Super VIP

They say that Moscow is the most expensive city in the world and it's absolutely true. They say that wherever you go, there is a VIP entrance next to the regular line. The city is desinged to accomodate the richest people: restaurants are very expensive and there are no cheap or midrange hotels reasonably close to Moscow center.
There is also a lot of corruption going on: we had to bribe the police to get in or get in front of the line to see Lenin on the Red Square, to see the Treasury in Kremlin and deformed babies in Kunstkamera in Sain Petersurg. On the bright side, we had some lovely private time with Lenin, who seemed to be made out of plastic, and the tomb of Stalin. On the bright side, you know that there is a second path to get what you want :)
Saint Petersburg is a much more touristy place and way more european: it's even called "the window to Europe". We lived in a total palace: well, at least the size and a ceiling in our apartment looked just like some halls in Hermitage.