· Almost certainly not very much, I'm afraid. If you have only a transit visa you won't be able to leave the airport (Sheremetyevo 2) at all, probably not even to get to the companion Sheremetyevo 1 terminal. Sheremetyevo 2 is one of the most depressing terminals in the world, dark and gloomy, but there is quite a nice restaurant on the first floor, inexpensive by western standards and with a view of the planes taking off. The duty free shops have some great bargains in booze; I got a two-litre bottle of Smirnov for under £10 the other week, AND a two-litre bottle of export strength Gordon's Gin for under £18. No limits on amount you can buy it seems. Most of the souvenirs - painted boxes, china, etc - are many times more expensive than in Russian shops, but videos and CD's are good value.
One thing you could do is try to find the brand new little golden-domed church I spotted from the air somewhere in the airport precincts. If you're allowed to visit, it would get you out into the open air and give you a glimpse of the new/old Russia.
Good luck!
Gale Carruthers, Norwich
· If you're there for 10 hours - and allowed out of the airport - you'll certainly have time to go into central Moscow. Don't miss the opportunity of seeing Red Square, Lenin's mausoleum and the stunning gold onion domes of the Kremlin, and you can also have a snack and pick up some bargain presents for the babushkas back home in GUM department store!
Take an express bus (this will be the only tricky part of the journey) to the Rechnoi Vokzal metro station and from there the green line (No 2) metro, the most efficient and beautifully decorated subway system in the world, will whisk you straight into town. Change at the ninth stop, Teatralnaya and travel one station on the dark blue line (No 3) to Ploshchad Revolyutsii and you're there! The trouble is Moscow is such a mammoth, exciting and fascinating city, you may not want to leave - I'm very envious !
Lucy Mallows, Budapest
· Sleep - after you have secured your baggage to your body with chain and padlock! Good idea to also put your shoes in your bags if you do sleep.
Leaving the airport is inadvisable if you are in transit (even if you are able to do so) as the flights are unpredictable at best.
AVOID flying in ANYTHING made in Russia (Antonov, Ilushyn, etc) as their idea of fleet renewal is by crash replacement. On-line accident databases for Russia and former colonies unreliable because of name changes and aircraft registration changes.
I once had to wait for a flight. On enquiring, I was informed the aircraft was here - they were just waiting for another to arrive so they could switch the engines.
Good luck.
