Visiting And Shopping Inside And Outside The Former Soviet Union.

[Soviet]

Me, I liked it very much, but I wouldn't recommend to go during the week, because there will be less antiques and almost only tourist souvenirs! But you siad you are going on Saturday, so this will be fine. :thumbsup

[Christophe]

Perfect, Bryan. I will be there next Saturday .

Ch.

[Christophe]

(...) The best things are on the second floor at the end of the market.

Just a precision : how many floors in total in the market ? 2 ? Is this place inside the market the only one worth a visit ?

Ch.

[Soviet]

So how was it?

Have you found anything?

[order of glory]

These are right beside the metro station. As I said, as soon you find the metro station, you cannot miss the market.

I feel I totally missed the most exciting thing about Moscow:thumbsdown . My hosts only took me to the hat and pin vendors on Arbat.

I must go back!!!

[nh202]

I feel I totally missed the most exciting thing about Moscow:thumbsdown . My hosts only took me to the hat and pin vendors on Arbat.

I must go back!!!

I was at the market in 2004 and stayed at the Hotel Izmailova which is right beside it. I found that you have to ask the vendors is they have any medals and then they'll take you to the back of the stall and go though cases of medals and orders.

Orders and medals can be readily fround in St. Petersburg also - I was offered an Order of Nakhimov 2nd class fro $750.00 US but passed it up as I was not certain if it was an original.

Nick

[Lapa]

Nick,

An original order of Nakhimov 2nd class hasn't been this cheap for at least 15 years, and then again, I can't remember ever seeing any in this price range.

Marc

[Dzerzhinsky]

I was there in February 1996 and I remember an old man trying to sell me a huge uniform collection. It consisted mainly of Brezhnev/Andropov/Gorby material, but the price was so low. I could not even imagine getting them home. Regrettably, I was on a tour and my time was limited. The market seemed large at the time and I was overwhelmed by my surroundings. The trip was great, but I had a difficult time convincing the guide to show us Soviet history sites. In 1996, they wanted to forget Soviet history as much as possible and they assumed incorrectly my fellow travellers felt the same way.

[Christophe]

So how was it?

Have you found anything?

I went there twice : last Saturday and the Sunday before. The most busy day was clearly on Saturday.
I really found nothing of great interest. Just bought some Umalatova medals I did not have (at a very good price - 200 RR = 6 euros), a few Russian medals and some docs and books and catalogs... Nothing really exciting.
What pleased me the most is a nice old Soviet Diver's watch I bought in one of the shops (real shop) on the right, close to the entrance.

In all case, a nice place to visit, and also a good one for artisanal items (matriushkas, wooden boxes, chess games, Christmas things...).

Ch.

Pic : The entrance of the market "Vernissage".

Pic : © Christophe – ChR Collection

[Christophe]

A general view of the artisans' market.

Ch.

Pic : © Christophe – ChR Collection