< img src="https://mc.yandex.ru/watch/54617287" style="position:absolute; left:-9999px;" alt="" />< /div> Bulgakov and the embezzler: a tour of Red Square

How Bulgakov Outplayed an Embezzler on Red Square

How Bulgakov Outsmarted a Con Man on Red Square
 

Once upon a time Red Square a satire that I would have envied myself erupted Mikhail BulgakovThe weather was unusually interesting—the sun's rays played hide-and-seek with the clouds, as if trying to hide from view what was about to happen. The embezzler and official, known in narrow circles as the "Master of Financial Intrigue," was plotting his latest scam while sitting on a bench by the fountain. He was so engrossed in his plans that he didn't notice Bulgakov himself approaching.

Bulgakov, a man with a keen sense of humor and a sharp wit, decided to play a joke on the official. He sat down next to him and, as if by chance, began a conversation in French, telling amusing and risqué stories that would have embarrassed even the most cynical person. The official, not understanding a word but trying to appear educated, nodded and laughed along with the story. Bulgakov, seeing his confusion, continued to enthusiastically recount the adventures of his heroes, interspersing phrases like "manuscripts don't burn."

But then, as if by magic, a passing French tourist intervened in the conversation, who, hearing his native language, could not resist and joined in the conversation. He was fascinated by Bulgakov's story, but, noticing the official, decided to explain to him that he had just confirmed his participation in the fictitious scam that Bulgakov described in his story.

The official paled, realizing he had become the butt of a satirical joke. However, to save face, he replied in broken French, "C'est la vie," and, without waiting for further comment, hurried off into the crowd, leaving Bulgakov and the tourist completely delighted by the incident.

So here it is Red Square another story happened, which in the future could have become a legend. And Bulgakov, smiling, continued on his way, leaving behind a trail of intrigue and light mockery of the modern world.

***

Of course, this is a joke, and there is no real basis for this story - just a little imagination and for the sake of a smile! And if you are interested in real facts and events, we invite you to the excursions of the "Radius" bureau, where real history comes to life!

  1. Hello!
    We had a corporate group of 10 people. Our guide was Anton, and we had a tour of Bulgakov. I would like to point out the excellent organization; everything went smoothly. The managers were very accommodating to our changes in the number of participants. The bus was very comfortable. Anton is a super-engaged and motivated guide.
    He lives this story and takes great pleasure in sharing his knowledge and creating impressions.
    Everything went well. I recommend it!
    Oleg February 19, 2026
  2. Thank you for the interesting tour! It gave me a lot to explore!!!
    Note: Review of the excursion Zamoskvorechye with guide Maria
    Eugene December 7, 2025
  3. I'd like to express my gratitude on behalf of our team! Thank you for keeping to our scheduled schedule despite our lack of organization. Our colleagues appreciated your preparation for the tour! It was informative.

    Note: Review of the tour “Modern Residential Complexes, Factory Past, and Avant-Garde” around the ZILART residential complex with guide Maria. prepared and conducted a tour based on an individual request for employees of the development company GC "Samolet"
    Team of the Samolet Group December 7, 2025
  4. Thank you! You have great talent. Good luck! ☺️ You are a wonderful guide! Thank you again!

    Note: Review on corporate excursion “Heart of the capital” with guide Maria
    Dmitriy December 7, 2025
  5. Thank you for a wonderful day today!!))
    Note: Review of the excursion “Soul of Moscow” with guide Maria
    Natalia December 7, 2025
  6. Let me thank you on behalf of my whole family for a very educational and interesting walk!
    Note: Review of the excursion Palace Dungeons with guide Maria
    Eugene December 7, 2025
  7. Good afternoon
    I'd like to express my gratitude and that of my supervisor for organizing the tour! We were very pleased.
    We would like to repeat this in October, but on a different route – ZIL.

    Note: This is about a tour for developers of the Samolet Group of Companies, conducted by guide Maria.
    Elya September 27, 2025
  8. Thanks to Alexander for the bar tour Baumanka! Fun, exciting and we discovered so many new places! Cool! New heights!
    Kira August 9, 2025
  9. Good afternoon
    Was on excursions along Sukharevskaya Square – we reached Tsvetnoy Boulevard, I didn’t expect it to be so interesting!
    For those who are wondering whether to go or not – go, it really has become one of the coolest summer memories!!!
    Kirill August 4, 2025
  10. Anastasia, good morning!
    Thank you and Masha for yesterday!
    The speakers are happy. The connection in the headphones often failed, especially at the checkpoint, but this is our current life situation. It was audible if they were standing close, no further than 1.5 meters. Colleagues have already asked for your contacts. I will gladly share and will be glad to have a new opportunity to work with you. Special thanks to the Director for the Bureau
    Note: excursion “Heart of the capital"for participants of the Moscow Oncology Forum 2025. Guides – Anastasia and Maria
    Tina July 8, 2025
  11. We would like to express our gratitude to Anton and Alexander for the conduct of the excursion!
    It was very interesting to hear how the Krasnaya district developed. Presni, how Prokhorov's figure influenced the development of our city. A pleasant dive into a quiet, previously unexplored area!
    Dmitriy July 8, 2025
  12. Good afternoon, thank you very much Anastasia, the excursion “Uncle Gilyai"It was simply fantastic. Even though we're Muscovites and know a lot about Moscow, the experience was amazing, so much new and interesting happened. We'll definitely be back.
    Victoria July 8, 2025
  13. Thank you for the excursions"The Heart of Moscow" And "Khamovniki"I was guided by Anton, a man who knows and loves Moscow. He's a good storyteller, smart, well-read, and captivating. You've opened up my Moscow to me! I'll definitely be back next summer and walking around Moscow with you. I'll recommend your wonderful sightseeing and walking program to all my friends!
    Julia July 1, 2025
  14. Excursions with the travel agency "Radius" are always positive emotions for you, if you have chosen this agency. On your next visit, you planned an excursion to Zamoskvorechye. This is not the first time we have met with the guide Anton. We definitely recommend him to all our friends. The tour is educational, not overloaded with dates, the information is voluminous, but easy to perceive, because it is presented not like in a history textbook, dryly and academically, but in a light narrative manner. Thank you for this approach. We will contact the Radius bureau more than once on our next visit to Moscow.
    Tatiana June 23, 2025
  15. Thank you so much for the tour ZamoskvorechyeDespite the weather, it was very interesting and educational!

    Note: we are talking about the excursion with the guide Anton
    Tatiana May 6, 2025
  16. Many thanks to Anastasia.
    There was a great tour of the area. Patricks.
    We learned a lot of new things. Anastasia is a master of her craft. The tour was exciting, not boring at all, lively and interesting. Everyone was satisfied. Full of new impressions. I definitely recommend it. You will be satisfied!
    Anna May 6, 2025
  17. Studied together with relatives and Radius The soul of Moscow on my birthday. Everyone enjoyed the walk immensely! Anton told us many interesting facts about the capital and its history, led us into such spiritual depths that no one present suspected. Although among us there were mainly those who either from birth or have been living in Moscow for a very long time and walk around it a lot. It was educational, soulful and unforgettable 🙂

    Overall, this wasn’t the first time I’ve walked around Moscow with Anton, and each time it was a real adventure!
    Olga May 4, 2025
  18. Anastasia, good afternoon!
    I wanted to express my gratitude once again for the wonderful excursion on Saturday - we really enjoyed the walk, the information and the communication with you, then we discussed for a long time what everyone remembered and what struck them. It would seem that you have lived in Moscow all your life, there was Moscow studies at school, but it turns out that you still don’t know so much!! In general, thank you very much, my mother said it was the best gift for her birthday!
    Note: this is about the excursion “Soul of Moscow
    Arina January 13, 2025
  19. Good day to all! I would like to share my impressions of the excursion "Journey to Christmas". Our guide was Anastasia. So! Everything was just magical: a slight frost of -4, snow, numerous Christmas trees, decorations, lights, garlands and all this to the interesting educational story of Anastasia. Despite the fact that we knew something about the New Year, there was a lot that was new, unexpected and interesting. And all this to the music of Tchaikovsky. In general, we are delighted. Thank you for the New Year mood you gave us. It is priceless!!!! Thank you!
    Victoria January 5, 2025
  20. Thank you for the tour! Guide - Maria and driver Georgy. I liked everything very much! It was interesting, exciting! Good luck!
    Irina January 4, 2025
  21. Many thanks to Anton, who gave us a tour of VDNKh and the heart of the capital. There were many fascinating stories, practical advice and interesting facts. Excellent organization. Time flew by. I recommend!
    Tatiana December 25, 2024
  22. Our mixed-age company (from 16 to 80 years old) walked with Alexander along the alleys of Arbat... It was interesting for EVERYONE! There is still much to be surprised by in your hometown! Alexander opened up to us curious, touching, beautiful, poetic, historical, ... places. Thank you very much!!!
    I will definitely recommend this company to my friends and we will use its services ourselves.
    Excellent organization of excursions, all wishes were taken into account, punctuality at the highest level
    Olga December 11, 2024
  23. On my birthday, I went on an excursion with my friends. “Great places”. Excellent entertainment for the company. Professional guide Anton - special thanks to him for the interesting story and route. All the recommended places and drinks were a hit with everyone. Lots of interesting, curious and funny facts. Thanks to this agency and of course to the tour guide Anton.
    Vyacheslav December 9, 2024
  24. The excursion was unusual, unconventional, I really liked it. The involvement of a girl in the role of Nina from "The Seagull" harmoniously fit into the narrative. I recommend developing in this direction. "Apartment 44" came in handy exactly at the moment when it was most needed. My wife is very pleased with both the excursion and the painting.

    Note: Review of the excursion-performance, which the guide Alexander specially developed as part of the order “Dream Tour”.
    Alexei October 29, 2024
  25. We were on the excursion "Sinful Places", our group was small, three people, one of whom had a birthday, which we told the guide Alexander, and the format of the excursion turned into a real holiday! In addition to the walk and very interesting facts on the topic of the excursion, we went to incredibly creative establishments with delicious drinks and unusual serving, a cheerful contingent and a cool unusual interior, our guide Sasha took into account all our little wishes, conducted the excursion very cheerfully and sincerely! Thank you very much for a wonderful holiday! Very cool, we are delighted!
    Maria October 26, 2024

Advantages of individual excursions over group ones

  • Explore Red Square and learn its history - the guide won't leave without you.
  • Choose a convenient time to start your walk, without adjusting to the schedule.
  • Immerse yourself in an atmosphere of tranquility and privacy, enjoying a tour without outside noise.
  • There will be no other participants in your photos, just you and the sights of Moscow.
  • A personal guide remembers you, and you remember him. Such moments remain in memory.
  • The guide doesn't make stops at points of sale (at least we certainly don't).
  • Get answers to all your questions about the culture and history of Moscow.
  • Possibility of adapting the route to your preferences and interests.
  • All attention is on you. Answers to all your questions.
  • We pay special attention to those places that interest you, for example, the house of Mikhail Bulgakov.
  • There is less strain on your hearing and attention, since the guide is literally right next to you and speaks only for you.
  • At individual excursion you dive deeper.
  • Without loud laughter and inappropriate jokes from other tour participants.
  • The opportunity to discuss personal impressions and emotions with the guide during the process.
  • Take a break when needed - to rest or take photos.
  • Opportunity to gain insight or exclusive information.
  • The excursion can be either educational or easy, depending on your wishes.
  • You hear everything the tour guide says.
  • Possibility to visit places closed to large groups.
 

How much more expensive are personal tours than mass tours?

If you are alone or in pairs, then a sum of several thousand for a walking tour of the city or twenty thousand for a car excursion is significant.

But if you're going for a walk with family or friends, the cost for an individual participant approaches one or two thousand - the amount that each person would pay for a group excursion with strangers.

For your group of 8 or more people, the price becomes even lower when calculated per person, making a private tour truly attractive.

***
A mass excursion is tourism, an individual excursion is a journey through the city’s secrets with a personal guide.

The Radius Bureau offers cultural, historical and sightseeing tours of Moscow in various languages. Our stylish and intelligent guides, without cliches and memorized texts, will take you along unique routes created especially for you. From walking tours to excursions by car, bicycle or on the Radisson Royal ship - you will find a program for every taste.

We work with corporate clients such as Yandex, Faberlic, Uniqlo and Russian Railways. It is important for us that each excursion reflects the history and culture of Moscow, as well as the interests of our guests. Gift certificates for our excursions will be an original gift for your loved ones.

We also experiment with neural networks, creating funny stories for the site, such as the tale of Mikhail Bulgakov and Red Square. Our excursions are not just walks, but a real immersion into the atmosphere of the city.