depicting a rather typical business redevelopment on the other shore of the Moskva River) was taken from a terrace that's part of the editorial office of Bolshoi Gorod magazine for which I have the privilege to photograph from time to time.

Russia's oldest botanic garden was founded by Peter the Great in 1706 to grow medicinal plants. "Aptekarsky" means "apothecary" in Russian. There are a lot of cafes and restaurants near the botanical garden.

Gary Tatintsian Gallery is a leading contemporary art gallery representing many of the most important international artists of the 21st century

Farm restaurant LavkaLavka is a new Russian cuisine restaurant. Organic grocery and restaurant.