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.
Zaryadye Park is a new type of public space created by an international team of architects, engineers, landscape designers and other experts. Here the concepts of nature and technology, education and entertainment, history and modernity are united and complement each other.
Patriarch's Ponds is an affluent residential area, one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in the city. It dates back to at least the 17th century when Patriarch Ioakim, the eleventh Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia was settled here.
The Patriarch Ponds area (locals simply call it “Patriki”) is the main gourmet center of Moscow, both for tourists and locals. From small coffee corners and secret pubs to posh restaurants and trendy bars – here surrounding the green oasis of Patriarch Ponds park you can find anything you want. The most interesting places are located on Malaya Bronnaya street and its side streets – and all this is just a 10-minute walk from Mayakovskaya metro station.