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Abstract: To Russia, who me? That is actually how it all began. A decade or more ago, I had the opportunity to visit what was then known as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), Russia. Although, this place held high priority on my list of places to go, I never thought such a trip was within my reach. This idea was quite fascinating to me because of the events that did happen there, including the Russian space ship Sputnik and the dog, the high stepping military officers. Red Square and the St. Basil's Cathedral. After reading a lot about Russia, I thought it would be great to see a clean place, where it was unlawful to throw paper on the streets, and ride in public transportation such as the buses, taxis and the subway system, which were immaculately clean. It was an exciting trip, one, I will always remember, but would be a difficult adjustment to make, to live.
Key Words: Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), Russia, Kremlin, Moscow, Kalinin, Leningrad, Rouble, the Hermitage.
INTRODUCTION
General Tours, Inc., a travel agency of New York City sponsored the trip to Leningrad, Kalinin and Moscow in the month of December. Approximately one hundred eighty people, mostly strangers to each other, excited and uncertain as to what we would encounter, boarded a jet from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport for a 7 hour flight to Shannon, Ireland, the first stop for a ninety minute refueling, relaxation and shopping for some of us. Afterwards, we continued on for another six hours to our first stop in the USSR (Leningrad), then to Kalinin and finally to Mockba (Moscow).
HISTORY
The migration of civilizations of ancient Greece (Huns and Tartans), Byzantium and Islam, left their marks on the eight million square miles of the USSR. In less than 50 years, Russia rose from a feudal economy to become one of the world's second most powerful industrial states. The climate and landscape, often described in the paintings, music, dance, architecture, literature and drama reflects the culture and diversity of the many people who made this place their permanent home. Then, Moscow was noted as the microcosm of the Soviet Union because the Tartars, Ukrainians, Uzbeks and Georgians...