1994

1994: Moscow. Foreigner Access to Kremlin.

In 1994 I was back in Moscow, this time with Stephanie. I took Stephanie to see the Kremlin. I noted on the way a booth, selling tickets for 200 Roubles, and thought it might have been for the Kremlin. But at the gate the tickets cost 4000 Roubles, a significant amount indeed. I took a step back and an enterprising Russian offered me two tickets for 2000 Roubles each. I said I thought he might have bought them for 200. He said that might be so but he was in business and had to make a profit, presumably believing that I could not get the tickets at his price. I went back to the queue for Russians and ordered two tickets, courteously, in Russian. It was a normal sale, 400 Roubles altogether. I walked past the guy showing my tickets and leaving him looking very surprised.