Moscow is the barometer and nucleus of the changes sweeping through Russia. Nowhere are Russia's contrasts more apparent than here - ancient monasteries and ultra-modern monoliths stand side by side, and 'New Russian' millionaires and poverty-stricken pensioners walk the same streets.
Moscow is a snowy place, and its sports are appropriately snow-centric. There are a number of parks in the city where you can do a little cross-country skiing, or if you're keen for speed there are a couple of downhill runs just outside the city.