Added October 2, 2006
A May 2009 note from Dimitry re: improvements:
Less clutter. New big fridge with freezer
new elevator. A brand new "arts" place next door -
www.messto.ru. A collector's clothing
store set up as a Soviet era apartment, plus a bar. The place is run by
cycling and biking enthusiasts. Vegetarian cook. Petroverigsky 3. Highly
recommended.
OPENLY SUBSTANDARD OFFER IN AN ULTRA-EXPENSIVE NEIGHBOURHOOD. RECOMMENDED TO AUTHENTIC BACKPACKERS. THE LANDLADY'S SON, A COMPULSIVE JUNK COLLECTOR, SPEAKS EXCELLENT ENGLISH AND RESPONDS ENQUIRIES FAST!
GETTING TO KAMILLA'S HOME
A map and description will be added soon.
Local landmarks: Lutheran Church, Choral Synagogue, gay hangout by the Plevna monument, Department of Narcotics Control, White Clouds New Age Center. The nearest metro station: Kitay-Gorod.
Before the map and instructions happen, call her Kamilla at +7-495-625-6318 (remember to speak real slow and distinct) or her son Dimitry at +7-926-815-0081. He can also be reached by writing to dsharvin@gmail.com.
(Verified
Nov. 1 2009.
Contact details valid.)
From my Nov. 3 2009 mailbox:
Bonjour Paul, I had the opportunity to rent Dimitri's flat for three weeks last September. Dimitri was very helpful... without being the least intrusive. He respected my privacy. Moreover, he was nice enough to lend me a cell phone & (very important) to make sure that the coffee jar was well supplied. Thus, I don't hesitate to recommend his (extremely well located while quiet) place to fellow travellers. François Dallaire
From my Sept. 26 2010 mailbox:
Hi Paul,
sorry, sorry, sorry. I promised to share my experience with Dimitry and
the Kitai Gorod apartment, where I stood with my wife at the end of
August. After leaving, I completey forgot to write you and tell you (and
possibly others) how we fared.
In short: It was a great stay with an interesting person. The apartment
still looks like you desribed it, but it is not dirty. Just not perfectly
in order. We actually found it very interesting and we had all we wanted
and needed: A sofa-bed, a (somewhat thin) mattress for the second person,
kitchen, bathroom, a good desk, a fast internet connection which we could
use, and even a brand-new washing machine which we were allowed to use. I
gave him 100 RUR for using the washing machine, but he didn't ask for it..
There may be people who need a better-looking room, but for many of us,
this is perfect, especially considering the price (we paid $30
for two persons a night, and I eventually added your commission to the $30
instead of having Dimitry deduct it).
Dimitry was very helpful and a really interesting person to talk to - and
absolutely not intrusive when we didn't feel like chatting.
By the way, you probably know that his mother died, so at the time we
stood there, only Dimitry and us were around.
We accessed the intered via network cable that we brought with us, not via
WiFi. But he would have asked his sister for the WiFi password (which he
doesn't kow), had we needed it.
Thanks again for your site and I hope this "review" helped a bit.
Greetings from Germany
Harald Nikolaus
From????
.....mon séjour chez Dimitri fut des plus agréables, et je souhaite à d’autres voyageurs la même bonne fortune.
NEW!! Guest room as of January 2010. This room is the only non-smoking space in the apartment. The room is set up as working space, with a comfortable desk and some shelf space for your papers.
Kamilla and her son Dimitry are obsessive antique collectors whose method
consisted of monitoring neighbourhood trash containers. For decades.
This is me, Pasha/Paul, the owner of this site, taking a nap on the famous
couch.
Late 60's race bike, in running order, is available to guests.
See my Rent a Bike page for a list of room
rentals offers that include free use of a bike!
The best that can be said about facilities is that hot and cold water run,
the drainage works, and there are NO RODENTS/INSECTS.
The view from the window. Note the concrete fence painted according to
current fashion.
The toilet is is a separate cubicle. I'd call it minimally acceptable.
But the location and the price makes even a hole in the floor acceptable!
Razor wire protects the Anti-Narcotics Agency from the back.
The Lutheran Church is a few steps away. Other "spiritual" establishments in
the immediate vicinity include the Moscow Choral Synagogue and the White
Clouds New Age club.
This is an "arts" neighbourhood. Thus silly metal and stone objects
everywhere.
Kamillas' son
Dimitry with who you are likely to communicate... I don't particularly
want to badmouth him but I can only recommend him only to patient and
tolerant travellers. Or those desperate to save. He is a bore of cosmic
scale. One of these obsessive-compulsive Russian scientists. He has something to do with
sending thing out into space for whatever reason, with lots of noise and
pomp. His job is to make small parts for them. Thus the type of character:
obsessed with details, notices things not worth looking at and misses the
big picture. At one point I, a card-carrying pacifist and vegetarian, was an inch away from axe-murdering him. If not sure
ask me for details but only if
you are serious about staying with him.
Back to
Main
rooms
Apartments
Free in exchange for English
Horse fly feedi..
Horse riding
at
my dacha
Anther view from the room or from the kitchen window.
An example of clutter.
Kamilla Nikolayevna, a retired rocket researcher.
And her son Dimitry makes or repairs small mechanisms for things that go
into outer space.
As all Moscow intelligentsia, they have several tons of books.
The elevator is of the older variety where you yourself close the door.
Secure entry to the building.
Building entrance from the back.
Heart Institute & Clinic across the street.