The line to get into Lenin’s Tomb is legendarily long. I’ve read that it can wind its way around Red Square and that people can wait for hours.
The concierge at our hotel told us those stores were true. But he gave us a little tip: Little old Russian ladies get there early and nab the first places in line, then resell them to tourists.
“Show up at about 9:45 am and flash 200 rubles at the old woman at the front of the line,” he suggested. “One of them will sell you her place in line.”
We got there about 45 minutes early and there was no one in line. No one. Not a soul. We walked around Red Square and came back at 9:45. There were still only about 20 people in line and none of them were little old Russian ladies.
Weird.
At 10 am, they began admitting tourists to the Tomb. We snaked single file through the tomb and when we came out about five minutes later, there was no one in line.
I guess Communist leaders lose their luster when a country goes capitalist.