PEOPLE&Places, we are all different

My name is Roberta and in Mompiano there is my favorite swimming pool. 

I usually came when they open, can be at 9am or at noon. I can be alone and I enjoy my first 'bite' of water, the swimming pool is only for me. It is perfect to relax and to have a break from daily life. I love this public swimming pool. It's new, clean and i love the architecture. It was completely renovated in 2013. I like the fact that we are in the city, I can see the buildings when I swim, it's a weird feeling. I love water as element and I feel good inside it. It's my little oasis in the city. 

Brescia - Italy.

My name is Vera, Sokol village is my lovely neighborhood

I was used to walk through this area to go from my home to the kindergarden. I enjoy to walk in these streets, we are close to city center but it looks as a village outside Moscow. Sokol is an historical place where they kept the original spirit of the land. Houses are mostly made by wood and people who lives here want to preserve the local soul, almost never changed. There is a museum that collect documents and things from people who lived around here. History is alive, I feel it. Every time I walk through the streets I find something new or it is better to say vintage objects. Houses with traditional wooden coloured fences, cars, natural materials and original object from 30 or 40 years ago. There was also a kind of contest for the best flowers between neighboroods, this make the place colored and with an amazing parfume.   

Moscow - Russia.

My name is Eliza

The bridge Bogdana Khmelnitskogo close to Kievskaya train station is my place to relax with friends. During summer we could be outside enjoying the landscape and speaking about the future, it's nice to share our dreams and our point of view. During warm days there is a nice meadows where we could lie down and enjoy our time after the worktime, a good drink and a close friend can made my day. In the winter it's better to be inside, there are few benches where I can relax with an awesome view on the river and it's warm. I still have dreams and I'm still dreaming about my future, I would like to travel and have experiences around the world, I have friends in different cities and I'm planning to visit them. 

Moscow, Russia.

My name is Irina, Park Kolomenskoye is my favorite place.

Actually there are two places inside the park where I love to come. Apple woods is where I love to come sit down or lay down on the grass and when is the season everyone can take great wild apples. I can read and nobody will see me, specially during the working days when no so many people come. The second place is connected to the legend of S.George and the Dragon. There are two rocks, one for men and another one for women. The rock dedicated to men is the head of S.George’s horse, the place for women is the abdomen of dragon. Legend says that these two place can give the energy of fertility to people. Every day you can see people to sit down, to put some object or to  tie some paper with wishes. I don’t think it works for real but is a place with a good atmosphere. Another legend in this park is about time travelers through a green foam, I will tell you next time.

Moscow  - Russia. 

My name is Tory, I love the little garden close to my home. 

In my life many things happened but now I’m here with my lovely daughter and I’m enjoying this park as I did when I was a kid. This place didn’t changed a lot along the years. They built new playgrounds for kids, but streets, trees, benches, everything is the same. I even remember when I was running around those small pedestrian streets, now she is doing the same and I'm running after her. It looks like that life never changed but actually life never stop. I remember how those trees looked so huge for me, I felt as to be in a fairy tale. I remember me as a kid stop under and to lift up my eyes to a sky, it was so emotional.

Moscow  - Russia. 

My name is David and Myakinino is my favorite place.

I live here and I consider my neighborhood one of the best places in Moscow. Is a clean, safe and extremely green area. I go jogging almost every day and I enjoy so much the riverbanks and no traffic at all. I can run here or sit to read a book can be summer or winter. I like to read open-air. I will wear my jacket and I will be outside for a while.

​Moscow - Russia. 

My name is Daria, roads around Tretyakov Gallery are my home.

I was born here. I love to walk around, to see how things changed. I was used to spend time here after the school with my friends. Now I see many tourists going to museums or churches. Many things changed, now is more fancy, but there are less people living here. Shops changed a lot. before we had small activities like butchery or bakery, now mostly jewelry, shoes shops or cafes.

Moscow  - Russia. 

My name is Alisa and my place is a bench in Botanical garden.

I love this park in every season but, of course, it is better to come here whith a warmer weather and sun. In the winter there is nobody, it is more relaxed and I can feel the nature sleeping, the snow absorbe every sound and only few people come here to ski or to run. In the spring there is a perfect moment when nothing is already started, just the grass started to grow up and I can feel the power of the trees, I love oaks, I love to hug them. Everything is ready under the surface and all the sprouts will open soon, it can last for one or two weeks, it is a great moment of the year. The summer is awesome, I come on this bench, I'm happy that there are two now, I read a book, I listen to the birds, I watch the pond and I just relax from the noise of the city. I enjoy so much the sound of the autumn, the sound of the leaves when they fall down on the ground and every single time I am amazed about their dance while they are going down. Everything is just magic, calm and at the same time energetic.

Moscow, Russia.

My name is Anna and my place is Mate Club.

It is a unique place in Moscow. I love indigenous culture, in particular Central and South America. Here is full of tribal art and I'm deeply interested in it. Here you must remove your shoes and the most important thing is that your phone is not allowed. I spend my time with friends or alone. I come here to meditate to read or to have my Yerba Mate, based on my birthday. Music is soft, pillows are comfortable and everything else have to stay outside. Waiters make me feel like to be part of a family, I love so much the human connection I can find in this place. It's almost hidden, hard to find and when you open the door it's so comfortable. It's a kind of metaphora of everyone life. 

Moscow - Russia.

My name is Naser, Lion's Head Pub is my place in Moscow.

I come to this pub to speak with friends or just to have a drink. I like the atmosphere, the music is not so loud and I can enjoy the conversation. On the first floor is more quiet and private, I want to speak with my friends and to share ideas. This place give me what I'm looking for, good drinks, gentle waiters and real environment. Books are real and they even bring you the bill in a real book.


Moscow - Russia.

My name is Maria. I love places around Muzeon Park.

On the top of the wooden skate ramp I can be quiet. I often come here to have a lunch or just for a coffee. I can be with friends but often I come alone. Is a good place where I can watch the panorama on Moscow river and lay down on wood. Right, the wood, I just realized now tha I love to touch and to feel the warm from the wood under the sun. As well as in another place in the same park. A fountain with many wooden steps around. Sometime I feel the water, the wind, the sun. I love it, just to lay down. 

Moscow  - Russia. 

My name is Anastasia

I love to come in Vorobyovy Gory to enjoy Moscow landscape and walk around these woods. I remember when I came here with my parents to have a walk, there are many interesting sights sites to visit. You can see the City, the Moscow University, the Luzhniki stadium and the sport park. I love to feel the fresh air from the river even if now it's really freezing. I remember when there was a ski jump trampoline and people come to ski in the winter. I have really nice memories from my childhood and I love to walk around and to bring here my friends.

Moscow, Russia. 

My name is Shahir and the place where I love to come in Moscow is Landshaftnyy Zakaznik "Troparevskiy".

I don't live close to this park but here I can feel myself. There is a spot full of birches where nobody can see me and I can feel as in the forest in my home town. In Malaysia I was used to go 2 or 3 days alone in the forest close to waterfalls. I love to sing in the woods and to touch trees. I need peace and refreshment after hospital work. Winter or summer is not important. Of course I prefer sun, but energy from the nature is so powerful and I like to walk and feel it. During the night park is magic, lights are soft and there is nobody. 

Moscow - Russia.

My name is Aleksey and my place is the St. Vladimir Church.

After Russian Revolution and specially in Moscow they tried to remove every religious symbol. Few of them survive and this is one of the oldest Russian Ortodox Church that still exist from 17th century. All the neighborhood is historical, around here you can see original Russian architecture from medioeval time with their decorations and design. I like to walk through this streets to observe the buildings and feel the quietness of the streets. I love the craziness of Moscow but I need also time to recharge myself.

Moscow - Russia. 

My name is Maja and my favorite place is Biban.

This is the best restaurant in the city, with the best view and amazing home made food. I come here every time I want to escape from the noise of the city and I can enjoy the view, amazing. During the prayin hours you can ear the prayers from all the Mosques in the city in one time, it's magic.

Sarajevo - Bosnia Herzegovina

My name is Ani, I love to come in front of Russian Academy of Sciences.

This place is always empty and I can enjoy one of the best view of Moscow. I come here to sing and to to my vocalizations. I love opera and musicals and here I can be free to express myself and I bother nobody. This place is always windy and I'm close to nature and water, I can feel these elements and it's perfect combination with my singing and my vibrations.

Moscow - Russia.

My name is Valia, I've been coming to Mandy's Apothecary for a year and a half.

I was looking for this kind of cafe in Moscow after my experience in London. Hight quality service and good drinks. Bar tender always knows which is my taste and he can prepare to me a good drink just feeling me. I like when people enjoy their job and it's not just for money. Here nobody bother me, I can come alone or with friends and I feel always safe as with my family. Menu is seasonal and they change the list twice or three based on customers tastes, I consider that a great way to satisfy usual clients and I love it.

Moscow - Russia.
 

My name is Omer and I have my special corner at the  Franz i Sophie tea shop.

It's a great place in Sarajevo, it is forbidden to smoke and you can enjoy teas from all over the world. Every time you can drink something different. The owner is aetremely kind and I can be here to relax, read a book or just speak with people.

Sarajevo - Bosnia Herzegovina.

My name is Nicola, my favorite place is Ziferblat Cafe.

I came to Ziferblat the first time with a friend and I’m in love for this place. It’s a mix between a cafe and a co-working space. Price is based on how long you stay here and you can have different drinks for free. I love to meet people, so many interesting activities and is a quiet and clean place with a soul in the heart of Moscow. This place helps me to read, to study or to relax. I love the style of furniture and people are extremely kind and smiling. Sometimes is a good excuse to go out from home and not to spend all day in the same place.

Moscow  - Russia. 

My name is Dasha, my magical place is Patriarch Ponds

When I came to Moscow the first time I found in the area around this place a special energy. When my day is wrong or somethig happen I can come here and everything that upset me just disappear. It's weird and fantastic. Walking around the pond when is not so crowdy is extremely relaxing for me and we are in a very center of a megalopolis. I sit down close to water with a book or just with my thoughts, things improve after few minutes here. I can see the solution or simply nothing bother me anymore. I love the Bulgakov's novel Master and Margarita, many scenes happened here, real or not but I feel that mistery in this place. 

Moscow - Russia.

My name is Mary and I was born in Moscow. My place is Gum, the shopping center on the Red Square.

I worked here for few years and it’s great to see how people change along the day or the seasons. In winter everyone come inside to warm a bit from the cold winter, to have a coffe or just to walk. There are every kind of shops and there is a great traditonal CCCP ice-cream for just 50 Rubles. It’s amazing how everyone can find something to enjoy. I love to show Moscow to my friends, I love to show my city to people who come here to know it. I'm used to walk a lot, instead of metro or bus I can walk for hours through secondary streets not so crowded.

Moscow  - Russia. 

My name is Romina and my next home is my place. 

I like particularly my thinking room. It's located at the last floor close to the roof. It will be a place just for me to organise my thoughts. This house it was owned by my grandfather and I put so much energy for restoring everything and to make it my place. I have great plans to do here. There are some objects that I saved and I want to keep in my next life. I'm starting be my fifth life, another big change. This house has its own soul and I added mine to it. Everything around this place give me energy: grass, olives trees, capers plants and every small objects. I would like to make it the center of my life and build here everything I like.

Lucca - Italy.

My name is Alexander, the area around Chistye Prudy is my favourite place.

I remember when I came to Moscow the first time few years ago. I was a train driver and I had few hours of freedom before to go back to work. I had a walk in Moscow and I stronlgy would like to go to see the clean ponds (Чистые пруды, Chistye Prudy). I was a bit disappontend that there was just one of it and not so clean at that time. Now I live in Moscow and this area is still in my heart. I love to discover new corners and I walk randomly in the city. There is always something new in Moscow: cafes, building, so many people and different business; it's always a surprise. I love the Italian Fast Food called Pinsa. This place is unique and they use hight quality ingredients. It's the only in Moscow. I'm a vlogger and I would like to grow up my passion into a business, so that's why I'm going to discover Moscow more and more, to share all my experience on my youtube channel.

Moscow - Russia.

My name is John, DoubleB Cafe is my second house.

I don’t live close to here but I travel here by metro, even for forty minutes, always worth it. I love to stop by for a coffee. I feel like home, I have a family here. I come inside and everyone welcome me. I met the workers because they came to study english by me. When I come here they treat me as a friend, not a client. They ask me if I like or not a new mix of coffee and for a coffee addicted person as me is just awesome. I love languages, I love to understand different places, I love to know. Actually the real reason why I fell in love for this cafe is because they love my stickers.

Moscow  - Russia. 

My name is Hazel and I love to be close to water.

I don't have a specific place, I want to be close to water. It is my element. Every time I can I sit down watching boats or people doing sport in water. The weird thing is: I cannot go inside, I'm scared. My perfect place is a boat, sailing on water without to touch it. Rivers, lakes, seas, oceans, doesn't matter. The moment of sunset is my charming moment, when the old day is over and we all are ready for something new. The moment when there is still light from the sun and the city prepares itself for the night.

Moscow - Russia.

My name is Lena

I have to tell you a story about ice skate ring in Gorky. I was a student in a university not so far from here, when I came the first time in Moscow I didn't know how to skate. I'm from a small town an there aren't this huge rings to practice ice skating. My friends had fun of me, I was really disappointed, but in a very short time I practiced it every day and next time I met my friends they where surprised about me! During my studies I came to ice ring very often and this place is a milestone in my life. 

Moscow, Russia.

My name is Gianluca and I love to come do Cafè Dolcevita.

This is my place, I come here after my job even if I finish late night. I love to meet my friends to have a chat or alone to have a break, it's always open. I know the workers, there is a great familiar atmosphere. Good coffee, good beer and good food, what else. I like this square, it's always cool and there is often a gentle breeze from the hills, even during extremely hot days like this summer. During the evenings it is a perfect place to be, this square changed a lot in the last years and now people love to spend time here. Sometimes I can worl but I prefer to keep this corner as my place to relax, not connected to office. 

Brescia - Italy.

My name is Ivano and this courtyard is my place.

I was born in this buildng, on this wall I have an old picture with all the kids lived around here. When I was three years we moved from this home, not so far, on the other side of the town. I always came back to meet my friends and to play in the courtyard. Many families lived in this building, my grandmother, my father. During all my childhood I spent time around this porch and at the washtub. There was a small stream, now covered, where people were used to go to wash clothes or dishes. I have nice memories and I'm very emotionally attached to this place.

Rezzato - Italy.

My name is Milena, park of S. Anna is my place. 

I live this park in many different ways. I can come here with my family for a walk or for a ride by bike. I can also come here alone to run and I love to do it under the rain. It's awesome in the late spring or in summer when after my working day I start my run and suddently the rain arrives. Schools use this park for education and I like when the kids can be open-air to study something and not always in the classroom. It's amazing how many different environmental types can be in a small place: vineyards, a small pond, a small stream, fields and woods. Just an hour here can make my day better.

Brescia - Italy.

My name is Rita, Kolomenskaya park is my place.

This park is a nice and quiet place, I prefer spring and summer because is when the trees and plants give you the best, generally I love nature and I enjoy to listen the silence. I choose to live close to Kolomenskaya, I need to rest and relax after my daily life, yoga is for the body and part of my mind, but parks fulfill me as nothing else. I usually just walk around without a real place to go, somethime I bring a book, somethime no, doesn't matter. I like to get lost in my mind and in this park when is not so crowded.

Moscow, Russia. 

My name is Anna, VDNH park is a milestone in my life.

I’m interested in cosmos and stars and here there is the history about Russian cosmonauts, is a way to dream for me. In this park I met my husband and we start from a very emotional experience. In 2016 with Steve Vai at Green Theatre we participated to a huge flash mob for guitarists in front of 3000 people. We are booth players and we just met randomly at that event. Than happened that click and every time I walk here I feel so many different emotions.

Moscow  - Russia. 

 

My name is Alessio, the pier is my place.

The pier in Viareggio's harbor is where I came to stay by myself, to relax or to think about my writings. Every characters of my books came to this place at least once. Be alone on the rocks allow me to think about my next steps, my next chapters or to write down some new ideas. I live close to this place and I prefer to come when there is not crowd. Usually just me, some turist and fishermens. I prefer late afternoon when is cooler and the evening breeze makes me feel better.  

Viareggio - Italy.

My name is Natalie, Park Ostankino is my way between work and home.

I have this huge park between my home and my work, and I love to bike, so perfect! I enjoy so much to go to office by bike, it's like I am not going to job but for a ride. Specially during sunnny days I love to feel the sun on my skin and enjoy my coffee. I cannot open my eyes without a coffee in the morning, than my mind can start to work! I recentely started to listen classic music. To bike, even in the night, with this music in an empty forest is simply magic. I bike almost every day, next weekend for the first time I will go for a long ride outside Moscow, I'm so excited and scared at the same time, but this is life! 

Moscow - Russia. 

My name is Hugh and my spot is the playground close to my home.

Life change when you have the first daughter and now my personal club is the park close to home. I enjoy to come here with her to have a break from my job. I'm lucky that everything is in my neighborhood. Kindergarden and my job are close and I don't need to spend hours in metro. I feel so happy and joyful when I spend time with her, my family is my world. 

Moscow - Russia.

My name is Anna, Synagogue in Moscow is my place

I started to know about religion when I was teenager, I still don’t consider myself a religious person. I have known about my roots quite late in my life but I feel deeply connected after that. I remember the first time I came inside the temple with my grandmother, it was really energetic, a magical place. There was a kind of mystic environment and since than everything in my life is around this place. I've got a great education and I love the community working around the Synagogue. 

Moscow - Russia.

My name is Anastasia. I go to Chapayevskiy Park after my job.

I come to this park to do sport, to read or to work. I love to use my laptop open air and to spend time outside. Summer in Moscow is so short and I love to be outdoor. I’m delighted by the smell of plants and here in every season there is something different. Chapayevskiy Park is safe and I can come here also during the night. After kids went home I like going on swing and to watch the sky while I lying on the grass. This is one of the oldest neighborhood in Moscow and I prefer than the new one, it has a soul. It’s really green, quiet and I work close to this place. I can go in my office on foot, in Moscow is a great luck. 

Moscow - Russia.

My name is Arezki, Park Berezovaya Roshcha is my place.

I like to do sport, open-air, in summer is better but also in winter it's fun. I like this park, I love the energy here. Many people come to enjoy and to do exercises. In summer many families with kids are around me while I'm doing sport, I enjoy a lot that atmosphere, relaxed and friendly. This park is close to the CSKA arena and the contrast between this small forest and the new stadium is great. It's like to be in the woods but I feel the big city close to me, awesome.

Moscow, Russia.

My name is Sasha, I come to Tsaritsino Park since I was a kid.

In this park I feel free, I can relax and I can feel nature around me. Now I love to come with my daughter. I love to let her free to jump, to run and to be in nature. I feel a positive energy in this park, there are people who come here for historical re-enactments or Tolkien fans to find a perfect atmosphere. Every first of June there is a hippie day and people just love to hang around here.Park is huge and in some place there are also people from “new” religions coming to meditate and to feel connection with mother Earth. This is the park for people and is really energetic.

Moscow  - Russia. 

My name is Yury, Krylatskoye park is my place.

I lived in this neighborhood for many years and it's the place where I can say: I feel like home. When I can, I walk in this park with my kids. There are many memories, that is the stadium when we play hockey and where I taught it to my children. There is a wonderful view of Moscow, almost all the west part. The woods here are extremely clean, and people keep it free of garbage. There is some wooden art made with pieces of trees by people. I like to walk before will be dark, and enjoy my time alone with friends or with my family.

Moscow, Russia. 

My name is Laura and my favorite place is home.

I travel a lot, I like to know new places and meet peoeple. My new trip is just started, it is my home. It's a new experience, I moved here recently and everything needs to be done. I love this place, I love my home. It was my grandmother's house and I came here often during my childhood, I have wonderful memories in this place. It looks quite empty now, it is. This is what I like, I can plan and project step by step how I like and the way I want. Now we changed the walls and designed rooms. I put my photo books on the shelves and  the kitchen just arrived. I would like to have some of my pictures on the walls. I love to travel and to have a place that I can call home and I can always come back is an amazing feeling. 

Bedizzole - Italy

My name is Zuby, my place is the Bolshoy Ustyinskiy Bridge

Every day, at the end of my day, I love to walk around the place where I live. My perfect time is midnight, the city is quiet, traffic doesn't exist and I can enjoy at the best the view of this perfect postcard from Moscow. I feel safe in this city and doesn't matter how much is cold, I love to walk around the embankments of Moskva river, alone, slow, with night lights. In my city I would never walk alone after sunset, but here is safe and nothing will happen to me, sometimes I can walk for a long time, even 12km up and down along the river, everything looks so close from here but it could take more than 30 minutes on foot to reach the cathedral that we see now.

Moscow, Russia.

My name is Anna, Aptekarsky Ogorod is my getaway.

For me it's a kind of pillow between my travels and Moscow life. I cannot just jump into it. I come here to have a break before plunging into the the hustle and bustle of the city. Every season is great, every day, every weather. With the snow it is like a fairy tale, silent and timeless. There are some blue trees that look amazing, specially under the white blanket. I love to see how this place changes within the seasons and at the end of my walk I cannot miss my coffee close to window, still watching the park.

Moscow - Russia.

My name is Anastasia and I have my special oak close to Andreyevskiye Pond.

I remember when I was kid and I saw this tree with my parents for the first time. Year by year it grows up and now it is a huge plant. It's great to see how it changed and we grew up together. I was used to came here to have picnics and barbeques, Nowadays is not possible to turn on fires, but before it was allowed and I enjoyed so much that time with my family. This oak reminds me wonderful memories every time I see it.

Moscow - Russia. 

My name is Galya, ArtPlay is my place of life.

I met this place the first time 9 years ago when I moved to Moscow after university. I feel like it's changing with me. In the beginning I didn't like so much. I realized after few years that more activities are opening and it's better every time more. It's changing with me. From the roof I can have a general view of the space but I can live it only from inside. There are some coloured corners, some stairs, I can sit with friends for a coffee or a beer after my job. I love simple things, I don't need a big building, a bench and a person to speak is more than enough to enjoy my time. It's a great place where to work and enjoy free time.

​Moscow - Russia.

My name is Anna, the heart of Moscow for me is Arbat Square.

Actually is not a place, it is a non-place. Nobody come here to stay, nobody stop here but everyone pass through this place. Eight streets cross in this point and four metro lines have a station around here. It is one of the most crowded place in Moscow and I feel its energy. It is always under reconstruction and alive 24 hours per day. In the center of all this crazyness there is an old cinema and I'm waiting the moment when it will be open again, I'm looking forward to go inside to watch a movie. 

​Moscow - Russia.

My name is Polina, Испанская лавка (Spanish Shop) is my Spanish corner in Moscow.

I consider myself a Russian girl with a Spanish blood, I'm in love with Spain and their culture. I started to study Spanish in the school and day by day I went inside their soul more and more. I love people, music and I want to learn how to dance and to sing Flamenco, I will. This is a shop and a small Spanish restaurant, since they change the chef quality of food improve a lot and I feel a real Spain not as a place that looks like Spain. I cannot really describe what, is something I feel when I breath.

Moscow - Russia.

My name is Sydney and San Gioacchino Square is my place.

I love the perspective of the new Milan that can be seen from this place. Almost ten years ago Milan began the reconstruction of this area which had been abandoned for several years, now its of of the city's financial centers. Being close to Gae Aulenti Square there are many skyscrapers, from this point you can see all of them together. The perspective is awesome, there are no other points whereby you can see them in a row till the Vertical Forest Palace (Bosco Verticale )

Milan - Italy.

My name is Evy, Patriarch Ponds is my place.

This is the area made me fall in love for Moscow. Some year ago I came here and I knew nothing. I love people, they are so friendly and they welcomed me. During the day this is the place where I can feel that warm. I come here with friends after my work to have a beer and a normal conversation. Even if I don't come to this pond there are many cafes and nice pubs in this neighborhood. There are many people from all over the world all together, I love it.

Moscow - Russia.

My name is Olga, Park Pobedy is the beginning of my dreams.

This is the first place that I saw when I came to Moscow from my town. It's still in my heart. Here I feel myself so small, and I have the perception that I'm part of the big world. It's important to be all together. I can think about my dreams and I can feel the power to do them. I love to dance folk music and I can get in touch with people through dance. I share what I like and I learn from others. 

Moscow - Russia.

My name is Olesya, Lyalina square is my corner in Moscow. 

It is a very interesting point in Moscow. It is one of the few evidences of erly century architecture in Moscow. In this square there are German and French style buildings made during the empire time. They have pretty run-down facades, but I like that, I don't feel comfortable when everything is extremely polish and sparkling. In this kind of environment I can feel the soul of history. 

Moscow - Russia.

My name is Arevik. Vorontsovskiy Park is my little peace island in Moscow. 

There is a specific place in the park where I love to come to drink a coffe or a beer. It's a kind a small island in the middle of this noisy city. There are woods and a bridge to come on it. Usually I come alone to have my little precious time after I spoke with so many people at work. There is a book sharing shelf where I can give or take books and a lot of free activities provided by volunteers. I like that you don't have to pay for everything. Sometime I came here with my mom when she can visit me.

Moscow  - Russia. 

My name is Rizma, Gorky park is the place where I’m used to meet friends, loving it.

I come here for internationals meetings. We usually organize picnics and they are always open to everyone. I study in Rudn University, it is a place where the internationalization is extreme, I adore it. In this park I enjoy the people who dance close to river, I love to dance, I’m learning. There is a restaurant with a view on the lake and their terrace is directly on the water. Many places around this area remember me different people. Every person is part of my life, so many corners in Gorky are part of my life. 

Moscow  - Russia. 

My name is Francesca, the wall in Piazza Duomo is my place.

This corner of the square is my 'secret' place. I live and work close to city center and I come here to relax, to be by myself and have a rest from daily life. I'm used to sit down in this point close to the old cathedral. I watch people walking around, I enjoy when the square is quiet like slow Sunday mornings. I like the rocks of the walls, when is sunny they give me back their energy, even in winter. There is a special atmosphere that relaxes me. Sometimes I go also inside because is cooler but here is the perfect corner. I can watch without being watched, it's weird but it looks like I'm invisible in the middle of the square.

Brescia - Italy

My name is Tatiana, The area of Moscow that I like is the neighborhood at the south of Park Kultury.

After a stressfully day I love to walk through these streets. There are many cafe and there is a wine bar with an amazing choice of wines. I love Italian wine. This place was a factory and now is the headquarter of Yandex and many other designers or cultural companies. Architecture is awesome and I love those small houses around here, old Moscow's style. Clean and geometric design of the buildings help me to have a break from my job and to keep in touch with myself. Atmosphere is more relaxed, there are different activities and is a great moment for me to relax my mind. I prefer small streets without traffic and with small green parks to walk back home, even if it’s not the shorter way.

Moscow  - Russia. 

My name is Carla and the beach Brema is my escape land. 

I always dress in black with this shirt and these trousers. Summer or winter doesn't matter, almost always the same stryle. My air mattress is yellow, strong and powerfull. It rappresents for me the sun and the moon. Yellow is my color even if I always dress in black. I want to keep all the energy from the light in me, so the black color keeps everything, it is the sum of every colors. I can roll up it, lay down on my back or on my stomach. I can watch the sky or the water. This air matress is multipurpose, I inflated it one time when I bought it and not even in winter I deflate it. I feel relaxed on it, all the world disappear around me, I can sleep, meditate and slowly sliding on the water. This beach is easy to reach, never crowded and close to my home. I think is one of the few places where parking is free and you can find a place every day during the year. I have a great panorama, Sirmione's peninsula, Manerba's rock , the Alps and the sunset is right in front of me behind the hills. It is perfect to relax and to recharge myself. 

Sirmione - Italy.

My name is Olga, I enjoy Muzeon Park with my friend.

This is an amazing park for me, is completely accessible and I can enjoy going around. I come here when I'm in Moscow visiting my friend. I still don't know everything about this place but I will have time to explore it. There is a sculpture with hares on the boat titled "Grandfather Mazay and the hares"  from the poem by Nikolay Nekrasov, it is so funny and weird. Actually the real reason from me is the view on the giant statue of Peter The First. He can be my husband I love tall guys!

Moscow - Russia.

My name is Elena, Tartar neighborhood is my place.

This is the place in Moscow where the first embassy started, and it was the first multicultural place. Here translators started to work, people from central Asia arrived in Moscow and they start to share their culture. There is a small mosque where I feel like home. Nothing big or fancy, just close to people and normal life. I like the summer feeling where you can see people in cafes drinking coffee in a traditional way. There are many examples of Tartar architecture, in this cultural center I studied their story and traditions. They have a library, a theatre, and a cinema. Unfortunately now is limited due to a pandemic situation. I love to study different cultures to understand more who I am and to be able to respect and speak with people who live a different life than me. Showing respect to other cultures is the first step of living in peace and acceptance. 

Moscow, Russia. 

My name is Valeria, my favorite place is Via Gramsci right side.

I have wonderful memories from my childhood on this street. Every Friday, after the school, my mom was used to pick me up to go back home. It was a special moment for me. I didn't know a lot about the city and the way from conservatory to this corner was everything for me. I remember the passing of seasons. During the spring was marvellous to have a jacket in the morning and to feel the warm of the sun in the afternoon. The storefronts of this shop were a bit inside and it was a perfect shelter from the rain or from the strong sun. When I wanted to feel the warmth on my skin I could be outside, otherwise I could be protected in the shadow.  This situation happened few years every friday.

Brescia - Italy.

My name is Nadia, Park Krasnaya is a green lung in City district. 

I work and live close to here. I love especially a spot in the park where there is a painting of Little Prince inside a tree. Sit down close to water between trees and read or just relax. I bring some long chairs in the sun if is not to hot and I relax a bit from the chaos of the city. I can come even at midnight, it is so safe and I feel quiet. I tried to dance with my friends, it was funny, in many parks in Moscow there is a dance area for free. From this meadows I can watch the big skyscapers of World Trade Center or City District, but from the nature, from another point of view. 

Moscow - Russia. 

My name is Anastasia and I love to walk around Chistyye Prudy

Bulgakov wrote a novel: The master and Margherita, in the beginning of nineteenth century. The book has many parts set around this pound and when I sit here I can imagine the scenes and the caracters. I always worked as a freelance and now it's a bit weird to have an office job, but it's great and I can enjoy my freetime. I spend time watching people around me, we are in the heart of Moscow and this place can be very crowded. In the evening musicians are used to come and play on the benches. Atmoshpere is simply idyllic.

Moscow - Russia.

My name is Andrei, I come almost every day at Arshinovsky park.

Many moments of my life, both happy and sad, are connected to this park. I come here often to walk, first of all because I enjoy it and for health reasons. This park is small but well-kept, and it offers many picturesque vistas. I can sit on a bench and watch kids playing, or take a breath of fresh air near the pond in a hot summer. There are various kinds of coniferous trees planted by the Arshinovs, the original pre-revolutionary merchant owners of the place. The park used to be a sorry sight, but over the past five years this area has been totally renovated, and new alleys, lights, benches, kids’ playgrounds and sport facilities have been installed. Now many people are happy to spend their time in the park with their families and friends throughout the year.

Moscow - Russia.

My name is Manohar and the castle in Brescia is my favorite place. 

It is a kind of huge park in the city center. It's perfect to come for picnics with friends or to be alone reading a book under the shadows of trees. Many events take place here throughout the year, different festivals where all the population participate. It's not so far from where I live and I can come here on foot or with public bikes. I love to read different noveles of Albert Camus and I can take my time writing poems about life and loves. 

Brescia - Italy.