Nine people shocked these days

World Fans are becoming ambassadors of Russia in their countries

Vladimir Putin announced that for the owners of the fan passport (Fanid), a lightweight visa mode will act before the end of the year. It would be nice only the first step towards the removal of restrictions for all foreign tourists. But in any case, the fans who spent several days, or even weeks in Russia and especially on Nikolskaya Street in Moscow, which became the heart and soul of the mundial, have already become informal messengers of our country. Let's see how the mouth of a global format works. In the meantime, we publish monologues of nine fans who are exactly more happy to visit Russia and Moscow.

Alejandro from Panama: "Fell in this country"

Alejandro arrived in Moscow a couple of days before the opening of the World Cup to see how the country "plunges during the festive holidays." It will remain even after closing to look at the "post -championate Moscow." For a month in Russia, Alejandro visited five cities (every day he tied the flag of his country - Panama, for the first time in his history, published to the World Cup). The most vivid impressions of Alejandro from Moscow-because it is neither Europe nor Asia, this is "something third that makes you go crazy with admiration."

“I have a photograph where I stand and hug, like a brother, a guy whom I first considered normally on the phone the next day. All strangers to each other here became a family. I do not remember such a native atmosphere at other championships. Probably the matter is Russian: they adore absolutely everyone here. In a good way - crazy people. Not at all as those who were not in Russia think! It is better to come and see for yourself. I am trying to convey this to my friends, relatives, subscribers. I want to bring all of them here. Everyone returns home, in love with this country. I will say on behalf of all Panamanian fans: you are always waiting for you in our panama !!! We promise the same amazing reception. Viva La Russia! ”

Fernando from Mexico: "Thanks to football and Russians"

“For my brother and my brother, it was a dream to come to the World Cup to Russia, we have been accumulating for this trip for a very long time. But I don’t know if I would come here if it weren’t for football ... Now I'm so glad that it happened! I want to bring my family here. Many people ask if I was afraid of Russia and Russians. But these are stereotypes. And I am leaving from here the happiest person in the world. Thanks to all Russian people for everything! "

Andres from Colombia: "Here you are always safe"

“This is my second championship. Before that, I was in Brazil. But these are two huge differences ... In Russia, everything is much cleaner and more organized. In Brazil - reckless and more fun. To be honest, I did not build illusions. I read a lot on the Internet, watched on TV (in films, Russians are always evil heroes).

I went here with thoughts that Russians are serious, very gloomy people, are not open to get to know people of a different nationality, do not like them ... This is complete nonsense!

I also drew attention to a very large number of police on the streets ... On the one hand, the World Cup involves enhanced security. On the other hand, maybe your state wants to show tourists that you are best protected in Russia. One way or another, I felt completely safe, especially at night, when I had fun on the street. Once I asked one of the police officers how to get into one place, and he helped me in English (!) And was very sweet. Ha ha, but, of course, they never smile. But beautiful Russian girls smiled at me, their smiles were enough. ”

Jeremy from Belgium: "Moscow is a city of smiles"

Jeremy for the first time in Russia. I used to be not going to visit her as a tourist, it was scary, but he still went to the "most exotic country for him."

“The first thing that caught my eye when I flew to Moscow: just smiling people (maybe they smiled because they saw that I was a fan, but it’s also nice), the second: people at the hotel, restaurants, the airport (it seemed that they were waiting for me), the third: a very clean and beautiful city!

I also had stereotypes about Russia: cold people, cold weather, a closed sad country, people speak only in Russian. Only the last turned out to be true. I received a pleasant gift already on the first day in Moscow. On the way from the airport, I forgot a bag where there was a wallet with all the money and a passport, in a taxi ... Then I thought that everything was already ... But after three hours the driver brought her to the hotel. There was all the money in the wallet! He wished us good luck at the championship. "

Matias from Argentina: "I rejoiced as a superhero"

Matias Amaya came to Russia on a bicycle. For two years, he traveled to Africa and Europe and finally got to the World Cup. He traveled many Russian cities, but spent most of the time on Nikolskaya - the main fan street of Moscow.

“I am very impressed with the organization. And how much respect was manifested towards the fans, how warmly they met! After I traveled other Russian cities on the way to Moscow, I was most struck by which city is huge, like there are many houses, it did not look like any of the cities of the world, it is a mega-city. I spent many days on Nikolskoye, taking pictures with Russians and foreigners who passed by. And he was surprised that they rejoiced as a superhero. I do not know how in Russia usually, but the cleanliness that was on the streets, especially after stormy nights .... This is one of the most interesting things that I observed: the whole army of people dedicated a huge number of hours daily to make the streets as if new. And so every day, seven days a week! "

Carlo from Croatia: "Nowhere is there such a love for foreigners"

“I will not leave here! The best people, the best city, the best country. All championships usually leave a lot of emotions, I was at several championships. But in Russia it is special. I can’t explain ... I assume that there was no love for foreigners anywhere. ”

Andre from Brazil: "We fell cooler than in our homeland"

“Do you smile to each other the same way as us? Like a Brazilian fan, I can speak on behalf of the Brazilians: in Russia we sing, dance and come off much cooler than four years ago in Brazil. At the same time, in Russia, more and more calm. In Brazil, the city simply stopped breathing during any match, everything around lived football for a month. You could not hide from him even at home. In Russia, local residents can live calmly, nothing interferes with their comfort.

Tobias from Australia: "We need to simplify the visa regime"

“I was in Russia as a tourist and not during the World Cup and saw exactly the same people. Anywhere, on the street, in the subway will always help you. Is this a Russian national trait? It would be great that the Russian government and other countries have agreed among themselves to facilitate the visa regime: then anyone will get the opportunity to get acquainted with this country that is not like any other.

The security system, people in hotels, restaurants - it seems that everyone in Russia prepared with love to meet foreign fans and immediately hug them. It seems to me that Nikolskaya Street became loved by fans, because it is in the center and unofficial. There is fun, everyone dance, sing, eat, spend nights. But the Russians still gathered to work, and then returned there. And our holiday has never stopped at all. ”

Mateus from the USA: "Beautiful and without English"

“I came to Russia with my friends from Brazil to support this team. The biggest surprise was for me that they love football in Russia! Will they be bored in Russia in Russia? I will miss everyone here. For people who do not speak English in the subway, on the streets. They hugged us, drank with us, danced in cars. They are so beautiful, we still understood how they went crazy without English, seeing us here! ”