In Russia, it is advisable for anyone within a city with a population over 100,000 to be indoors by 7 PM. Drinking in public is permitted, and to a Russian enduring a 9-month winter, beer is as commonplace as Kool-Aid is to someone from the USA.Each March, Russian girls looking for extra vacation money for the summer often send love letters to romantics and spouse hunters on the internet. Scammers are not sentimental. It is purely about the money.As for food, do not expect fine dining unless you are Andrew Zimmern. If you do not speak Russian, you may very well be refused service. However, international fast-food chains like McDonald's, KFC, and Pizza Hut will generally serve you well all over Russia.It is best to purchase all your alcoholic beverages in a market. Never from a street kiosk. Furthermore, avoid drinking in a bar, even if it is run by Hindus, as they may quickly separate you from your cash.
There are numerous gangs in Moscow. The most powerful of them operates out of the Kremlin. Locals' attitudes can vary significantly with age. Younger ones may have a chip on their shoulder, while the older population may sport gold teeth. If you have dark skin, be prepared for potential trouble. With some luck, you might regain consciousness in a hospital within a week or two, only to lose it again upon seeing the state of the hospital and learning how much "gratification" the doctors, nurses, and others expect.