Exploring Moscow - Moscow and St. Petersburg - page 154

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Funny Feet
Don't be alarmed if a Russian museum employee stops you at the entrance and
makes you put on plastic or felt slippers. Many Russian museums, especially
“house museums” or those installed in former palaces, require visitors to cover
their shoes to protect wood floors from soggy street shoes. The free slippers
(called bakhili ) are stored in bins near the coat check, and evoke giggles from
most first-time wearers. Tread carefully at first, since some are slippery. Russian
visitors don't blink at this practice, since they all keep shoes-free homes, shed-
ding footwear (especially slush-coated winter boots) at the door in favor of
house slippers.

Chekhov House Museum This is the house where the doctor-turned-playwright
Anton Chekhov first found literary success, as an author of short stories and one-act
plays. He lived in the pink two-story house with his family between the autumn of 1886
and the spring of 1890.
6 Sadovaya Kudrinskaya. & 495/691-6154. Admission 100 rubles. Tues, Thurs, Sat 11am-4pm; Wed and
Fri 2-7pm. Closed last day of the month. Metro: Barrikadnaya.
Pushkin Apartment Museum Russia's favorite poet, Pushkin, lived here right after
his marriage. The building was made into communal apartments in the Soviet era. Tchai-
kovsky also lived in the building.
53 Arbat St. & 499/241-9295. www.pushkinmuseum.ru. Admission 80 rubles, group English-language
tours 1,000 rubles. Wed-Sun 10am-5pm. Metro: Arbatskaya or Smolenskaya.

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Mikhail Lermontov House Museum Chronicler of Russia's Caucasus campaigns,
poet and painter Lermontov lived in this cheerful yet studious pink house during his
formative student years.
1 Malaya Molchanovka. & 495/291-5298. Admission 50 rubles. Thurs and Sat-Sun 11am-4pm; Wed
and Fri 2-5pm. Metro: Arbatskaya.

9 ESPECIALLY FOR KIDS

Moscow doesn't appear at all child-friendly on the surface, and Russia's plunging birth
rates only exacerbate Moscow's image as a city for grown-ups. That said, Russians revere
their kids, and Moscow has plenty for children to do if you're a bit creative. The circus
is a world-famous draw, the zoo is impressive, and several puppet theaters around town
offer top-quality performances. The shows are in Russian only, but younger children are
often content to enjoy the visuals. Be aware that animal rights activism remains totally
alien to Russia, so sensitive parents would be advised to stay away from the circus and
zoo if this is an issue. Seasonal festivals, such as those at Kolomenskoye (see review
earlier in this chapter), are a sure winner for kids, as are the attractions at Gorky Park
(see review earlier in this chapter). Another kid pleaser is the Police Relay Race that
whips around the Garden Ring the first Sunday after Police Day on October 24. The
highlights are the motorcycle and patrol car races; see local newspapers for details of the
best vantage spots.