February
11, 2009
Presenting
Bed & Breakfast
from Valentina Ivanovna (Tina)
valentina.jurina@rambler.ru
(English is fine if you write in short clear sentences)
+7-905-552-0220
(Russian only)
- 5 min. walk from Metro Belorusskaya
- Easy access to city core, Sheremetyevo, train stations, US Embassy
- Breakfast or full service
- Wi-Fi internet
- $50-70/night, last-minute specials, off-season discounts possible. At least one guest at any given time policy will be aggressively pursued, by aggressively lowering the rate if necessary.
My impressions:
The place is unusually if not to say unreally or even surreally quiet.
This three room apartment is laid out in a way that allow people not to bump into each other. Large bathroom. Separate dining room.
Valentina practices a gentle version of force-feeding and other trademark features of Russian hospitality.
The room overlooking Leningradsky, where I stayed for one night, has a whole wall of shelves with Russian classics, a couch with soporific properties, and a whole lot of dignified clutter. If you don't get up on time for breakfast the tray with food will be brought to you. Eat, sleep, and otherwise enjoy your Oblomov experience. If your tastes are anything like mine ask for this specific room!
The other room with modern furniture including a large double bed is quite standard and expected. Unlike the Oblomov room above, which is unmistakable Moscow, this one could be anywhere. Recommended if you've had your fill of the spirit of the city.
The building itself was constructed in 1923 for the Soviet banking elite, and is, same as the apartment a good example of luxury as it was understood during much of the USSR era.
Clean and well looked after "podyezd", elevator, and other common areas.
Back to:
[a photo of Tina where she is o look like a USSR-era grande-dame but friendly and hospitable, sort of guardian angel type...]
The building itself is separated from a busy street by a fence. The court has a small playground.
What you see when stepping out of the "podyezd" door.
Well-kept entrance hall and common areas. No drunks, no noisy neighbours. The place was build and populated by party bosses and still largely retains the old atmosphere. No "New Russian" frill, all dignity and propriety with just a touch of decay.
Here is your "touch of decay".
A painting in the common area. Not a common thing because of theft and vandalism.
The kitchen
This small dining room is separate from the kitchen so those preparing their food will not bother too much those eating.
Two guests at breakfast. I'm one of them.
Main streets of the neighbourhood are dominated by massive buildings from early 1950s.
This gloomy structure next door is Children's Hospital for Infectious Deseases.
Vestiges from the times when the Garden Ring marked the end of Moscow and the beginning of the countryside.
Old Believers Church
The room where I stayed, dubbed "The Oblovov room"
Views from the Oblomov room
Real wooden frames with real old brass latches.
Hint:
The whole of Moscow and the rest of Russia have recently been overrun with the fashion for plastic window frames that, as might be expected, smell of plastic, especially when subjected to heat and direct sunlight.
The Oblomov room. These books typify reading tastes cultured Muskovites of teh 70s. RECOMMENDED.FOR THE EX-USSR CITIZENS WHO WANT TO IMMERSE THEMSELVES INTO THE NOSTALGIC SENTIMENT.
Belorussky train station is 5 min. by foot. Trains from here go west all the way to Warsaw.
The other room is kind of non-descript.
View from the window from the room with new white furniture.
This bedroom can be used only for a very special occasion :)
Lots of space in the bathroom. Note the shower stall instead of a bathtub.
Furniture in this apartment is expensive and is not to be treated as shown in the example above.
