Cars and more cars

Cars are everywhere in Moscow. Not surprising for a city of about 11 million, right? Except when you realize the history of cars here. According to our guide, during the Soviet era very few people had cars. To buy one, you had to be put on a waiting list, and it often took up to five years for you to buy a car. The only cars available were Russian made, which were very undependable. The green car above is an older Russian model, but in amazing condition.

All this changed only about 6 or 8 years ago. It was then that Russians began buying cars. And boy do they! And they do not buy Russian made. We see lots of Fords and Chevys. We see far more Mercedes, BMWs, Saabs, Volvos, Toyotas, Hondas. Some Cadaliacs and Hyundas as well. The Russian made cars are small and look battered.

Since cars really are new for the city, parking accommodations do not exist. No parking lots, no parking garages. So, people just park where they can. On the street and more often, on the sidewalk. The main streets are wide, because Stalin wanted lots of impressive streets for parades. Traffic is chaotic.

There are few taxi cabs. This is the only major city I have been in where you cannot hail a cab. You have to call for one. There are buses and cable cars, which just run on the major streets. But the metro is apparently excellent.