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Originally Posted by moggy 1968
I would definitely agree that learning the Cyrillic alphabet and the respective phonetics is very very useful!! made this mistake on my first trip to Russia and got very very lost, most of the place names are unrecognisable from their Roman equivalent unless you are familiar with the alphabet.
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I only used maps and first made the mistake of buying a map in English so when i was lost or asking for directions the locals could not understand the map.
Using a map in Cyrillic is very easy just stop at the road signs and match up the Cyrillic letters on the map to the sign and you are away
I don't think you need to be able to fully understand the Cyrillic alphabet as it is pretty straight forward however i would learn some Russian words and you really only need to know about 50 words to get by, when i enter a new country i usually stop just pass the border as people there selling insurance/changing money mostly speak English so i stop there and ask them words/phrases and write them in my note book how i hear/understand them and never have any issues.
Locals really like it when you try (even a few words) speak there language and i think it makes for a better trip.
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