Photo from Moscow-photos.com
For me there’s nothing more lovely in this busy, smoky city than a
spontaneous picnic in some hidden place where I won’t be disturbed by
crowds of emo-teenagers or suspicious policemen. And I must warn you
that you should be ready for these 'amusements' if you decide to spend some time daydreaming on the grass downtown.
So when I'm looking for some quiet piece of nature I go to my secret garden – it's called Aptekarsky Ogorod (what means herbal pharmacy), which is more like a botanical garden of medical herbs.
Photo from Moscow-photos.com
You will never find it if you don't know the exact directions: just imagine yourself walking through the glass wall of a buisiness center ignoring the café on the left and the hairsalon on the right passing tourniket and finally finding yourself in the picturesque contyside somewhere in England – because what you see definitely can't be Moscow!
Photo from Moscow-photos.com
A huge pool with chineese carps which size I would compare to a chihuahua dog, a shallow pond with wild lillies and weeping willows, paths through bushes of rare herbs and unique blooming plants, benches under the archs of wild grapes and the snow-white terrace of the abandoned café – enough cosy corners to hide with a good book and a good sandwich.
During the week, the only threat to your serenity will be a few couples of wagging old ladies and on weekends – couples of newlyweds posing near a 200-year old oak. Just keep in mind that walking or slugging on the grass is prohibited. The garden was founded (by the way!) by Peter the Great and it is a conservatory area with rare plants treated carefully.
And I find it really funny that in the night, this quiet place becomes as mad as you can imagine – because of the café-club Fasol where the craziest retro-parties take place Thursday-Sunday. Frankly speaking, I do not like this crowd much (imagine midle-aged potato-faced clerks) but you should definetely once try a wild dance together with totally happy drunk dudes singing aloud Ottowan, Village People or Bonny Tyler, or whatever. And damn, there are romantic ballads too (oh, my axl rose!)! Dig out your favorite velvet outfit from the dusty cupboard – and get back to school, every Thursday!
Aptekarsky Ogorod; Prospekt Mira, 26. Metro: Prospect Mira
Go further: Read about Aaron's favourite green spot in Copenhagen here.