How safe is Moscow for Americans?

[retaylor]

Dear Seelangers,

ATM machines seem to be the best answer - Many are located at metro
stations, and taking out money there made me nervous, but some are located
inside banks with armed guards standing watch.  However, using an ATM
machine in Russia can  result in lots of $$ being stolen later (probably
bank employees "at work").  Therefore, it might be wise to open a bank
acount specifically for the purpose of travelling to Russia - use the ATM
machines while in Russia - and then close the account immediately upon
returning.  Fees are something minimal like 75 cents per transaction, and
exchange rates are optimal.

Since so much of Russian life is cash-based, I often found myself carrying
$300-500 (in rubles) when living in Russia in 1997-8 - which made me a
little nervous, but never got me in trouble, as long as I dressed / acted
relatively "Russian."

Yours,
Romy Taylor

On Sun, 28 May 2000, Mr Carmack wrote:

> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Slavic & East European Languages and Literature list
> > [mailto:SEELANGS at LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU]On Behalf Of Renee Stillings
> > Sent: Saturday, May 27, 2000 12:47 PM
> > To: SEELANGS at LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU
> > Subject: Re: [SEELANGS] How safe is Moscow for Americans?
>
>
> > [SNIP} when the fact of the
> > matter is that most Russians are quite aware that there are a lot more
> > wealthy Russians walking around than wealthy foreigners and that many such
> > Russians really are walking around with a wallet full of $100s (or keep
> > 1000s stashed in a mattress) whereas smart foreigners carry very little on
> > their person. Yes, the foreigners appear to be easy targets, but the same
> > common sense and respect for your environment you'd use in any
> > city all but eliminates that disadvantage.
>
> Okay, so I have two questions.
>
> (1) Since I will be a tourist (actually, a student), and will want to take
> photos of the usual tourist attractions, how am I to avoid being singled out
> as a foreigner (American) when I am walking around in awe, gawking at sites
> and taking photos? Should I buy a spy camera and take pictures from my coat
> sleeve?  :-)
>
> (2) I get the picture that credit cards aren't that useful in most places in
> Moscow, and also that it is illegal to use dollars, and that most places do
> not take traveller's checks. So, if I am not sure it is safe to store excess
> cash in my room or dorm, what do I do with it? Should I take cash or
> traveller's checks? Open a bank account?
>
> I assume the best thing to do is take AMEX traveller's checks and cash what
> I need at their office--but then wouldn't that be an obvious place for local
> ne'er-do-wells to prey on foreigners? And wouldn't visiting the AE Office
> everyday get a bit tedious, not to mention making yourself a mark for anyone
> watching the place regularly??
>
> (In Lithuania I stayed always with relatives. I still kept my cash always
> with me, lots of pristine $US 10's, 5's, and 1's, zipped up in the neck of
> my rain jacket that has an extractable hood. The total was no more than
> $200, which was more than we needed in our two weeks in Lietuva anyway. We
> exchanged dollars at banks, official kiosks, the back office of a store that
> imported fruits and fruit juices, and also in a hotel lobby, whose clerks
> salivated at the chance of getting rid of some of their roubles for US$20.
> This was in 92 before the Lita was reintroduced.)
>
> Yours from Texas, where we all ride horses and wear cowboy hats, ;-)
>
> Alan C
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>  Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
>   options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
>                 http://members.home.net/lists/seelangs/
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Use your web browser to search the archives, control your subscription
  options, and more.  Visit and bookmark the SEELANGS Web Interface at:
                http://members.home.net/lists/seelangs/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------