Travel Notes

Moscow Metro turns 65

The venerable system now boasts 161 stations

T

he Moscow metro celebrated its 65th anniversary this spring . The first metro line, with 13 stations, was completed on May 15, 1935. It ran from Sokolniki to Gorky Park (the red line). Today, the Moscow metro employs 30,000 people, covers 524 kilometers of track and daily transports over 8 ~

The metro continues to grow. Over the next 10 years, the city plans to open sixty-four new stations to the existing 161. For instance, the Arbatsko-Pokrovksaya (dark blue) line will be extended west from Kievskaya to Victory Park in 2002. 

The capital’s metro stations, designed by the best Soviet and Russian sculptors and architects and decorated with natural stones ranging from marble, onyx and quartz to granite and limestone, remain beautiful artistic creations. Even today, a visit to the metro is a required part of a first tourist visit to the city. 

Yet the metro anniversary had a somewhat bitter aftertaste for millions of rank and file Russian users. Metro officials announced a forthcoming fare hike from the present R4 to R5 or even R6 (which, at 28 rubles to the dollar, is still very affordable compared to any other large city metro). 

Hotel National marks centennial

Lenin lived in room 107 ...

O

n June 15, 100 years ago, the cornerstone for Moscow’s legendary National Hotel was laid. 

The National Hotel was build by the Russian architect Alexander Ivanov in a pompous, eclectic style popular at the turn of the century. It was built at a cost of 1 million rubles—a huge sum in turn-of-the-century Russia.

In March 1918, the hotel was designated the First House of Soviets and top ranking members of the Bolshevik government lived there when the seat of power moved from St. Peters-burg to Moscow. Vladimir Lenin stayed in room 107 before he moved to the Krem-lin. Through--out the 20th century, the hotel’s unique style and prime location (di-rect-ly across Ma-nege Square from the Krem-lin), have made it the place to stay. Armand Hammer, Anatole France, Herbert Wells, Henri Barbusse and others were among the hotel’s many illustrious guests.

In 1991, the hotel was closed for four years of renovation. In May 1995, when the hotel was reopened, it was restored to its 1903 grandeur, but dotted with state-of-heart equipment. Since then, it has hosted VIPs ranging from French president Jacques Chirac and Polish President Alex-ander Kwasnesvky, to US Energy Secretary Francisco Pena. The fascinating history of this hotel will be featured in a coming issue of Russian Life.

Lufthansa is offering a special $470 round-trip fair between Moscow and New York (with a stop in Frankfurt). The fare is good through September 15.

In June Aeroflot announced it will construct its own airport in Moscow: Sheremetevo-3, Kom-mer-sant daily reported. This move was prompted by Aeroflot’s commitments to its foreign partners (by 2003 the company is to form an alliance with Air France and Delta), but also by the airline’s desire to provide ground service for its passengers in Moscow. 

  Sheremetevo-2, opened in 1980 for the Moscow Olympics, exhausted its capacity long ago. Aeroflot intends to build the new airport next to the current international terminal. The new $500 million terminal will have 41 boarding gates (vs. just 19 at Sheremetievo-2). The airport will also ease transit woes: domestic flights will depart from the same terminal. While Aeroflot has yet to float a tender for a designer and a developer, the new airport is slated to open in 2003. 

The port of Nakhodka celebrated its 50th anniversary in May. This major Russian seaport (a Free Trade Zone, see photo above) is located on Nakhodka Bay in the Sea of Japan. A large industrial and transportation center of the Russian Far East, it has a population of 190,000 people, and the city stretches some 30 km along the seashore.