The former journalist Joel Lorquet, evangelist, writer and singer member founder of the Lorquet Foundation for a New Haiti (FOLONHA), present in Moscow sent us a travel article on his first impressions that we are pleased to share with you.

First impressions of a Haitian visitor in Moscow: by Joël Lorquet

"The foreigner who arrives in Moscow is surprised to see, at first glance, a modern country with highways that have nothing to envy to those of the United States, for example. Old Lada, Volga and "Moscovich" alongside the latest models of Bentley, Infiniti (which costs US $ 76,000), brand new Mercedes, BMW, etc.

Although the maximum speed on the motorways is 120 km / h and 80 in the city, many drivers (Vodka aiding), which far exceed the speed limits set by the authorities. A law has just banned drunk driving, but what do you want, in a country where vodka costs less than a bottle of water... (more than 80,000 accidents per year / 100 deaths per day) . Many drunken people are noticed in the streets of Moscow, while most young people smoke cigarettes all day long.

Moscow, famous for its traffic jams

Moscow is famous for its traffic jams that sometimes last for hours. President Vladimir Putin, during his travels, is forced to block certain arteries in order to reach his destination in time. The problem is that, in this city of 11 million inhabitants (officially registered), 18 million according to more than one that extends over 80 km, the citizens, thanks to the credit, acquire daily new vehicles, while the road network has remained the same for almost a decade. When the roads are fluid, especially in the morning, drivers take the opportunity to accelerate. Very few drivers are courteous, which forces pedestrians to be very vigilant especially at intersections.

Not easy to be black in Moscow :

Visible minorities of black race are a subject of curiosity for Russians. Wherever you go, everyone looks at you. On the other hand, you are also an object of admiration: often, in the public places, some Russians generally coming from the province, stop you and invite you to make photographs in their company, question to go to show to their friends that they met a black guy !

But beware ! Blacks are not always welcome in Russia: some compatriots like Victor, a Theologian have made the terrible experience with "Skin Heads". He had to run away from a subway station where a group of well-armed onlookers had chased him. He was saved by the presence of some witnesses who had time to alert police officers.

A real building site :

Moscow is however a very beautiful city, a real construction site when one observes the number of constructions which are realized there. In about ten years the panorama will certainly have changed with the planned new infrastructures.

Finally, what makes the curiosity of the tourist in summer, is to note that waking before 5:00 in the morning, the sun is already up and it will really dark after 11:00 pm."

HL / Joël Lorquet