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• O'FLYNN: An Insider’s Guide to Moscow for Mr. Obama 

But while standing there, take a deep breath. Can you smell it? It's the whiff of a smoker's nation. You are among friends, smoking friends, so enjoy yourself. You can smoke in restaurants, bars, and even while halting cars for bribes while working as a traffic policeman.

If you don't have any cigarettes on you, just say, "Mozhno strelnut u vas sigaretu?" or "Can I cadge a cigarette off you?" to any passerby. A pack only costs the equivalent of $1.25, so people will happily share.

Your two hosts may not smoke, but they are an anomaly. If you take a look at their team, you will spot the yellowing fingers and the nervous twitch as a meeting goes on too long. Ask for a smoke break, and you will have the team on your side -- and be able to find out who is sleeping with whom from the gossip in the smoking area.

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Can you smell it? It's the whiff of a smoker's nation. You are among friends, smoking friends, so enjoy yourself.
Travel advice for President Obama from the Moscow Times' Kevin O'Flynn.