MOSCOW - Must Applications for your iPhone

There are several iPhone Applications that will make your trip to Moscow a breeze. They are the following:

-The Russian Alphabet - This is helpful Application for when you're trying to read anything while in Russia. Their Cyrillic alphabet is as confusing as Chinese writing. Made by Proffit Ink ($1.99).

-Moscow Subway 2010 - This is one of my favorite travel iPhone Applications. It's very easy to use and it's in English! A major plus in Russia, believe me. It contains colorful diagrams of all the metro lines and stops in the Moscow Subway system so you'll never get lost if your choose to ride it. Made by Asteria ($2.99).

-SpeakEasy Russian - An fun Application that tells you in short recordings and by category, how to say all the essentials, "hi, good bye, where's my beer", etc. Very useful in a country where few speak English. Made by Benjamin McDowell ($3.99)

-Moscow Street Map - A map of Moscow Application with options like "tell me where I am" and where I can find the nearest ATM, Bank, etc. - very useful in a country where all directions are written in Cyrillic. Made by Dubbele.com ($1.99)

All these iPhone Applications were generously shared with us by Phil Schmoeller, IAD Flight Officer for UAL. Thanks Phil!

If you have any travel questions or suggestions about Moscow or any other travel destination, share them with us and write to postcards@me.com. We'd love to hear from you!

Moscow - The Tchaikovsky Conservatory

To attend a classical music concert in Moscow, go to the historical Tchaikovsky Conservatory located within walking distance of our layover hotel. It is the yellow building with white columns that sits almost next to Coffee Mania on Nikistkaya Avenue, right behind the Lenin statue shown in the enclosed photo (get directions from the concierge). The main entry door to the Conservatory is right behind the Lenin statue. (photo enclosed).

Shows at the Conservatory start at around 7pm and tickets go for 400 to 500 Rubles (about $13 dollars), depending on the location of your seat. The theater is beautifully ornate on the inside, worth the price of admission.

Show schedules and tickets can be obtained from the Hotel's Front Desk (they order them over the phone) or you can go directly to the conservatory on the evening of a show and purchase your tickets from the "not so friendly" ticket booth attendants. I recommend the first option, since the lobby theater will seem confusing and chaotic for a first timer, and it will be very crowded right before the show.

For more information (in English) about the Conservatory, i.e., schedules, shows, history of the conservatory and a seating plan, click on the enclosed link : Moscow P. I. Tchaikovsky Conservatory - Halls - Great Hall

Enjoy the show!

Do you have a favorite cultural venue in Moscow? Ballet, Art, Music? Share it with us! Send us your story to postcards@me.com and we'll post it in our blog.

Moscow - An Amazing Cup of Hot Chocolate

If you're into drinking thick-as-mud, ebony black, delicious hot chocolate, the type that you can eat with a spoon, here's a wonderful little coffee shop near our layover hotel that serves a killer cup.

I can't pronounce the name of the place, but I'm enclosing the photo of their street sign so you can find it. Much like our Starbucks chain in the States, these coffee shops can be found all over Moscow. See if you can spot one as you walk around the city. They are not as expensive as Coffee Mania and they are very popular with the student crowds. The one near our hotel is located almost across the street from Coffee Mania, the trendy and expensive Cafe on Nikitskaya Street, an easy walk from our layover hotel.

To get there, head towards the Kremlin via Nikitskaya Street, pass the three street kiosks on the side walk that sell fruit and snacks across from Coffee Mania. As you go past the last kiosk, you will see the coffee shop in a basement location down brown carpeted steps . Go down and voila! you're there.
(picture enclosed of the steps and sign).

The Hot Chocolate come in three sizes - small, medium or large. I've only tried the small and the medium sizes and they're both decadent. Either size has plenty of hot chocolate and the price per cup is around 400 Rubles
( about $ 7 dollars).

Enjoy the luxury of dark, black hot thick chocolate in the winter! and if you have any Moscow recommendations you wish to share, please send them to us via postcards@me.com so we can publish them.

Pass this on so we can grow.

Pushkin Museum - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I Finally made it to the Pushkin museum in Moscow during my last layover. Wow! it was pretty impressive and interesting. Compact in size if compared to the Metropolitan in New York. More in size, like a small East Wing Gallery in the Smithsonian.

The Pushkin Musueum is located a couple of blocks away from the beautiful Church of Christ the Saviour in Moscow, a manageable walk (ven in -5 temperature) from the hotel.

The musuem consists of two separate buildings, one next to the other and the admission fee for each building is 300 Rubles in cash.

The main building, located in ....street, is a three floor structure of classical style architecture built around ....

Pushkin Museum - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

TRAVEL GEAR - Foldable Water Bottel - Vapur

The February issue of Real Simple magazine featured the VAPUR portable water bottle as one of it's "Problem Solvers of the Month". It's also a very handy item for travel.

The VAPUR , is a 16oz container made of FDA approved BPA-free Polymer that "rolls or folds up when not in use", so its an easy item to store when empty, in a pant pocket, a back pack or a suitcase. It sells for $9.00 dollars a piece.

Vapur claims (on it's web site) that their water bottles are "reusable, cleanable, attachable, foldable and freezable". A bottle can be used as an ice pack, if filled with water and frozen. Vapur also donates a percentage of their profits to water related environmental causes.

For more information on Vapur water bottles please click on the enclosed Vapur's website here.

Hope you enjoy this post. Let us know what you think of this item.

ASIA - Cathay Pacific 21 day travel Pass - Asia Air Pass

Fly to Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific from New York or from LAX, plus receive a 21 day pass to fly inside Asia to any 24 additional destinations of your choice, for only $1099 dollars!!! How? by purchasing Cathay Pacific's All Asia Pass.

This airfare deal, is especially attractive for non airline folks, but also a useful option for interliner's if traveling during high season. The 21 day travel limit can be extended by paying an additional fee. An incredible deal, if one also tabulates the extra miles that one will accumulate that may translate into additional free tickets somewhere else in the world.

For more information on this offer and the cities available for travel, click on the following enclosed link - Asia Air Pass. You may also visit Cathay Pacific's web site and look for the Asia Air Pass link.

Bon Vojage!

Thailand - Fly to the Islands

Made it to Phuket (an island south of Bangkok). Beautiful beaches. Great people. Highly recommend Air Asia. They fly 320's just like Jetblue for only 50 US$. A better deal full fair than our standby passes on Thai Air plus a great crew. Beach today. Party tonight then off to a secluded island for a few days. Amazing place.

Story by Cling Gainey (IADSW)