[tsveta]

I'm going to Russia in my gap year (only for about a month at the moment but going to try and extend it) - are there any places in particular people would reccommend visiting (other than the obvious - Kremlin etc)?

Also, are things over there expensive compared to England?
How cold will it be in April?
Do people generally speak good English?
Will I pick up the language relatively easily?

[Formerly Helpful_C]

The more expensive items will be reserved for the tourists who are seen as an easy mark. Generally, the further from the centre you get, the cheaper things are. That's the same for any capital though.

http://www.wunderground.com/ - check here for the historical temperatures.

People will appreciate it if you make an attempt at speaking Russian, even if it's just asking if they speak English!

No, you must exert a lot of effort. I think you overestimate how much of an influence being in Russia will have.

http://wikitravel.org/en/Main_Page - use it to find places to visit (within the city), amongst other information.

[Paul PTS]

(Original post by tsveta)
I'm going to Russia in my gap year (only for about a month at the moment but going to try and extend it) - are there any places in particular people would reccommend visiting (other than the obvious - Kremlin etc)?

Also, are things over there expensive compared to England?
How cold will it be in April?
Do people generally speak good English?
Will I pick up the language relatively easily?

I live in Sergiev Posad for example. Coat of arms - white fortress under the blue sky. When the doors are closed - that's town, when the doors are open that's already the coat of arms of the district.
Everything depends of the money invested in the repair of the ancient objects. Some places look not so well, cause they can't afford gold decorations repair often.
As for my town, it seems that the Lavra is being repaired each year. There are only several monasteries with the rank of Lavra. Three in Ukraine, two in Russia.
Second Russian Lavra at St.Peterburg. Certainly the Peterburg one is rather a new place. Lavra at Peterburg can't compare with the one in my town.

Once I met one Brit on the train from Moscow. He asked me to show the way to the center. So we set on the marshrutka (although we could just take a walk, it would be just a bit longer). The day was perfect, that was the time of the breakfast. The sky was blue, there were not much clouds. Sun had improved the affect... He was so surprised by the sights, that had made attempt to leave the bus just after we got in a little traffic jams (Moscow residents went to the country, at hot weather Moscow is hell, so they all leave it for summer cottages) . So I had to stop him and asked to wait until the bus station. Road police was near.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Ring

[krissip0oh]

Oh my this is so awesome
Which cities are you planning to visit?
I lived in Moscow my whole life, so I can help you out with what to do here

I must say its pretty expensive here, probably like England..
On the weather in April, it really depends.. last year it was pretty nice, this year it was still snowing in April, we only recently got good weather..and even yesterday there was a thunderstorm and rain..

People will generally know english in stores and restaurants, but if you just talk to random people on street... good luck xD

I must say the language is pretty hard, especially with pronunciation.. but with practice I'm sure you'll be okay. Talking is much easier than writing (I'm still struggling as a native speaker), and I'm sure you won't be writing much